Potala Palace Dogs
**AKC Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Puppies**
"Bred for authentic appearance, raised for authentic temperament"
As these photos at five weeks old show, Lhasas exhibit a great deal of physical enthusiasm! Fabric toys should be of strong construction and inspected daily (and after play) for tears. Hard chew items should be discarded once they are worn down to no less than two inches.
Lhasa Apsos, traditionally the personal companions and protectors of Tibetan monks and the Dalai Lama, still take their guardian and entertainer roles very seriously. This is one of the oldest forms of domesticated dogs in the world!
Centuries of taking part in religious ceremonies and being relied on to chase away intruders and evil spirits have resulted in a stocky breed that thinks for itself and craves respect from everyone else! Their companion role has produced an oft-times clownish zeal for play and humor -- Lhasas have a great memory for what makes their significant-other-human laugh!
I have spent 15 years in veterinary medicine, 20 years in rescue, and many years looking for the just-right pair (see below) to create beautiful and true-to-breed babies! Now I'm looking for the just-right homes to appreciate this special breed.
If you are a Lhasa fancier, please contact us for an appointment today!
If you are ready for more fun than 100 barrels of monkeys and the most people-like of all the dog breeds, or want to know more about these super-loyal immigrants from the East, I'd love to hear from you!
To own a Lhasa you and your family should already be very familiar with dog care and training -- these guys can smell an amateur a mile away!
The Shih Tzu is arguably the most delightful and versatile of all the Asian “palace dogs”. When properly bred they are hardier than the small Pekingese and Japanese Chin, and gentler than the Tibetan Lhasa Apso (with whom they share very old wolf genes!).
Like all of the palace breeds from China, any Shih Tzus living with the Imperial family during the Communist Revolution were assassinated to sever their distinction as reincarnated royals. Our modern specimens are descendants of dogs given to foreigners as gifts from western-friendly emperors.
This intelligent dog’s special alertness to a person’s mood make them an ideal best friend, entertaining clown, or cuddly comforter. Although one is a treat to have in the house, two or more are definitely more fun than--if not as much noise as--a barrel of monkeys!
A plush double coat that is silky and floor-length in show dogs requires committed attention and regular home grooming. Taking a house pet to a professional groomer every one to two months is a commitment that must be made and kept. Although a plethora of coat colors can be seen, the solid black and royal gold are the most rare and desired by fanciers of late...this may lead to inadvertent extinction of other color combinations!
Many Shih Tzus do show up at shelters and rescue societies every year. Sad to say, many people buy small breeds under the mistaken apprehension that small dogs need “less” than larger breeds. But a dog is a dog no matter the size or appearance, and requires personal attention to its physical, mental and social needs.
Every dog needs lots of time and attention to socialize and train it properly. All dogs need the company of a confident and dog-smart caregiver for their entire lifetime: dogs are sociable “joiners” and need a group to belong to and where they feel safe.
No dog after the age of four months should be outside off-leash...many states and townships have laws pertaining to dog control, but "running away" behaviors also begin at this age, and the Shih Tzu’s zeal for crazy fun places it in particular danger from traffic and territorial animals. Once their legs get going, they just can’t stop!!
Nothing says "party" like a litter of Shih Tzu pups! They literally burst on the scene ready to whoop-it-up non-stop.
About Potala:
Gen Barry graduated in 1988 from Rutgers University (Douglass College) with a bachelor's degree in Neurophysiology and Behavior. She worked as a veterinary technician for fifteen years (1989-2004), and a private behavior consultant and trainer since 1994. In December 1996 she married her husband Steve and moved to Sussex County.
Steve Barry is a professional photographer and magazine editor. He comes from a family that has been involved in pet rescue since he was a young boy. He is a gentle fellow, and even the most timid cats and dogs take an instant liking to him.
Notes from Gen about the Potala philosophy:
Potala puppies are bred and born in our home to parents that are house pets -- we are NOT a puppy mill operating out of a barn full of cages crowded with dirty, unsocialized dogs.
Yes, I do my fair share of getting up at all hours to clean bottoms and change bedding! When Potala puppies develop the instinct to keep their bedding clean (between 4 and 6 weeks of age) I take them outside. I do NOT train puppies to eliminate indoors on paper; new owners receive a pet that is already imprinted on the smell of the ground for potty purposes.
