November: A Time of Thanksgiving

Hi and Happy Fall with all its fading beauty. Our trees had beautiful colors and then suddenly they were naked and our lawn was covered with wilting brown leaves. I think the lesson of fall is that all good things come to an end, Lesving fond memories, and giving us reason to look forward new and different good things to come. Yes, I am basically an optimist.

And of course November is a time for reflection and thankfulness for what we have received and what we have learned.

Even when I was teaching and appreciated the day off that national vacation days offered, I questioned why Veterans Day (and Memorial Day too) was a day off of school. I always thought the students should be in school and the day should include lessons and information about the reason for setting aside a day to honor our veterans, as a way to awaken appreciation in our youth for those who have served our country. 

And that brings me to Gettysburg! This year our Lhasa Apso National Specialty was held in Gettysburg. I was so grateful to be able to be there, not just to see all the Lhasas and friends from across the USA (and this year from Poland and Australia) but also because I have always wanted to go to Gettysburg and learn some history.

With that in mind, Jan Graunke, LaVonne Bennett, and I took one day off from the dog show and toured parts of the battlegrounds and visited the museum, which is part of the Visitors Center. We also watched a movie about the battles and were able to view the impressive cyclorama that depicted the battle. I admit to needing to suppress tears.

You can see the cyclorama on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLm1CDBSxQ4

Here are some of the photos we took.

Above: The three of us with Lincoln at the Visitors Center

Below: A couple monuments and a monument at sunset

As for the specialty, in one way it was disappointing and that is because the entry was so small. The bulk of the entry was Specials (dogs that have already earned their champions and are vying for Best of Breed). The largest entry that week was only 46. However, they were all beautiful. Lhasas, their exhibitors, and spectators had a great time.

Our entries seem to get smaller each year. 

I am guilty of contributing to the the paucity of Lhasas  present taking not entering Deacon. By the entry deadline, I was sure that Deacon was blowing coat. He'd earlier had a fairly brief time of coat change and I knew I was not going to get off that easily. So at entry deadline, I decided that if I did not want to be dealing with a coat change, Deacon needed to stay home. Good thing too, because my husband reported that he was having to groom Deacon daily and was getting piles of coat out of him. Lynn was glad to turn the chore back over to me when I got home!

In spite of not having a dog, I did get to take someone else's Lhasa puppy into the ring for a few minutes. I also got to see Karen show Floyd (Joyslyn Karlyn Dark Side of the Moon) in the puppy classes each day. Floyd is a litter brother to Cosmo, Gabby, GI, and Kira whose parents are Millie and Chance. He was super excited to see me, but Karen told me he was super exciteed to see everybody!  

It was also a pleasure to watch LaVonne show Misti (GCHB CH Mon Ami'N Joyslyn's Shades of Summer) in the Veteran Competitions. Misti won the Celebration of Veterans Competition and also Best Veteran in Show. Misti is 9 years old. Some of you who are reading this have puppies out of Misti and Archie (Lacey, Minako, Maple, and Pixie)

Here are pictures:

 

A random picture of me at the National:

===========================

Here is the official photo of Deacon winning Non-Sporting Group 4 in Freeport. It arrived too late to put in the October blog.

Photos and Notes

Lisa sent this Halloween photo of her Lhasa boys. The black and tan is Ebony's brother, Duncan.

Michelle wrote about Sunny: "He loves to run the backyard! He’s so beautiful when he walks and runs! He got that from his Sire and Dam! " She sent a video of Sunny running and here is a still from the video and a photo of him on his 5th birthday.

Bernie The Science Dog is back for another school year of sharing and helping 3rd graders in a Texas school. The topic this year is weather. The weather topic leading to this photo was "wind." Here is a still from the video Jody sent showing Bernie "facing the wind!"

Courtney sent photos and a report on Amelia's recent show. "The judge for breed told me I had a nice dog with a great rear, so that was encouraging. She seems to really enjoy being in the ring with the other dogs in group." And she posted about Amelia's first year on her FB page: "Happy 1st Birthday Amelia! In her first year she traveled through or to eight states, did four shows, got Star Puppy and graduated from advanced obedience class. Can't believe she's not a puppy anymore! Thank you so much Joyce Johanson for entrusting her to me and for all your guidance!"

