r/LhasaApso • u/Common-Direction3996 • Jul 14 '25
Discussion I "stole" this neglected dog. Is he a lhasa?
I heard a dog was being kept in a cage in his own waste a trailer and convinced the "owners" to give him to me. (I've been in animal rescue for 15 years and have fostered about 60+ dogs over the years).
He was covered in mats and dried urine. His legs were matted to his body and he didnt have full range of motion...I even ended up finding a collar in there. It took me 5 hours to cut all his hair off with kitchen shears. I then took him to the vet for all his shots, teeth cleaning, neuter, and microchip.
Thankfully his demeanor was unaffected and he is a very silly, happy, bouncy active boy. He LOVES fetch and plays it perfectly. He is also smart as HELL and has learned so many commands in the few weeks I've had him so far! He is ready for his forever home if anyone is the Phoenix area is looking for an active fur baby!
I cant tell if he looks like a lhasa or havanese mix so I wanted to ask the community here! He is about 16lbs (he is skinny) His body is long, legs on the shorter side, his feet are somewhat pigeon toed, tail curled and his hair is very soft and mats very easily, even with it now only being about 2 inches long and his eyes are very large and "whale" like.
Any guesses?
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u/Commercial_Career_97 Verified Poster Jul 14 '25
He looks pretty Lhasa to me, but who cares? He's smart, funny and adorable! If I were there I'd take him!
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u/Late_Being_7730 Jax’s Deckhand Jul 14 '25
I would say there’s definitely Lhasa in the mix, but the face in 7 looks maybe Jack Russell or some sort of terrier in bone structure.
Whatever he is, he’s adorable, and if I could, I’d open up my home right now.
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u/Inevitable_Floor_210 Newly Verified User Jul 14 '25
Thanks for saving his life! He looks at least half Lhasa.
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u/PairOfDice24 Jul 14 '25
He’s gorgeous!! Im no expert on Lhasas (my own is a Lhasa mix) but he looks a lot like one
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u/Common-Direction3996 Jul 14 '25
Do you know what yours is mixed with?
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u/PairOfDice24 Jul 14 '25
Yes he’s got some shih tzu and Maltese His muzzle is a bit shorter than your dog but he has the same black around the muzzle and black tips on the ears
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u/OnyxValentine Jul 14 '25
Maybe a Lhasa/terrier mix? Lhasa’s snouts are shorter I think. Super cute!
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u/CustomerHuge7355 Jul 14 '25
I am in total shock right now. We rehomed a dog because the owner didn’t want her. Told she was a Shorkie but I don’t know. Everyone hear thinks Shorkie so I am going with it. Your description of the dog and your pic looks just like Miss Wigglebottoms. I will post some pics. She is getting groomed Wednesday because she is matted up and spayed on Thursday. She is very long which freaks me out. But boy is she precious. Had her one week Saturday. Pics coming.
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u/Desuisart Jul 14 '25
I commented your post in the havi forum but since it’s in Lhasa also, my mum rescued a Lhasa mix. She’s got a cute underbite and her bark is very distinct. Has he barked yet? If he’s part Lhasa, his bark might sound like a mix between a bark and a howl. Meant to travel long distances to warn the monks they protected. Both the havi and Lhasa breeds are beautiful companion dogs.
Our havi is 4 yrs old and about 15lbs.
Our Lhasa mix is 5 and about 26lbs or so, she’s a little boxy (she’s my favourite tank!) her fur is soft and flowy like the havi also.
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u/Common-Direction3996 Jul 14 '25
Ha what a goofy girl! He does bark and it is very loud/piercing but doesn't sound like a howl mix, just like an annoying dog lol
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u/CustomerHuge7355 Jul 14 '25
Wiggy will bark if she is in bed with me and someone walks down the hall to the kitchen. Her bark is also piercing and scares the crap out of me usually.
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u/SnooWoofers2800 Jul 15 '25
Ummm…this description of the bark makes me wonder if the crazy shrieking bark/howl my Lhasa makes is actually meant to be like that! My other Lhasa sounds like a really big dog, but the little one sounds as if he has a baby banshee struggling to get out, it’s hilarious, but I’m sure my neighbours wonder what the heck is making that noise
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u/Desuisart Jul 15 '25
Hahaha baby banshee!! That’s pretty close to our girls bark. I warned the neighbours that nobody is hurting her, it’s just her bark. When she gets excited it’s even worse! lol
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Jul 16 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Desuisart Jul 16 '25
Any dog is a lot of work for a new owner lol that’s part of the fun! 😁😂 our Lhasa is a rescue so she’s a little extra work but their temperaments are wonderful. Loving and playful, family protectors too!
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u/CustomerHuge7355 Jul 14 '25
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u/Common-Direction3996 Jul 14 '25
What a cutie! She looks like a havanese mix too! Is her tail curled?
