Lhasa Apso Puppies – All You Must Know!

A Lhasa Apso dog is a wonderful companion and certainly an extremely important member of the family.

They give unconditional love and expect nothing in return but your love and attention. We can certainly learn a lot from our dogs can’t we?

Your pet greets you with excitement, a wagging tail and dog kisses whether you have been away for one minute or for many weeks. I never get sick of this!

Research has shown that pets, such as dogs and cats, reduce peoples stress levels and lower their blood pressure.

Your Lhasa Apso can amuse and entertain you, keep you from getting bored and turn a bad or boring day into a great one. A dog loves you no matter what you wear or how good or bad you look.

They teach their owners about devotion, acceptance and patience and in return, you nurture your pets and care for them.

In return, we, the owners try to teach our dog’s acceptable behavior to prevent dog behavior problems, such as excessive barking.

How Your Lhasa Apso Communicates

Yes, I know the picture is not of a Lhasa Apso, But I just couldn’t resist using this!

OK… so when any dogs bark, growl, whine or even howl it is a natural and normal behavior and their way of communicating with each other and with their human families.

Starting when they are young puppies they use vocalization to communicate. This may include crying sounds when they are frustrated, afraid, hurt, or soft whining sounds when they are hungry or cold. Older dogs make many different sounds for many different situations such as:

* Whimpering or Whining – Dogs often use whining or whimpering as a means of communicating when they seek attention or show submissiveness when greeting other dogs. Many also whine when they are in pain, frustrated, lonely or want something, such as a dog treat or someone to take them for a walk.

* Howling – Many dogs use howling as a long-range means of communicating. If a dog hears another howling in the distance they often howl back as a form of communicating. Some howl when they hear sirens, certain music or go hunting.

* Growling – As most owners will tell you, dogs growl not only as a warning, to show aggression, dominance and in defense but also when playing. A wagging tail and lots of movement can often accompany play growling. You can tell the difference between play and aggressive growling by a dog’s posture; a dog that remains stationery, snarls or stares is using an aggressive growl and they are serious.

* Dog Barking – Barking dogs and excessive barking are ways dogs communicate. Some breeds are trained to bark, such as working or herding dogs and guard dogs. Although barking is normal behavior often used to get attention show excitement and other emotions, excessive dog barking can often create many problems.

For the most success with lhasa apso dogs; it is recommended you take the time to do a little online research.

Tell Me About Excessive Lhasa Apso Barking Then.

Lhasa Apso barking turns into a problem when it becomes loud, unwanted, inappropriate or excessive.

When people hear continuous dog barking, it is not only disruptive but also causes stress and annoyance to you and others, such as neighbors.

Nervous, uneasy or lonely barking often happens when you leave your pet home alone and they experience separation anxiety or fear.

As your Lhasa Apso becomes more upset, lonely or anxious, the barking gets higher and louder and quite often annoys neighbors. Many dogs think than when you close the door and leave you are never going to return and this starts the continuous, loud barking.

What’s Your Lhasa Apso’s Environment Like?

An uninteresting, boring environment that offers no stimulation often creates a bored barker, that makes a lot of noise as an outlet for his or her pent-up energy.

Lhasa Apsos left alone outside or inside for long periods often demonstrate this continuous barking behavior.

They are social animals, and when confined alone in a kennel or yard the result is excessive barking because they are bored or lonely and want some attention.

Since nobody is there to stop them from barking, it almost becomes a hobby to them

Dogs love to play ball, Frisbee and games with their owners and often bark when they become excited. Unfortunately, some get too excited and the dog barking turns into a major problem for anyone within hearing distance.

Did You Know This?

The percentage of male and female purebred and mixed bred Lhasa Apsos that bark excessively is essentially the same,

Lhasa Apsos that do not get enough exercise often bark or whine to release tension. Some dogs seem to be very hypersensitive to movements and sounds around them.

Often, when a person gets a new puppy and it barks, they yell at them to stop their barking. Unfortunately, a puppy takes this as a sign that you are answering them back so they continue and this eventually turns into excessive barking or inappropriate dog behavior.

Sometimes owners unintentionally train their Lhasa Apso to bark by giving them the attention they want. If your Lhasa Apso barks to go in or out, for a treat, to play ball, for a tummy rub or other reasons, they learn quickly that barking will get results!

How About Some Tips To Help Control Barking Then?

