Goldenapso Retriever -- Golden Retriever X Lhassa Apso

		Goldenapso Retriever
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Great Britain <> Tibet -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Goldenapso Retriever

The Goldenapso Retriever is a specific crossbreed. Its parents are the friendly Golden Retriever and the feisty Lhassa Apso. It will have a smooth, soft coat like its parent breeds, and may be longer than that of the Golden Retriever. It will need a lot of maintenance to match the requirements of its parent breed, the Lhassa Apso. They are excellent watchdogs and affectionate pets. He's not inclined to wander and can live in an apartment if he gets enough exercise. They are easy to train and love to please their family.

History of the Goldenapso Retriever

Although there isn't much information on the Goldenapso Retriever, we can study the two parent breeds, the Golden Retriever and the Lhassa Apso, to find out more about the hybrid.

	A little of the Golden Retriever
	The Golden Retriever originated in Scotland on the estate of a man known as Lord Tweedmouth (real name Sir Dudley Majoribanks). Lord Tweedmouth bred animals of all kinds and kept records of his breeding program. Tweedmouth was a waterfowl hunter and, in his notes, he described aiming for a superior retriever. He wanted the Retriever to have a superb nose, but he also wanted the dog to be more attuned to its human hunting companion than other popular hunting dogs of the day. He also wanted the Retriever to be loyal and have a good disposition away from the hunting ground. Lord Tweedmouth bred a dog he owned, Nous, to a now extinct Tweed Water Spaniel. The Tweed Water Spaniel was known for being extremely calm and loyal, but also an excellent Retriever. These characteristics were passed on to the Golden Retriever. He bred the descendants of Nous and the Tweed Water Spaniel with wavy and flat-coated Retrievers and a Red Setter. The result was the direct ancestor of the Golden Retriever we know today.

	Standard of the Golden Retriever
	A little of the Lhassa Apso
	The Lhassa Apso originated in Tibet. It was named after the holy city of Lhasa. The Lhassa Apso was bred as a guard dog for nobles and monks. The dog is mentioned in historical accounts as early as 800 BC. Because it was usually the guardian of the temples, this cute dog was considered sacred and buying one was almost impossible. In fact, for hundreds of years, the Dalai Lama gave Lhassa Apsos as gifts. The dog was always given in pairs and was considered a gift of prosperity. The Lhassa Apso made its way to America when the Dalai Lama gave a pair to American C. Suydam Cutting of New Jersey.

	Standard of the Lhassa Apso

Appearance of the Goldenapso Retriever

Due to the variation in size of the parent breeds, Goldenapso Retriever weight and size can vary considerably, even within the same litter. As a general rule, they are taller than the Lhassa Apso. The coat may be longer than that normally seen on the Golden Retriever, and will be gold, yellow, white, black or cream. The coat will be somewhat wavy and soft-textured. The eyes will be dark but bright, and the nose may be brown, black or the same color as the coat. It will have an athletic build with a confident stance. The tail is usually long with a slight curve. The muzzle is generally long like the Golden Retriever, but some may have the shorter, rounder nose of the Lhassa Apso.

Temperament of the Goldenapso Retriever

The Goldenapso Retriever is known as a friendly hybrid with an intense need for affection. They'll follow you from room to room, and are happy to accompany you on every outing. He's famous for his calm, caring nature and his ability to be independent and protective. He'll alert you to visitors and welcome them once the green light has been given. He loves to please and picks up commands easily, and will appreciate positive reinforcement during training and obedience classes. All in all, he's an excellent family dog, but like all dogs, he needs to be supervised in the presence of young children.

Needs and activities of the Goldenapso Retriever

The Goldenapso Retriever is a fairly active dog. It is recommended that he gets enough exercise to ensure he maintains a healthy weight. He may tend to put on weight if not exposed to regular activity. He'll do best in a home with a large yard in which he can be allowed to run and play. Don't forget that he was once a waterfowl catcher and will need to expend his energy in useful ways. He'll be happy to accompany you on a leisurely stroll. The dog park is an ideal place for the Goldenapso Retriever, he'll enjoy the opportunity to get out, run and play with other dogs. He needs regular exercise to avoid excessive chewing and barking.

Maintenance of the Goldenapso Retriever

The Goldenapso Retriever is not yet a common hybrid, but it is indeed a handsome hybrid with moderate grooming needs. Because of its thick, wavy coat, daily brushing is recommended to avoid tangles and debris. A pin brush will work best, and once the mats have been removed, a thorough combing will add to the shine. A shedding tool can work wonders in times of heavy shedding. His ears should be checked often, especially if he likes water, as the shape of the ear can prevent air circulation and encourage bacterial growth. Don't neglect teeth and nails, both are important areas of the grooming routine. Teeth should be brushed several times a week and nails trimmed every two months.

Details: Written by: Francis Vandersteen; Also available:; Last Updated: 06 April 2024; Hits: 420

Goldenapso Retriever -- Golden Retriever X Lhassa Apso