Lhasa Apso vs Tibetan Terrier

The Lhasa Apso breed has a playful personality and often keeps their puppy behaviors longer than other dog breeds. Intelligent and curious, Lhasas have a moderate energy level and don’t require a lot of exercise. But they are stubborn, so they need consistent training to keep them well-behaved members of the family. The most important thing to a Lhasa Apso is to be wherever you are; they will suffer from separation anxiety when you’re gone for long.

Originating in Tibet as guard dogs (can you believe it?), these pups mainly apply for “lap dog” jobs today. Still, it’s important to start socializing your Lhasa Apso puppy and train them early to help them be welcoming to strangers.

Lhasa Apsos typically do better with older children but can get along with small children if they grow up together. Be sure to teach all children how to respectfully and safely interact with dogs. Lhasas don’t always do well with other dogs or cats, but with proper socialization, they can be trained to successfully live with other animals.

The Tibetan Terrier packs plenty of enviable traits into their personality, including funny, mischievous, independent-minded and extremely smart. They’re an interesting combination of toddler and tween, cat and class valedictorian.

With a gentle temperament, the Tibetan Terrier’s biting tendencies are lower than the average dog breed, but be aware that, in their playful youth, they tend to be pretty mouthy and are prone to nibbling. It’s wise to invest in a few chew toys.

The Tibetan Terrier makes a devoted pet and is very compatible with cats and other dogs. They’re great with kids, too, but because Tibetan Terriers are a pretty sensitive breed, they’ll do better with older kids who understand the importance of boundaries and respect for a dog’s space. It’s always advised to supervise any dog breed when playing around toddlers and younger ones. Kids should also be taught how to interact with dogs.

These dogs are friendly, though not quite extroverts, so they can appear pretty standoffish and aloof to guests in the home. On the other paw, this ancient breed evolved as alert dogs for Buddhist monks in monasteries, so their instinct is to bark whenever someone approaches the door. But, as you now know, their bark is worse than their bite!