I acquired my first Lhasa, Tsu-Tsu, in November,1972. The breeder suggested I take her to some matches. From there we graduated to dog shows. At the shows I saw a few dogs of a different, and most beautiful type. These were dogs from the West Coast, from Mrs. Grace Licos. As I began to study the breed, I realized that Tsu-Tsu was not the authentic type of Lhasa with which I wanted to continue. In the Spring of 1973, I met Mrs. Licos and asked her for a bitch puppy when she had one. Later that year, Licos Pechen-La arrived. Tsu- Tsu was spayed and given to a family who loved her dearly until she died at age 18.
Pechen
-La was
bred to a beautiful Hamilton dog from California, Ch. On-Ba Jo-Bo. In
December,
1974, this breeding produced my first home-bred Champion, Kai-La-Sha
Dolma. Dolma was the most beautiful animal I have ever owned,
and
the most intelligent. She had only 3 litters, and produced 4 Champions.
After knowing Dolma, there was no thought of breeding anything but a
line
derived from Hamilton and pure Tibetan sources.
At this point, I began corresponding with Gloria Fowler (Everglo). I had been impressed by several dogs of her breeding. They had the type plus the soundness and movement I was looking for. Gloria sent me a little red bitch of superb type, Everglo Autumn Amber. I later acquired a succession of dogs from her, most of them loaned to me for breeding, and I sent dogs to her. Our working relationship continued until her death in 2010. When I visited Gloria, I was not disappointed. Old Everglo Rempa, at 16 years, moved like the wind around her small garden, as did many others. The temperaments of these dogs impressed me as well. All her males ran together peacefully, as did her females.
Later, another breeder gave me another Gloria Fowler bred, 8 year old bitch, Ch. Everglo Flair. I had her for a year or two, then sent her to retire with Laura Schein. This bitch was a queen among Lhasas! Laura loved her, and kept her in full coat until she died at age 17. At age 14, Flair won a specialty BOS from Veteran's class over a very large field of Champion Bitches. This 14 year old bitch sailed regally around the ring, leaving all the youngsters in the dust! There were few dry eyes as Laura's son, Darryl, accepted the rosette. The Judge, who was a Veterinarian, was shocked when he heard how old she was.
The soundness of this line, even well up in years, convinced me to stay with my Hamilton breeding. These dogs have all their teeth well into their teens. At age 10, they easily pass for age 2. They have correct heads, bodies and coats, and are very authentic in temperament.
I keep very few dogs - never more than 7 or 8 at a time. They live with me in my house. This has meant that we have bred very few puppies, and finished very few Champions. I am not an "exhibitor". I show my dogs only when I have one I consider so exceptional that I feel everyone should see him or her. Lhasa Apsos are companions first and foremost, and I feel that a good Lhasa must have the characteristics that make it a good companion. The Lhasa Apso is also an animal which developed in the harsh conditions of the Himalayan mountains. A good Lhasa, therefore, should be an animal equipped for survival at high altitude and extremes of climate and terrain, requiring a minimum of care. This philosophy has guided my breeding for over 25 years.
 Le and Phema - 1950 Imports from Tibet |
Correctly researched and worded standards, and an accurate understanding of the breed's history, are really fundamentally important to the breeding of purebred dogs. How can people expect to successfully breed without an educated understanding of these two fundamentals.
I think a significant number of breeders today are actually trying to produce dogs that fit the standard but this is a multi-generational plan down a road strewn with pitfalls. The biggest is lack of genetic diversity because virtually every Lhasa in the US goes back to a small handful of dogs. The lesson I see is: Once begun, a breed's distortion (as a breed) is difficult to remedy.
No longer under the rigid natural control of the homeland of the breed, the Lhasa Apso suffers from the fact that there are no controls except the market place and very little emphasis on the original breed's purpose and living conditions.
American breeders have a tendency to be fad breeders. In the German Shepherd, this occurred throughout the history of the breed. In the past, though, whenever the breeders dug themselves into a hole, someone brought over an import from Germany and revitalized the breed by offering a correction back to the standard. In the Lhasa we have had no possibility of bringing in corrective stock because of the closed studbook in the USA and Canada.
Yes, at this time, Americans are "fad breeders". Unfortunately for the breed, the control of type by means of a standard works only so long as the vision of the people in charge is on course. I believe that somewhere along the way, the powers that be got into their heads that if a slightly compact dog is good, a very short back is even more so. If very narrow rears were unattractive, then very wide rears were desirable. If a particular type of construction achieved a flashy look in the ring, then that was correct construction for the breed. Many Apsos now often have concave backs, short upper arms, upright shoulders and tipped up pelves.
I think that US breeders found breeding for an overangulated rear and a relatively straight shoulder with little angulation to the upper arm produced a dog that had a movement that could win in the ring. Forget that the result is an unnatural, man-made gait which is extremely hard on the entire front assembly. It looked right but for the wrong reasons. It definitely didn't produce a dog that could hold together over time or even do all the things Lhasa Apsos should be able to do. Among these jobs is jumping and scaling obstacles.
The original function of the breed is that of an hardy mountain companion and watchdog. Its mountain heritage requires a dog that has great economy of motion and minimal wear on his body. He is athletic and well-muscled with great agility and elasticity. "Great economy of motion and minimal wear on his body" is not possible with a showring oriented, man-made gait. A whole bizarre show dog subculture exists in which show ring awards are seen as validation of a breeding program even when the show dogs have become absurd exaggerations of their original ancestors. I know of no breed whose original work or reason for being was to trot in a small circle inside a square bordered by baby gates. Certainly the Apso was never bred for this in Tibet!
I began this web site as an educational resource and a meeting place for people and ideas. My orientation toward the breed is more that of a naturalist and conservitor than a show breeder. Central to my mission is the idea of preservation of the original and authentic type of Lhasa Apso. Not only is this breed nearly extinct in its native land, but the people and the culture that created it as well. Mass killing and deportation of the Tibetan people, and resettlement by Chinese is going on as I write this. This genocide and culturecide is largely ignored by the western governments and press. We who have Lhasas own a little part of the Tibetan culture. It is up to us to preserve it, unchanged. Changing the survival oriented type of the true Tibetan Lhasa in response to fad and fashion, is a betrayal of our responsibility to care for these little pieces of Tibet entrusted to us.