Is our new dog a Shih Tzu or a Lhaso Apso?

[ReadingMama]

We're so excited to be bringing home our new (to us) dog Bobby McGee tomorrow! He's 3-ish (rescue group-speak for not too old and not too young) and was found wandering in an apartment complex. He's pretty calm and likes to play. He doesn't mind other dogs. He has a huge underbite! The rescue group had him listed as a Shih Tzu, but then changed it to Lhaso Apso. What do you think? (His hair is longer now and is wavy/curly on his legs).

Bobby McGee (soon to be known as Bob)

[Oubliette8]

I'd go for Shih Tzu. In my experience, Lhasa's are rarely that color while Shih Tzu's often are. Also, Shih Tzu tend to have an underbite more often. Plus, they're way more common, making it more likely one would be found wandering as a stray.

Lhasa's DO come in black and white, but in all my experience with Lhasa's I've never actually seen one that color.

Of course, you will probably never know for sure. The breeds can be hard to tell apart, and poorly bred specimens are even harder.

One thing you might take note of is his personality. All of our Lhasa's have been independent and yappy. Its what they're bred for- to bark at anyone approaching the house. Shih Tzu's are supposedly quieter and more lad-dog oriented. Not that Lhasa's aren't, just Shih Tzu's are moreso

I also wonder, if his hair is wavy, he could be a designer cross. Poodle crosses often have wavy coats, as do Bichon mixes, both of which are popular. In that case he could potentially be a mix of anything.

[ReadingMama]

Thanks for weighing in! And explaining why! I've considered that he might be a cross. He's a solid dog and weighs 18 pounds. From what his foster mom says, he's a laid-back guy who likes to play with toys. She said he only barks when there's reason to. His only "issue" is that he gets snappy when he's groomed. He yelps when he's brushed. He was very matted when he was rescued and he had to be shaved. He also had a cherry eye and had surgery to correct it. His foster mom just bathes him and does a scissor cut instead of putting him through grooming at a salon. Not sure what I'll do. Whatever he tolerates best, I guess.

She said he got overlooked many times because of his underbite. It freaked people out or turned them off because it's a big one. That's my husband's favorite part!

I'm mainly wondering so I have something to put on the vet record.

Any tips about lhaso/shih tzu care you'd like to share?

[Irishmommy]

Shih Tzu. I have a lhasa apso.

Any tips about lhaso/shih tzu care you'd like to share?

Unless you love grooming, keep them short!

[mom0810]

Looks pretty heavy in bone to be a shih tzu. And he's really long. I say Lhasa. But it doesn't matter, really... he's just adorable!

[ReadingMama]

He's home now! He's so awesome! He loves my 10 yo son and he and my female lab mix get along fine. He's crate trained, seems housetrained, walks well on a leash, and knows sit, please (up on hind legs with paws together begging), come, off, and kennel. I don't know if he knows down or stay or leave it yet.

He's scratching some, although the rescue has had him on Frontline. Maybe allergies?

His coat is longer now than it was in his rescue group picture--more a puppy cut, which I think is really cute. So here's a picture from today.

[Irishmommy]

This is my purebred Lhasa. I still say yours is a shih tzu.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/P4220653.jpg

[Arduinna]

He looks awfully big to be a shih tzu, I used to have one.

[blessedwithboys]

shih tzu over lhasa apso for sure, but also definitely a mix. poodle or maybe some kind of terrier. your new baby looks just like one we used to have and we knew both of the parents so we were sure it was half shis tzu/half terrier (forgot what kind, sorry) he's a cutie for sure. ours had the underbite, too.

OT, but Irishmommy, what kind of camera did you use for the pic of your dog? i'm camera shopping and i'm really impressed by the clarity in the pic! any chance it is a canon?

[ReadingMama]

He's a great little dog. Not a fan of grooming though! I think his personality is that of a shih tzu, but his size is more lhasa apso. He's 10 inches tall at withers and weighs 18 pounds (and he's not overweight). His muzzle is shorter than some lhasa apsos, but it's not really pushed in like the pictures of shih tzus I've seen (it's 1.5 inches from eyes to tip of nose). He's probably a mix of the two.

Either way, we're really happy with him. He loves kids! And doesn't really bark. Only once in 48 hours have we heard something bark-like and that was when we told him to "speak" for a treat. We've started calling him Silent Bob!

[Arduinna]

super cute pics of him!

[ReadingMama]

What a beautiful dog! I can see that the muzzle is longer than Bob's is.

Originally Posted by Irishmommy

This is my purebred Lhasa. I still say yours is a shih tzu.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/P4220653.jpg

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by blessedwithboys

OT, but Irishmommy, what kind of camera did you use for the pic of your dog? i'm camera shopping and i'm really impressed by the clarity in the pic! any chance it is a canon?

I think it was my Olympus.

[ReadingMama]

Oops-double post.