The Lhasa Apso should give the appearance of a well balanced, solid dog.

Gay, assertive, but chary of strangers.

(Refer Characteristics)

Heavy head furnishings with good fall over the eyes, good whiskers and beard. Skull moderately narrow, falling away behind the eyes in a marked degree; not quite flat, but not domed or apple shaped. Straight foreface, with medium stop. Nose black. Muzzle about 3.8 cm (1 1/2 ins) long, but not square; the length from tip of nose to be roughly one-third the total length from nose to back of skull.

Dark. Medium sized eyes to be frontally placed, not large or full, or small and sunk. No white showing at base or top of eye.

Pendant, heavily feathered. Dark tips an asset.

Upper incisors should close just inside the lower, i.e. a reverse scissor bite. Incisors should be nearly in a straight line. Full dentition is desirable.

Strong, well covered with a dense mane which is more pronounced in dogs than in bitches.

Shoulder should be well laid back. Forelegs straight, heavily furnished with hair.

The length from point of shoulders to point of buttocks greater than height at withers. Well ribbed up. Level topline. Strong loin. Well balanced and compact.

Well developed with good muscle. Good angulation. Heavily furnished. The hocks when viewed from behind should be parallel and not too close together.

Round and cat-like, with good pads. Well feathered.

High set, carried well over back and not like a pot-hook. There is often a kink at the end. Well feathered.

Free and jaunty in movement.

Top coat heavy, straight and hard, not woolly or silky, of good length. Dense undercoat.

Golden, sandy, honey, dark grizzle, slate, smoke, parti-colour, black, white or brown.

Ideal height:
Dogs: 25 cms (10ins) at shoulder
Bitches slightly smaller.

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.