Judy G. wrote, "Nyx's  Rally Novice title on October 19. Ty, Winny, Onyx and Winter received their Fit Dog Bronze title. To earn the title  we walked 55 minutes weekly in addition to  their fitness related titles (Rally Novice).

Judy told us last month that she was taking Winter and Nyx to rally trials. She let me know that they both did well!  Judy wrote, "With 2 qualifying scores, Winter received 2 first place ribbons. I was worried because at last Wednesday night's class she "forgot" how to sit and down! I will finish her title with a Rally Virtual trial before the end of the year.

Nyx had 2 qualifying scores and a second place and received her Rally Novice title! She will begin her Rally Intermediate title with a virtual trial at the end of the year."

Here is a photo of Nyx and her ribbons.

Judy L posted photos of her 14 year old girls on  the occasion of their birthday. She wrote, "Happy 14th Birthday, Raven and Whisper! 7 weeks old in the first photo. Raven (left) is a finished Champion with 3 litter contributions to the Joyslyn breeding program. She is great-great grandma to Gusto Spitz and Lippy Maverick Jones.

Whisper (right) is a miraculous girl who was left practically stillborn in her birth sack by her dam. Mom Mira’s first litter. Breeder Joyce Johanson as Superwoman swooped in and applied all possible live-saving procedures, to no avail. Whisper was softly placed to the side on a towel, while Superwoman assisted with the delivery of the remaining puppies.

Superwoman, out of the corner of her eye, noticed subtle movement of the presumed stillborn puppy. Whisper was alive! She is a survivor of a miracle birth, with no adverse effects to live a full and normal life. Heck, she is 14 years old today. From stillborn to 14 years - yippee!

Whisper is great-great aunt to Gusto Spitz and Lippy Maverick Jones.

Thank you, Raven, for your contributions to the Breeding Program which eventually led to Gus and Lippy, two of your great-great grandsons, becoming Laffoon Munchkins.

Whisper, thank you for your continued exuberance and joie de vivre, and being Besties with Raven. You were nicknamed, “Kissie” as a young girl because kiss, kiss, kiss was your favorite thing. Well, probably after your daily soccer practices with any of your 30 tennis balls!"

From Sally, "Ginger and Jaxon are so good! Every day is a great day with these two. How could anyone have a bad day when they are privileged enough to wake up to lhasas?!"

Puppy News

We have a litter that is now 2 weeks old. Those of you who are on the waiting list, please be patient. I will be contacting you in a couple weeks in the order in which you are on the list. These puppies will not be leaving until after the holidays. Holidays are too crazy to be a good time to get a puppy.

The sire of the litter is a dog named Monkee who belongs to my friend Jan. Here is his picture.

The dam is our Pearl.

There are 2 females and 3 males in the litter. I plan to keep a girl. The sire's owner may want a puppy also.

That said, we also have a second litter that is due on December 1. The sire of that litter is Josh.

The dam is Ebony.

Back to Our Past

In previous blogs I introduced you to Lhasas that were the beginnings of Joyslyn's Lhasas. The dog that really got us into showing was Multiple Group Winning American & Canadain CH Joyslyn's Piece of the Rock ROM (Register of Merit). Rocky's sire was BIS Am Can CH Arborhill's Ra-Kieh.Dam was our own Joyslyn's Miss Buffy Jo.

Rocky earned his first point at age 7 months.

(Yes that is me showing him at age 24!!)

 A few months later, I asked a professional handler, Marge Lewis, who became a dear friend and mentor to this novice exhibitor, to take Rocky to Texas for a big specialty week there. He came home needing only one point to be a champion.

Rocky was specialed, shown by Marge, and won many group placements in the US. At the end of his career in the US, we sent him with a handler on the east coast, Bill Trainer, who showed him in Canada, earning his championship and 3 Group 1's. 

Here are a few of the many photos we have in Rocky's album.

Rocky won the Group in St. Louis, and a Hallmark photographer took the photo below that eventually appeared in two Hallmark calendars.

Rocky in Canada with Bill Trainer after winning a Group 1 placement.

Below: Rocky selected as the "Ideal" Lhasa in Dog World magazine.

Two Topics That You Need to Know About

As an intro to Topic 1, I'll tell you about a Sci-Fi movie I saw years ago. I cannot recall its title, but what I have always remembered is that the house pet in the movie was what we today would call an "AI dog." He was loved by the children but was not a living, breathing animal. "UGH," I thought.

