Lhasapoo

The Lhasa Apso is a small but well-built dog with a distinctive long, flowing coat that was developed in the harsh climate of the Tibetan Himalayas. Males typically stand ten to eleven inches at the shoulder and weigh fourteen to eighteen pounds, while females are slightly smaller at nine to ten inches and twelve to sixteen pounds. The breed has a rectangular body shape, being longer than tall, which gives them a balanced and substantial appearance despite their small size. Their build is sturdy and well-muscled, reflecting their origins as hardy sentinel dogs in Tibetan monasteries and palaces. The coat of the Lhasa Apso is one of its most striking features, consisting of a heavy, dense double coat that parts naturally down the middle of the back and falls straight to the floor when fully grown. The outer coat is hard and straight, neither silky nor woolly, while the undercoat provides insulation. All colors and color combinations are acceptable in the breed standard, including golden, sandy, honey, dark grizzle, slate, smoke, black, white, brown, and parti-colors. Many Lhasas have darker ear tips and facial furnishings, and the coat color may change as the dog matures. The head of the Lhasa Apso is one of its most distinguishing characteristics, featuring a moderately narrow skull that is neither domed nor completely flat. The muzzle is of medium length, approximately one and a half inches from the stop to the tip of the nose, which should be black. The dark brown eyes are medium-sized and set looking straight ahead, giving the dog an alert and intelligent expression. Heavy head furnishings fall over the eyes, and a beard and whiskers frame the face. The pendant ears are heavily feathered and hang close to the cheeks. The tail is well-feathered and carried in a screw fashion over the back, often with a kink at the end.

The Poodle is an elegant, well-proportioned breed that comes in three recognized size varieties, all sharing the same breed standard except for height. The Standard Poodle stands over fifteen inches at the shoulder and typically weighs forty to seventy pounds; the Miniature Poodle measures ten to fifteen inches and weighs ten to twenty pounds; and the Toy Poodle stands under ten inches and weighs six to nine pounds. When crossed with the Lhasa Apso, Miniature or Toy Poodles are typically used to create a comparably sized companion dog. Regardless of size, all Poodles present a squarely built appearance with an air of distinction and dignity. The Poodle's most distinctive feature is its dense, curly coat, which consists of harsh-textured hair rather than fur and continues growing rather than shedding. This unique coat composition makes Poodles one of the most hypoallergenic breeds, producing significantly less dander than most dogs. The coat may be presented in various traditional clips for show purposes, including the Continental, English Saddle, and Sporting clips, or kept in a simple all-over trim for pet dogs. Coat colors span a wide range of solid shades including black, white, brown, apricot, cream, silver, blue, gray, red, and café-au-lait, with parti-colored Poodles gaining acceptance in some registries. The Poodle has a refined, moderately rounded skull with a long, straight muzzle and a well-defined stop. The dark, oval-shaped eyes convey an alert, intelligent expression that reflects the breed's keen mind. The ears are set at or slightly below eye level and hang close to the head, covered with long, wavy hair that adds to the breed's elegant silhouette. The neck is well-proportioned and rises gracefully from strong, smoothly muscled shoulders. The tail is set high and carried up, traditionally docked in countries where the practice remains legal, though natural tails are increasingly common. Poodles move with a light, springy, effortless gait that demonstrates their athletic heritage as water retrievers.