Well, here are a few proven tips on teaching your Lhasa Apso to stop his or her excessive barking:

* As amazing as it sounds, teaching your Lhasa Apso to speak or bark on command is a simple way to teach them to stop barking.

Find something that makes them bark, such as holding their toy or treat away from them. Once they bark, praise them and keep repeating the word ‘speak’.

When you do this often enough, your Lhasa Apso learns that the word speak means bark and the dog will start barking on command.

Now you teach them the word ‘stop’ or ‘quiet’. You do this when they are barking, say the word and give them their treat or toy.

When repeated often enough, it does not take long for your dog to figure out that saying the word quiet or stop, means for them to stop barking and they’ll receive a reward.

If someone comes into your home and you tell your dog ‘quiet’ and it stops barking, praise him or her and always reinforcie your dog’s good behavior.

* The best way to teach your dog to stop barking is by training them well when they are very young. If you have an older dog, don’t give up though!

* There will be times when you must leave your dog alone. To get your pet used to this without barking, start by leaving the house just for a few minutes.

Never make a fuss of your dog when you leave and after being gone a few minutes, come back in. Again, do not make a fuss of the dog.

Gradually increase the time you are away but make it seem very natural so your dog knows you will return. This way they do not feel quite so stressed.

* Some Lhasa Apsos are calmer when they hear a person’s voice so try leaving the radio on low.

* Try to keep your Lhasa Apso away from things that start him barking, for example looking out the window. Close your curtains or blinds and if this doesn’t work, give the command ‘quiet’ or ‘stop’, then slam a book down or shake a can full or marbles, to make a loud noise. Once he is quiet, have him sit, praise the dog and give it a treat.

* Exercise and mental stimulation are extremely important and help keep dogs from nuisance barking or exhibiting bad dog behavior.

Letting your Lhasa Apso out in the yard for a few minutes is not enough exercise. Your pet needs a long walk, brisk exercise or playtime daily, to run off some of his energy and keep his barking controlled.

Remember that a tired dog does not bark as much. When out walking, your dog smells and sees different sights, which keeps him from getting bored. Try teaching your Lhasa Apso new tricks or obedience training, as they need mental stimulation to keep them from barking.

A Final Word For You.

When properly exercised, rewarded and trained there are very few Lhasa Apsos that are unable to control their barking.

It is very important to remember that dogs bark as part of their natural behavior, just like humans speak to communicate. Never try to completely eliminate dog barking from their repertoire, and only use positive training methods to accomplish this.

Most Lhasa Apso owners will be able to curb or prevent problem barking.

Need More Help?

I hope this short outline introduction to Managing Barking has been helpful for you.

Lhasa Apso Puppies Video

Lhasa Apso Potty Training. Want Some Help?

As you know, one of the most exciting things that most dog lovers can imagine is bringing home  a lhasa apso for the first time.

Unfortunately, this excitement often wears off quickly when the new little addition to the family begins using the house as a bathroom area.

Potty Training fortunately, with a bit of consideration and understanding of some of the basic principles of potty training a Lhasa Apso, it is easy and simple to teach your Lhasa Apso  this very important behavior.

There are some points to keep in mind when planning or starting your potty training routine. No matter which method you decide to use, there will be accidents. Plan for them, accept them and move on with as little fuss and negative actions or punishment towards the puppy as possible.

Usually with any puppies, accidents are due to very small bladders and bowels and poor control as their bodies develop, very similar to young human infants in fact.

Avoid Punishing Your Lhasa Apso

Avoid punishing or reprimanding your puppy for an accident, as it is likely to be more a fault of the owner for not taking the puppy to the potty area soon enough. Learn from mistakes and keep notes on when the puppy has accidents.

Try to see if there is a pattern developing that can assist you in the training, rather than become frustrated with the Lhasa Apso. Virtually every puppy wants to make his or her owner happy, and this can be used as an effective motivator in potty training even young puppies.

The Older Dog

Older Lhasa Apsos that are being housebroken or potty trained for the first time will also have accidents, until they understand what you want. Again, patience and a positive attitude will help the training process.

Remember that dogs aren’t aware of the value of antique rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting, rather they tend to relieve themselves where they feel they should – usually somewhere out of the way, like behind the couch or in the corner behind the potted palm.

Is There Anything I Can Do To Help?

YES, There are many things that pet owners can do to make the process of potty training easy for their new dog or puppy.