I was reminded of that movie when I read the following article. You will think, "Oh, that's only one crazy town. Weird, but no big deal. It has nothing to do with me." 

I think you would be wrong. We all have seen how crazy ideas tend to spread from "crazy" to policy. 

Sometimes when I think ahead to the time when I will give up showing and breeding, I get so sad. Lhasas have been part of my life since 1973. These crazy laws, which may have begun with "Good Intentions" (or probably not), make breeding more difficult not only for puppy mill breeders and backyard breeders, but also for preservation breeders like me -- with repercussions also for puppy buyers. Where are you going to get your puppies when everyone gives up? When the crazy laws produce unintended results? 

So what can pet owners as well as breeders do? AKC outlines how you can help. Read the following article.

You will see Lhasa Apsos on the list. If you are a Lhasa lover, think what that means for our beloved breed.

This comes from AKC.

Here goes: 

=================== "On October 22, the Ojai City Council voted 4-1 to adopt a first-in-the-nation law that prohibits the breeding of dogs and cats with “congenital anatomical features” that are likely to cause the animal or its offspring to suffer pain, deformity, or difficult expressing natural behaviors, difficulty breathing, difficulty with physical exertion or exercise, or difficulty breeding. It provides no exceptions.    The City Council also voted unanimously to amend Ojai’s mandatory spay/neuter law by eliminating exceptions for (1) dogs that compete in, or are in training for, American Kennel Club (AKC) events and , (2) dogs that are owned by AKC Breeders of Merit.  It now allows exceptions for male dogs over 40 pounds to wait until it is two years of age, and for female dogs over 40 pounds until it has experienced one heat cycle.  Exceptions remain for service dogs (including those in training), law enforcement and search-and-rescue dogs, and those certified in writing by a veterinarian that the dog cannot be sterilized until after a certain date or because sterilization would be detrimental to the health of the animal.   Both ordinances take effect 30 days after passage.   About Ojai Ojai is a small city, with a population of approximately 7,500.  It already requires the mandatory spay/neuter of dogs by the time they reach six months of age.     In addition to these new anti-breeding laws, the town is known for other first-in-the-nation animal rights-driven laws it has adopted.  In September 2024, the town adopted an ordinance that grants bodily autonomy—or habeas corpus rights—to elephants.  This means legally, elephants cannot be imprisoned against their will inside city limits.  No elephants are known to be located in Ojai.       Summary Modeled on European breeding regulations, the “unethical breeding” ordinance prohibits any person in Ojai from breeding a dog or cat with congenital anatomical features that are likely to cause the animal or its offspring to suffer pain, deformity, or difficulty expressing natural behaviors, difficulty breathing, difficulty with physical exertion or exercise, or difficultly breeding; and supports this prohibition with a preamble of findings that feature unsubstantiated claims about the number and distribution of animal suffering.    The ordinance provides a lengthy list of characteristics it considers likely to cause suffering:  Snout length comprising less than one-third of the animal’s head, from the top of the skull to the tip of the muzzle. Abnormal or labored breathing sounds during rest, including snoring and snorting when awake. Body shapes, including, but not limited to, head size and shape, relative to pelvis that increase the risk of dystocia, perinatal complications, or death. Body shape or proportions that do not allow animals to mate naturally without human intervention. Exposed sclera when the animal is looking straight ahead caused by shallow eye orbit in the skull. Vertebral malformations, including, but not limited to, “corkscrew tails” and the lack of tails. Sensory loss, including, without limitation, blindness and deafness. Visible skin folds on top of the muzzle. Excessive skin folds on body, head, or legs. Unnatural posture. Stenotic, narrowed, or closed nostrils. Elongated or thickened soft palate. Hypoplastic trachea. Everted laryngeal saccules. Lagophthalmos. Exophthalmos. Lameness or movement disorders. Neurological disorders. Chondrodystrophy. The ordinance empowers peace officers, code enforcement officers, and others designated by the city manager to enforce the prohibitions.    AKC’s Position and Commentary AKC strongly opposes the breeding of dogs by those who do so without regard for the dogs’ welfare, and takes a strong line on animal cruelty, including implementing a policy that suspends the AKC privileges of anyone charged with animal cruelty involving dogs, and complete revocation of such privileges of anyone convicted of cruelty.   Respectfully, AKC views Ojai’s latest anti-breeding ordinances as (1) unsubstantiated, uninformed, and difficult-to-enforce extremist targeting of breeds, breed characteristics, and responsible purebred dog breeders that is primarily intended to gain media attention and notoriety; (2) a failure of contributing anything of positive consequence for dogs or the ongoing efforts by purebred dog fanciers and veterinary researchers to use science-based approaches to further improve animal health; and (3) ineffective in addressing the issues of shelter populations that are commonly understood to be caused by socioeconomic factors, veterinary care costs, and the return of shelter pets acquired during the Covid-19 pandemic, not by responsible purebred dog breeders who compete in AKC events.     While the new “unethical breeding” law does not explicitly list targeted breeds, the Administrative Report that accompanies the ordinance did.  After incorrectly equating a scientific description of head shape (brachycephaly) with physiological deviations found in dogs with Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), the report listed the following as common brachycephalic breeds, thereby implying a direct relationship to BOAS: Boston Terriers, Boxers, Bullmastiffs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chinese Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, “English” Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Pugs, and Shih Tzu.    The report also included a list of breeds with short limbs that it claimed, without scientific evidence, are prone to cartilage defects, joint disease, and a predisposition to spinal problems: Basset Hounds, Beagles, Dachshunds, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, and Scottish Terriers.    