Not all puppies mature at the same rate. Your clean, healthy, well-fed and well-behaved puppy goes straight from my hands to yours when it's ready to start a great life with you. You deserve a dog that is properly prepared for life physically and mentally. If that means staying with Mom for a few extra days or weeks, we are more than willing to give the additional care your puppy might need, with no additional cost to you.
"Bargain" puppies on mass web sites often arrive at airports dirty, thin and full of various parasites. You will spend a lot of money and time to remedy physical illness and obtaining advice about socializing a pup that was too young to leave its mother and littermates. Our pricing includes age-appropriate vaccinations, de-worming treatment(s), and bite inhibition training. Our puppies are exposed to the sounds of vacuum cleaners, TV, stereo, cars, trucks and neighborhood barkers.
We would love to meet you and match you with the right puppy for you and your family. It is our pleasure to share these breeds with the community.
May your life go well! Rev. Gen
Potala Palace Dogs Supports Dignity, Freedom and Legal Equality for All New Jersey Citizens
Buyer Beware!
In the past 10 years Shih Tzu
pups have been increasingly marketed as "Dwarf", "Imperial", "Teacup", "Stained Glass", or other cute descriptors. Unscrupulous and mass breeders like to charge customers exhorbitant prices for these pups (claiming that they are rare or exotic or desirable).
You should be aware that NONE of these descriptors have ever been applied to the Shih Tzu breed by the American Kennel Club (AKC), and never will!!
Occasionally, Shih Tzu pups are born with genetic dwarfism. These pups are undersized and may have serious health problems. They should NOT be used for breeding, since the carry and will pass on ABNORMAL GENES.
Purchasers should be certain to have reliable veterinary support for any dwarf pup that they adopt.
American Kennel Club Shih Tzu Breed Standard (unchanged since 1989)
reference: akc.org
Shih Tzu Breed Standard
Toy Group
General Appearance
The Shih Tzu is a sturdy, lively, alert toy dog with long flowing double coat. Befitting his noble Chinese ancestry as a highly valued, prized companion and palace pet, the Shih Tzu is proud of bearing, has a distinctively arrogant carriage with head well up and tail curved over the back. Although there has always been considerable size variation, the Shih Tzu must be compact, solid, carrying good weight and substance.
Even though a toy dog, the Shih Tzu must be subject to the same requirements of soundness and structure prescribed for all breeds, and any deviation from the ideal described in the standard should be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Structural faults common to all breeds are as undesirable in the Shih Tzu as in any other breed, regardless of whether or not such faults are specifically mentioned in the standard.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size - Ideally, height at withers is 9 to 10½ inches; but, not less than 8 inches nor more than 11 inches. Ideally, weight of mature dogs, 9 to 16 pounds. Proportion - Length between withers and root of tail is slightly longer than height at withers. The Shih Tzu must never be so high stationed as to appear leggy, nor so low stationed as to appear dumpy or squatty. Substance - Regardless of size, the Shih Tzu is always compact, solid and carries good weight and substance.
Head
Head - Round, broad, wide between eyes, its size in balance with the overall size of dog being neither too large nor too small. Fault: Narrow head, close-set eyes. Expression - Warm, sweet, wide-eyed, friendly and trusting. An overall well-balanced and pleasant expression supersedes the importance of individual parts. Care should be taken to look and examine well beyond the hair to determine if what is seen is the actual head and expression rather than an image created by grooming technique. Eyes - Large, round, not prominent, placed well apart, looking straight ahead. Very dark. Lighter on liver pigmented dogs and blue pigmented dogs. Fault: Small, close-set or light eyes; excessive eye white. Ears - Large, set slightly below crown of skull; heavily coated. Skull - Domed. Stop - There is a definite stop. Muzzle - Square, short, unwrinkled, with good cushioning, set no lower than bottom eye rim; never downturned. Ideally, no longer than 1 inch from tip of nose to stop, although length may vary slightly in relation to overall size of dog. Front of muzzle should be flat; lower lip and chin not protruding and definitely never receding. Fault: Snipiness, lack of definite stop. Nose - Nostrils are broad, wide, and open. Pigmentation - Nose, lips, eye rims are black on all colors, except liver on liver pigmented dogs and blue on blue pigmented dogs. Fault: Pink on nose, lips, or eye rims. Bite - Undershot. Jaw is broad and wide. A missing tooth or slightly misaligned teeth should not be too severely penalized. Teeth and tongue should not show when mouth is closed. Fault: Overshot bite.