Good planning, an understanding of the potty training method to be used, plus other factors such as high quality food, lots of exercise, attention and love can all have a bearing on the time that it takes to potty train your Lhasa Apso.

Finally, each dog  is somewhat different in personality and temperament. Some puppies and dogs seem to almost potty train themselves where others, even from the same litter, may require additional training but will soon learn what is expected.

What method Should I Use To Potty Training My Lhasa Apso?

Well, there are a few different potty training methods that can be used for a Lhasa Apso.

Deciding on the best potty training method is important and depends a lot on the age of the dog, the time that you have to interact with the dog or puppy, your living area, and what method you are most comfortable with.

Some of the potty training methods encourage your Lhasa Apso  to use an outside area to relieve themselves, whereas others focus on containing the area the puppy or dog uses inside of the house – by the use of litter boxes, potty training pads or even newspapers.

Here, we will cover one popular method, Crate Training.

CRATE TRAINING

Crate training is one of the most effective ways to potty train a Lhasa Apso as it uses the natural “denning instinct” of the dog to encourage it to keep the area that it sleeps clean and free from waste materials.

In the wild, the den is kept clean by the mother while the puppies are young. Once they are older and are able to walk, they naturally go outside of thier den or living space to relieve themselves.

In houses there are no dens, and the area is simply too large for puppies to feel that this is “their spot”.

By providing a den, in the form of a crate, the puppy will learn to wait until he or she is taken outside before soiling in the crate.

Crate training requires active participation and monitoring on the part of the dog owner.

The following is an outline of how to complete a crate training routine:

* Purchase an appropriately sized crate, either plastic or wire, that is large enough for your Lhasa Apso  to stand and stretch out comfortably.

* Make sure the crate is comfortable – use soft, washable liners or dog blankets.

* Sit with your Lhasa Apso at the door of the crate. Place a small treat inside the crate. Praise the puppy for going into the crate and getting the treat. Let the puppy come out when they want to, don’t close the door at this time.

* Only praise for going in the crate, ignore the puppy when he or she is coming out.

* When your Lhasa Apso walks into the crate say “Crate” or “Den” or whatever word you wish to associate with going into the crate.

* When your  Lhasa Apso is  staying in the crate on their own to eat the treats, close the door for a few seconds, then open it up. Only praise when the dog goes in, not when it is exiting. Soon the dog realizes in is good, out is neutral.

* After the puppy or dog is fine with being in the crate for more than a few minutes, put a chew toy in with them to keep it occupied. Try very slowly and gradually increasing your distance away from the crate, and the time in the crate with the door closed.

* Since the puppy or dog will generally not eliminate when they are in the crate because it is their den, take them outside to eliminate when they come out of the crate.

* After feeding, crate the puppy with a chew toy. In about 10-15 minutes take the puppy out of the crate and to the designated toilet area. Do not play or interact with the puppy at this time, simply take them straight to the spot.

* If the puppy relieves itself, praise the puppy and spend some time interacting. If, after about 3-5 minutes the puppy has not toileted, return it to the crate, again without saying anything, for an additional five minutes. Repeat the process without interacting with the puppy until it goes to the bathroom. Praise and play always follow toileting while crate training.

* At night, keep the crate in the bedroom or somewhere that you can easily hear the puppy. If he or she whines, take them to the toilet area and return them to the crate with as little interaction as possible. Just a simple “good girl” or boy will do when they toilet.

Too much praise will be seen as play, and may encourage the puppy to whine throughout the night. Remember though, the crate is only to be used until Potty Training is under control, not forever!

What Are Some Advantages of Using A Crate?

The advantages to crate training include the fact that it uses the puppies or dogs natural instincts to help with the learning process. It minimizes the dangers of messes and accidents around the house when done correctly. In addition the puppy feels secure, and they can understand what is required in a relatively short time.

What Are Some Disadvantages of Using A Crate?

Disadvantages to crate training for lhasa puppies are few, but the biggest one is that it will only work if the trainer monitors the puppy closely while in the crate, and follows the attention/inattention guidelines.

Some owners may think that crate training is cruel, but this is simply not the case. Once people understand the crate is not used as a punishment but as a safe and secure place for the puppy, they change their opinion quickly.

Need Further Help ?

I hope this brief outline introduction to Potty Training and specifically CRATE Training has been helpful to you.