The Administrative Report, like the official findings included in the ordinance, failed to provide any statistical or scientific substantiation of the claims it made about canine health and suffering.  It also failed to provide any information on the work being done both in America and abroad to improve animal health, including veterinary training and implementation of the BOAS Grading Scheme.  These, along with the elimination of exceptions to the mandatory spay/neuter ordinance that were designed to benefit AKC Breeders of Merit and dogs that compete in AKC events, indicate that both ordinances and the supporting documentation were written with an anti-dog, anti-breeding, and anti-AKC bias often championed by animal rights groups.    Moreover, the “unethical breeding” ordinance’s extensive list of conditions that it classifies as “likely to cause suffering” features medical terms usually only understood by veterinarians, other experienced veterinary medical professionals, and purebred dog breeders.  However, the ordinance does not empower those with this type or level of specialized knowledge to enforce it.  Instead, everyday peace and code enforcement officers are given that power.  AKC believes this is a disparity that will lead to uninformed, onerous, inconsistent, and potentially prejudicial enforcement, if the ordinance is enforced at all.     What You Can Do All breeders, owners, and residents in Ojai, along with all AKC-affiliated clubs, and all national breed parent clubs, are strongly encouraged to express opposition to the ordinance to the members of the Ojai City Council. (Scroll down for discussion points.) District 1: Councilmember Leslie Rule; (805) 646-5581 District 2: Councilmember Rachel Lang; (805) 646-5581 District 3: Mayor Pro Tempore Andrew Whitman; (805) 646-5581 District 4: Councilmember Suza Francina; contactCD4@lacity.org; (805) 646-5581 At-Large: Mayor Betsy Stix; (805) 646-5581 Some points to be sure to mention to your councilmember: This ordinance ends the ability of responsible city residents to produce certain breeds of dogs and establishes a dangerous precedent for radical legislative proposals around California and the rest of the country. This ordinance assumes that all brachycephalic animals, including dogs, suffer from serious health issues. In fact, brachycephaly does not equal unhealthy.  Across all dog and other animal types, multiple factors can contribute to differences in breathing, including physical condition, environment, and genetics.  Nevertheless, all breeding of brachycephalic and chondrodystrophic breeds of dogs–regardless of health, breeder background, fancier status, or club affiliation—will be prohibited under the ordinance, which will have a chilling effect on all responsible dog breeding. This ordinance implies that all who breed dogs do so without regard for the dogs’ welfare. Facts demonstrate that responsible purebred dog breeders are passionate about both preserving breed characteristics and producing healthier successive generations. Protecting and promoting responsible breeders and the puppies they produce is a better solution than blanket bans based on inaccurate or incomplete information that creates a perverse incentive for city residents to buy puppies of unknown source without predictable traits or health backgrounds. Ojai’s residents would be better served through enforcing and supporting the strengthening of California’s consumer protection laws for pet purchasers. Visit Breeding Regulations and Restrictions in the AKC Legislative Action Center for more talking points and information.   Staying Vigilant About What Local Governments Are Doing Is Key Unfortunately, AKC only learned of Ojai’s latest anti-breeding ordinances after they had been adopted, not before.  While we use sophisticated government relations tracking systems that keep us up-to-date on federal and state-level issues, no tracking system in existence today, including ours, accurately or timely tracks what the more than 33,000 local jurisdictions in the United States are up to.  And while media reports may be helpful, search engines and news aggregators provide only partial information.    These are the reasons why AKC strongly encourages all purebred dog fanciers and breeders to be vigilant about what dog-related issues are being discussed in your communities.  Here are some simple strategies to use: Monitor local news outlets to learn of any animal incidents in your community. Incidents are often the catalyst for changes in the law. Following their social media pages aggregates their reports for you into one convenient location. Follow your lawmakers on social media. They often report about their accomplishments in office because they want to be seen as doing of something of benefit for their constituents. Regularly check city and county websites, or subscribe to their social media accounts if they have them. Meeting agendas and calendars are often posted on these sites. If your city or county has an animal advisory committee, information about it is usually posted on their websites.  When something dog-related does come up, it is vitally important that you share that information with AKC Government Relations (GR).  A simple email to doglaw@akc.org with your city or county’s name and a link to online reports, or a simple summary written by you, is all it takes to alert us. And here is another downer for dog breeders: https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/u-s-congress-bad-breeder-laws-advance-quickly-lame-duck-take-action-now/" I would that the pet owners of the dogs on the list can and should should join breeders in writing opinions to our local, state, and federal leaders. ==================== Topic 2: Those of you who have purchased puppies from me know that my sales agreement includes a caution about giving the Lepto vaccination. New versions of the vaccine are now available and are supposed to be safer. The following article explains -- but note that it also contains some cautions. The Lepto vaccine is now considered to be one of the core vaccines. It is not to be given before age 12 weeks. It should not be given at the same time as another vaccine. It should be given annually. New News about the Lepto vaccine: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/announcing-updated-canine-core-vaccine-recommendations-leptospirosis-now-included/#:~:text=The%20leptospirosis%20vaccine%20has%20been,reactions%2C%20including%20death%20in%20puppies. Finally If you made it this far, thanks and congratulations! I hope you have a Thanksgiving that is all Thanksgivings are supposed to be. Make a list of 10 things you are thankful for and share your list -- even if you just re-read and share it again with yourself. It helps! Regards, Joyce