Neck, Topline, Body
Of utmost importance is an overall well-balanced dog with no exaggerated features. Neck - Well set-on flowing smoothly into shoulders; of sufficient length to permit natural high head carriage and in balance with height and length of dog. Topline - Level. Body -Short-coupled and sturdy with no waist or tuck-up. The Shih Tzu is slightly longer than tall. Fault: Legginess. Chest -Broad and deep with good spring-of-rib, however, not barrel-chested. Depth of ribcage should extend to just below elbow. Distance from elbow to withers is a little greater than from elbow to ground. Croup - Flat. Tail - Set on high, heavily plumed, carried in curve well over back. Too loose, too tight, too flat, or too low set a tail is undesirable and should be penalized to extent of deviation.
Forequarters
Shoulders - Well-angulated, well laid-back, well laid-in, fitting smoothly into body. Legs - Straight, well-boned, muscular, set well-apart and under chest, with elbows set close to body. Pasterns - Strong, perpendicular. Dewclaws - May be removed. Feet - Firm, well-padded, point straight ahead.
Hindquarters
Angulation of hindquarters should be in balance with forequarters. Legs - Well-boned, muscular, and straight when viewed from rear with well-bent stifles, not close set but in line with forequarters. Hocks - Well let down, perpendicular. Fault: Hyperextension of hocks. Dewclaws - May be removed. Feet - Firm, well-padded, point straight ahead.
Coat
Coat - Luxurious, double-coated, dense, long, and flowing. Slight wave permissible. Hair on top of head is tied up. Fault: Sparse coat, single coat, curly coat. Trimming - Feet, bottom of coat, and anus may be done for neatness and to facilitate movement. Fault: Excessive trimming.
Color and Markings
All are permissible and to be considered equally.
Gait
The Shih Tzu moves straight and must be shown at its own natural speed, neither raced nor strung-up, to evaluate its smooth, flowing, effortless movement with good front reach and equally strong rear drive, level topline, naturally high head carriage, and tail carried in gentle curve over back.
Temperament
As the sole purpose of the Shih Tzu is that of a companion and house pet, it is essential that its temperament be outgoing, happy, affectionate, friendly and trusting towards all.
Approved May 9, 1989
Effective June 29, 1989
American Kennel Club Lhasa Apsos Breed Standard (unchanged since 1978)
reference: akc.org
Lhasa Apso Breed Standard
Non-Sporting Group
Character
Gay and assertive, but chary of strangers.
Size
Variable, but about 10 inches or 11 inches at shoulder for dogs, bitches slightly smaller.
Color
All colors equally acceptable with or without dark tips to ears and beard.
Body Shape
The length from point of shoulders to point of buttocks longer than height at withers, well ribbed up, strong loin, well-developed quarters and thighs.
Coat
Heavy, straight, hard, not woolly nor silky, of good length, and very dense.
Mouth and Muzzle
The preferred bite is either level or slightly undershot. Muzzle of medium length; a square muzzle is objectionable.
Head
Heavy head furnishings with good fall over eyes, good whiskers and beard; skull narrow, falling away behind the eyes in a marked degree, not quite flat, but not domed or apple-shaped; straight foreface of fair length. Nose black, the length from tip of nose to eye to be roughly about one-third of the total length from nose to back of skull.
Eyes
Dark brown, neither very large and full, nor very small and sunk.
Ears
Pendant, heavily feathered.
Legs
Forelegs straight; both forelegs and hind legs heavily furnished with hair.
Feet
Well feathered, should be round and catlike, with good pads.
Tail and Carriage
Well feathered, should be carried well over back in a screw; there may be a kink at the end. A low carriage of stern is a serious fault.
Approved July 11, 1978
Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu AKC Breed Standards...click here.
