MY THREE DOGS

A tale about the breed.

Though shaggy little dogs believed to be close ancestors of the Apso have been in existence for some 8OO years, it has only been in the last century that the Lhasa Apso gained public attention in this country. The Lhasa is one of four breeds native to Tibet, the others being the Tibetan Spaniel, the Tibelan Terrier and the huge Tibetan Mastiff. What some of these canines share in common with other animals native to that cold land, from which Mount Everest rises. is their long shaggy coal. In this wild and mountainous country lying beyond the northern boundary of India, one would expect nature to have provided its animal inhabitants with the Lhasa's profuse coat to ward off the frequently intense cold.

The history of these dogs of Tibet can in large measure be told by the history of that country's monasteries. Many of the dogs were kept in the monasteries and treated as sacred animals by the monks. They even participated in the religious activities. An explanation generally accepted as the reason these dogs were, universally accorded great respect in their country declares that the souls of the Dalai Lamas - (the sovereigns of that country) entered the bodies of the dogs after they died.

This Tibetan belief is strengthened by a similar myth accepted in China, where the Shih Tzu is the object of that belief; this myth is also applied to the Pekinese. The belief that the sturdy little Lhasas were the abode for the souls of deceased rulers of the country was at one time so widespread and unquestioned that a religious rite revolving around the dogs sprung up. The dogs were brought near bodies of the dead in cases where it was suspected that some evil was present in a corpse, and were thought to be able to dispel the evil by their mere presence. In some countries where the breed has become officially recognised it is referred to as the Tibetan Apso, after the land of its origin. While in the United States and Canada the name Lhasa, which is the name of the capital city of Tibet, is used to comprise the first part of the dog's name. The last part of its name, Apso, is thought to be a corruption of the Tibetan word rapso, which means goal-like.

Penny

Penny was 7 years old wheb the pic was taken. I bought her from a Pet shop when she was 7 weeks old. And she cost me £300 all but one penny. That’s why I called her Penny.

Penny is very independent and has a mind of her own.
She was two when I had her mated and she gave birth to
six pups.

Penny died on 30th Nov 2005 aged nearly 15. She was my baby and I miss her very much. RIP my darling.

Twinkle

Twinkle is one of Penny’s offspring. She was the smallest of the litter and nearly didn’t make it. She still is small, but she got a yap to match a dog twice her size. She should had been called ‘barker’ because she barks at anything and anyone. But once the barking stops, she’s a very friendly dog, wants to be cuddled and kissed all the time. Twinkle is Ten years old.

Twinkle sadly died on 16th August 2003 aged 10yrs 1 month 2 weeks old. She was a darling little dog and I miss her very much RIP


Scooby.

Scooby is Penny’s son and Twinkle’s brother. Scooby should had been called Buster, he was the biggest of the litter. He still is twice the size then he should be for a Lhasa Apso. He is as daft as they come. A very soft-hearted dog, you can do anything to him and he doesn’t give a tosh. He would have been ideal in a large family of children.

Scooby is  13 years old.

Page updated  Oct 06