October: Happy Halloween!

 

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came—

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.

The Chestnuts came in yellow,
The Oaks in crimson dressed;

The lovely Misses Maple
In scarlet looked their best;

All balanced to their partners,
And gaily fluttered by;

The sight was like a rainbow

New fallen from the sky... 

~ George Cooper

Here it is: The end of October already! I am packing for the trip to PA for the American Lhasa Apso Club's National Specialty. It is always a nice week, especially seeing Lhasas and their exhibitors from across the country. Deacon is blowing coat and is staying home. I am looking forward to giving the Lhasa Judges Education seminar.

Results of the Survey of Lhasa Owners Who Purchased Their Dogs As Adults

My September blog post resulted in an additional survey return. So...here are the results. Twenty three people were emailed the survey. Two emails were returned as not deliverable. Of the 21 who received the survey, 10 (48%) responded by the end of September.

Four of the 10 (40%) had purchased more than one of my adult Lhasas. Those people filled out survey forms for each of their dogs. Altogether, I received responses for 15 adult Lhasas, 11 females and 4 males. The ages of the dogs at time of purchase ranged from 1.5 years (youngest) to 16 years (oldest), with the majority between ages of 3.5 - 6 years.  All ten respondents reported this was not their first Lhasa.

Regarding the dogs' preference for a family member in the new home: 12 dogs had preference toward the female in the family, 2 had preference for the male, and 1 was reported as preferring both equally.

In response to the question "Based on your experience with buying an adult, would you do so again?" the majority (11) said "Yes"  and 4 said "No," but three of those explained that it was only because they were getting too old to get another dog.

The question regarding the dogs' ease of integrating into the household routines resulted in 10 responses from "fairly easy" to "easy" and 5  from "tentative" to "challenging." Four of those 5 qualified their statements by writing that it was nothing that time and trust did not take care of.

