Breed History in Canada
With the problems faced by the Tibetan people this breed will only survive outside of its country of origin
The Lhasa Apso has been in Tibetan monasteries for 2000 years. The Himalayan ranges protected the flora, fauna and people of the region but by the late 1800's explorers were bringing specimens, including dogs, to the West. Traditionally Lhasa Apsos were not sold but were given as gifts by the monks of the monasteries.
The first Lhasa Apso's were brought to England in the mid-1850's with the first specimen registered with The Kennel Club (UK) in 1896. The First World War affected many breeds and the Lhasa Apso was not exempt showing and breeding became non-existetent and the breed lost its championship status in 1925. It was not until 1934 that the breed received final Kennel Club appoval as an "Apso" This was the smaller of the two types previously exhibited under the name Lhassa Terrier
During WW2 breeders were asked by The Kennel Club to keep breeding to a minimum, this was very hard on the rarer breeds but the Lhasa Apso survived and the numbers steadily increased during the post-war years
The Lhasa Apso has been in Tibetan monasteries for 2000 years. The Himalayan ranges protected the flora, fauna and people of the region but by the late 1800's explorers were bringing specimens, including dogs, to the West. Traditionally Lhasa Apsos were not sold but were given as gifts by the monks of the monasteries.
The first Lhasa Apso's were brought to England in the mid-1850's with the first specimen registered with The Kennel Club (UK) in 1896. The First World War affected many breeds and the Lhasa Apso was not exempt showing and breeding became non-existetent and the breed lost its championship status in 1925. It was not until 1934 that the breed received final Kennel Club appoval as an "Apso" This was the smaller of the two types previously exhibited under the name Lhassa Terrier
During WW2 breeders were asked by The Kennel Club to keep breeding to a minimum, this was very hard on the rarer breeds but the Lhasa Apso survived and the numbers steadily increased during the post-war years
The beginnings...
Although it is possible that Lhasa's were imported to Canada earlier than the 1930's, two Shanghai bred Lhasa Apsos are the first to be documented. Imported by Margaret Torrible of Vancouver in 1931 they were the first of the breed to be registered in Canada. They were Dinkie, a female, and Kokonor, a male. The two dogs were inspected by a Canadian Kennel Club director in November 1933 and accorded the registration of Lhasa Terriers. The name was later changed to Lhasa Apso.
A Mrs. Haas of Toronto had Lhasa Apsos in the 1950's - she bred under the Karandale prefix. Her foundation stock was imported from the United States and is behind the foundation stock of many kennels across Canada.
In 1960 the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) listed the following breeders:
By 1965 the list of Lhasa Apso breeders had grown to twenty. These included the above plus:
Dr. Brown had owned Lhasa Apsos since 1954 but only bred her first litter in 1962. The breed grew and expanded and by 1969 included
These two breeder-exhibitors were two of the five founding members of Lhasa Apso Canada
A Mrs. Haas of Toronto had Lhasa Apsos in the 1950's - she bred under the Karandale prefix. Her foundation stock was imported from the United States and is behind the foundation stock of many kennels across Canada.
In 1960 the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) listed the following breeders:
- Margaret Carroll - Carroll Reg'd - Ontario
- Mrs. Joseph Kersch - Metropolitan Reg'd - Quebec
- Barbara Ratledge - Las-A-Rab Reg'd - Alberta
- Georgia and James Roberts - Abbotsford - British Columbia
- Margaret J. Tee - Guys Lhasa Apsos - Ontario
By 1965 the list of Lhasa Apso breeders had grown to twenty. These included the above plus:
- Justine Campbell - Justdean Reg'd - British Columbia
- Lise Halvorsen - Crestwood Reg's - Ontario
- Dr. Ellen Brown - Balrene Reg'd - Ontario
Dr. Brown had owned Lhasa Apsos since 1954 but only bred her first litter in 1962. The breed grew and expanded and by 1969 included
- Arlene Miller - Desiderata Reg'd - British Columbia
- Ann-Marie Adderly - Nonsuch Reg'd - Ontario
These two breeder-exhibitors were two of the five founding members of Lhasa Apso Canada
Growing up...
In 1973 the Lhasa Apso Club of Quebec became Lhasa Apso Canada. As the breed continued to grow and establish itself in Canada we added more members from across most of the Provinces. In the 1970's these breeders included:
By the eighties the breed was well established in Canada. The 2000's has seen the number of breeders and litters shrink substantially - it is only with the help and guidance of several longtime breeder-exhibitors and the infusion of a few fresh faces that this breed can hope to survive in Canada.
- Peggy Bishop - Totem reg'd - British Columbia
- Audrey Carpenter - Treepine Reg'd - Ontario
- Barbara Chevalier - Lady W's Reg'd - Quebec
- Cathy Freeman - Irlee's Reg's - Ontario
- Neil Graves - Tru Blu Reg'd - Alberta
- Jan MacDonald - Jalco Reg'd - Manitoba
- Sheila Pike - Zaralinga Reg'd - Ontario
- Barbara Sellwood - Tahna Reg'd - Ontario
- Carolyn Trettler - Shangrilhasa - Alberta
- Judy Weinholdt - Exotic Reg'd - Manitoba
- Colin Williams - Kiodisan Reg'd - Newfoundland
- Audrey Wright - Tawntachu Reg'd - Ontario
By the eighties the breed was well established in Canada. The 2000's has seen the number of breeders and litters shrink substantially - it is only with the help and guidance of several longtime breeder-exhibitors and the infusion of a few fresh faces that this breed can hope to survive in Canada.
The first Best in Show Lhasa belonged to Georgia and James Roberts - Am/Can Ch. Teako of Abbotsford - a fitting accomplishment as they had had Lhasas since 1954. Canadian dogs have also done well in the United States with some very exceptional results at their Specialties. In 1969 Teako won the American Lhasa Apso Club's (ALAC) Western Regional Specialty, in 1971 Dr. Brown's Am/Can Ch. Balrene Chia Pao won the ALAC Eastern Regional Specialty and in 1985 the ALAC National Specialty was won by Am/Can Ch. Nexus Lam Kam Chin owned by Lillian Woods and bred by Gerry and Tony Vicklicky, all of Ontario.
Records...
In 2009 we saw the Canadian record for the most All Breed Best in shows broken by MBIS/BISS Am/Can Ch. Palasa Desiderata Spyanki - he ended the year with twenty-five Bests and ranked third in the All Breed standings. Spyanki was bred and owned by Alvin and Phylis Lust, Palasa Reg'd, and handled by Kim Cowie all of the Calgary area. Spyanki's show record was quite impressive - he has a total of 26 BIS, 74+ Group 1's and multiple other group placements.
The previous record of twenty was held by MBIS/BISS Am/Ber/Can Ch. Lasacas Jengo Taka Chance Too. Yoyo was bred, owned and exhibited by Betty Tennant, Jengo Reg'd, and Janet Lacasse, Lasacas Reg'd both of the Ottawa area.