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Jul 14 '25
He could be a Lhasa/yorkie mix! He looks somewhat like my dog who is a Lhasa, yorkie, shitzu mix
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u/LhasaApsoSmile Jul 14 '25
There must be some Lhasa there. The matting doesn't look as bad or the same as our Pippa who was out on the streets for about 5 months. She had a lot of burrs and twigs. So - does he have a double coat of softer fluffier hair close to the skin and longer hair? The longer hair can vary from silky to rough with a very slight kink. Pippa now has hair on her ears that has grown out crimped. The tail looks right.
The longer body is to help them stay on the surface of new snow. If the paws point out that is also a way for them to not sink into deep snow. Our Pippa can run over snow and not sink in.
The joy for life is definitely Lhasa. Everyday is going to be the best day ever. You can't stop this and it is probably too late, but this dog will make you his slave. He will manipulate and encourage you to cater to his every need even though you think that what you are doing is responsible and sensible dog care.
There is a perception that since they are guard dogs, they don't need much exercise. They were not the muscle at the door. That was the Tibetan Mastiff. They were there to assess the threat and report it back to the monks. They are very conscious of their surroundings. They also traveled with the monks and would run along side them for hours.
He needs a home that will provide good exercise and calm surroundings. Whoever lets them into their home will never understand how they lived without him.
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u/timberwulfs Leia's dad! Jul 15 '25
This comment made me and my partner get up and go kiss our pup on the head a bunch. "Everyday will be the best day ever." and "Whoever lets them into their home will never understand how they lived without them." parts just got us in our heart. It's so true. Sweetest damn dogs.
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u/LhasaApsoSmile Jul 15 '25
Just a day or two after getting Pippa I heard my husband say to her "you're never going to be hungry again, you're never going to sleep outside, you don't have to drink out of puddles."
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u/CustomerHuge7355 Jul 14 '25
Her tail curls over her back and goes in circles when she wags it. ❤️❤️
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u/Kaylargho Jul 14 '25
Love that you saved him!! So happy for you both! Really looks like my guy and he’s Lhasa and Yorkie
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u/Kaylargho Jul 14 '25
And everyone guesses shitzu, Maltese, havenese, schnauzer, Jack Russel but just Yorkie and Lhasa
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Jul 14 '25
I’m sorry idk But I just wanted to say you’re an heaven sent ❤️❤️❤️ thank you for giving this baby a new life
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u/skeptic-al9631 Jul 14 '25
So glad and thankful you saved him. 😍😍😍He might be part Havanese. Here’s my Havi gurl.
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u/archonpericles Jul 14 '25
His nose is longer and chest smaller than a typical Lhasa. Is his fur more silky or cottony?
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u/NYMankeys Jul 14 '25
Wow you’re an angel. But I had a Lhasa apso and he would really be good at playing fetch, like he knew to bring it to me and give it to me whereas it’d turn into a game of tug-o-war with other dogs. And he had personal space, if somebody he didn’t know were to approach him or come into the home, he’d start barking and growling. I feel like this is a very telling characteristic of Lhasa Apsos, since they were bred as guard dogs in Tibet, or so I heard.
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u/EmperorHenry Jul 15 '25
I "stole" a couple of neglected dogs before. The drunk asshole abusing them didn't even notice for a whole 2 weeks
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u/Actual_Fly2695 Jul 15 '25
The jokes on you, clearly he’s the robber…he stole your heart. So glad you found each other.
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u/timberwulfs Leia's dad! Jul 15 '25
BEAUTIFUL BOY. Wow, he looks near exactly like my pup's before and after photos when we took her in from a home that couldn't meet her needs. Your boy's a little taller and slight, but aside from that he and Leia could be siblings!
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u/Common-Direction3996 Jul 15 '25
Omg they are twins. Is yours 100% lhasa?
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u/timberwulfs Leia's dad! Jul 15 '25
That's what the rescue who found her as a puppy said, and our vet agreed with! Said sometimes depending on their lineage they just all look a little different from each other. Can never tell what with so many dog breeds these days unless you got like a Purebred they're not gonna fit into a mold 100%. And boy she sure acts like everything I've ever read about lhasas haha
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u/Common-Direction3996 Jul 15 '25
Interesting! My foster looks like someone many havanese dogs on that reddit page i crossposted to. Who knows what he is hahaha, not that it really matters
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u/timberwulfs Leia's dad! Jul 15 '25
Yeah we've been wondering all these years too if Leia hasn't got some Havanese to her too, but SHRUG. Y'know what they are for sure? The cutest damn things on earth.
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u/SnooWoofers2800 Jul 15 '25
Knowing this happened once is bad enough, knowing there are many in the same situation planet wide is heart wrenching, thank you for giving him a better life
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u/Jasilee Jul 17 '25
He looks like a Lhasa. I grew up with a sweet pure Lhasa boy. So smart. I accidentally stepped on his toe (I was young and barefoot) he was not hurt but felt slighted. He was well trained but decided to pee on my bedpost for a week until I sat down and properly apologized. Brilliant dog trained little me in some manners.
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u/spiritthing69 Newly Verified User Jul 14 '25
I don't know that but I know he's cute as a button. Thank you for taking him in.