Responses to a question asking how long it took the dogs to "settle in" ranged as follows:

Right away (2)

A week (4)

3 weeks (1)

2 months (1)

3 months (1)

6 months (2)

Over a year (1)

Hard to say (1)

No response (2)

One question asked respondents to describe the dog's personality and/or favorite activities. Here are some of the responses: 

About Flame: "She was so outgoing but sweet. The sweetest Lhasa we have ever had. She loved to give kisses and snuggle. She was just as sweet with other animals. I can’t recall a time she ever growled outside of play. She enjoyed walks and hiking and being outside in general. Her favorite toy was a cat wand."

About Baron: "Watching for squirrels on the ground out the patio door.  Even the birds on the ground will get a “Wuff” and scratch at the door.  What a joyful run he has across the yard to stand and be disappointed the fence or a tree took his critters."

About Maggie: "little bit sassy, extremely loving, gives sweet kisses, loves cuddles, gives high fives and does wonderful morning stretches on her front

and back legs. Favorite toy:  her toy you sent with her (it was a frog).  Favorite activities: being with her people.

About Izzy: "Izzy loved everyone. She never met a stranger. She was a showoff in the agility ring, and chose the obstacles she wanted to do, so I tried rally with her and at her first trial she laid down at the start line. I got the message."

About Raven: "Raven loves to race the inner perimeter of the yard when I arrive home. She is the fastest runner of all the Lhasas. She can leap/fly/ through the air for maybe 4-5 feet. She is so graceful and confident in her movements. Raven doesn’t really play with toys – no ‘baby’ held in her mouth."

About Belle: "Belle had many “little buddies”:  The stuffed toys were placed in the bars of her wire crate. She would pull one out, play with her. Lamb chop was probably her favorite."

About Winnie: "Pretty laid back, just wants to be near us, mainly wife."

About Onyx: "She loves going to rally and agility class. She greets everyone and their dogs. She loves her walks.  She never pulls and changes her gait perfectly in rally class. Going to the garden center is a favorite spot to walk the aisles and get treats from the employees. We have “Schwan Service” (ice cream and frozen food) stop every 2 weeks. She sits by the truck and patiently waits for her treats."

About Rafe: "Rafe is some lazy; does only a trot for his fastest movement outside.  We do some tricks before mealtime.  He loves the tv room, stretched out, snoring.  His favorite toy right now is a stuffed animal “sloth”;  “monkey” is a close second. He will play fetch with his stuffed animal.  He likes to raid the toy bins and return to his crate with a prize.  He likes his kong with treats.  He now gets excited when we get ready to get in the car. "

About Chewie: "Chewie loves his walks.  We go for 3 long walks a day which is good for me since I retired last year. He has a toy bin in the family room and loves to grab a toy for us to play fetch. He loves to chew on his non rawhide bones and he also likes puzzles with treats. He’s pretty good with those puzzles. He also loves to watch TV.  He actually watches the shows. If an animal or minion or something he doesn’t recognize pops up he runs over to the TV and barks.  He also loves watching football.  He is a big Packer Fan."  

About Willow: "Any of the toys that you sent with them she loves.  She likes to shake them and growl, bop them on the floor!  Baron is also a favorite “Toy” of hers."

About Winter:"She is a high energy dog with an over the top personality. She is active all day, and when it’s Wednesday she  knows it’s rally day. She loves to practice  the rally signs and run the agility course in the backyard."

About Cinder: She is loving and very smart, and very funny. She learns quickly and easily. She relates very well to our 16 year old Scottie. As you know, her favorite toy is any AFLAC duck that talks. She loves and plays with the ones that don't talk any more, but she goes quickly to the others if they call her  - "Aflac!!!"

Cinder's newest procedure is a morning ritual. Janice rises before I do and goes into the office. Cinder gets up with me. When we go into the office, I say, "Go get Mama Janice!" and with that she runs across to Janice's desk, jumps up on her and greets her with joy. Then, when she's finished, she comes back to me to get her morning hug. 

 

The survey asked "What advice do you have for someone who is considering buying an adult Lhasa?" Their responses follow. 

CD: "I would just say to be prepared to have a dog that might already be set in their ways. Lhasas are stubborn so it might take a while to adjust certain behaviors to your lifestyle. Not having to go through the puppy phase and worrying about making sure I did all the right things to create a well-rounded dog was nice. I got a young dog that was already well socialized, potty trained, and trained to behave during grooming."

MS: "Be patient. Know and understand the situation from which the dog is coming to your home. If you can find a positive reinforcement trainer close to you, take advantage of that opportunity to bond with your dog! Books by Patricia McConnell and Pat Miller are especially helpful to help with acclimation, bonding and training."

R&CF: "Maggie was our first adult dog purchase. Prior to her purchase, we had only purchased Lhasa puppies. We really didn't treat her any differently than the puppy purchases. Only difference [is] you skip the potty training and training overall, but the playfulness is still there.

We spend a lot of time with our Lhasas so we get to know each one's personalities and treat them accordingly. Our advice would be to enjoy them and get to know their personality."

JL: "Buy your Lhasa ONLY from a reputable, responsible, preservation Breeder who’s breeding program has proven that the dogs have a good temperament. Talk to the Breeder and ask questions about the adult dog(s) and which would the Breeder feel would be the best fit for your family/household, especially if you have or will have a multi-dog household. Breeders know their adult dogs. They would not place a dog in a home if they do not believe it would the best environment for the dog. Know that an adult Lhasa is not a puppy. Adult dogs from a Breeder mostly likely is a Conformation Champion, and was used for breeding purposes to continue the kennel’s line. Unless they are Obedience/Rally, or Agility Lhasas, they probably won’t know obedience commands. You certainly don’t want a show dog doing a sit or down when they are in the ring. Let your adult dog relax and feel at home. Boundaries are necessary, but you wouldn’t treat an adult human like a child (well, some people do). Make sure that you are gentle with your new adult dog when you are demonstrating what you expect of them. Praise and lots of tasty treats really help."

MR: "Understand the breed; no 2 dogs are “the same”:  train, train, train…….and be patient with new surroundings."

JM:"Be careful around young children. It took our dog a while to warm up to them."

JG: "Please consider adopting an adult. They are accustomed to traveling in crates, adjusting to different facilities, meeting new people, adjusting to your schedule and loving you unconditionally. They are healthy dogs and have all their shots."

T&SB: "Be patient when integrating them into the household. 

Don’t get discouraged if they take a bit to acclimate to their new environment. They may prefer one person more than another.

JG: "If you are interested in an adult Lhasa you need to purchase from a registered ALAC breeder. If you are looking for a quiet Lhasa who will sit and watch TV with you, or a high energy Lhasa,  the breeder will help you find your perfect choice. The breeder will have all the medical records and know the parents of your dog. Lhasas can live a long happy life with you and love you unconditionally.

GL:Listen to your  dog. It will tell you what is good and what is not. Make it easy. Don't have too many rules. And mostly, enjoy getting to know your Lhasa.

And Finally:

JK's comments are a fitting way to close this article: "Breaker and Shadow are the most wonderful dogs and I have enjoyed them so much. Thank you for allowing me to have them as part of my family. They give me a reason to get up every day and are the biggest blessings I have."

Indeed, "Life is Better When You Have A Lhasa to Love You!"

My thanks to the ten people who took the time to participate in the survey and to share their love of the breed and information about their dogs. You and your Joyslyn's Lhasas are in my heart. Your Lhasas were born here and I was first to touch them. I entrusted them to you. Thank you for loving them.

Courtney - Flame

Robert & Catherine - Maggie

Judy G - Izzy, Onyx, and Winter

Mary - Rafe and Belle

Jim - Winnie

Jill - Shadow and Breaker

Marsha - Baron and Willow

Todd and Susan - Chewie

Judy L - Raven

Gigi and Janice - Cinder

Joyce Johanson

Joyslyn's Lhasa Apsos

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Deacon and I went to our last show of the year at the end of September. On Saturday, he placed Best of Opposite Sex (meaning a female won Best of Breed). On Sunday, he won Best of Breed and went on to place 4th in the Non-Sporting group. I was very proud of him. He was iffy at the start, never having participated in regular group judging - the crowds, the cheering made him anxious. He pulled himself together and did a great job of presenting himself. 

Notes and Photos From Others

Courtney sent photos of Amelia. This is Amelia when she graduated from her advanced training class.

This picture shows that Amelia's coat is in the process of changing color!

 Pam and Paul sent this picture of their Lhasa trio (Rusty, Squirt, JoJo) sitting on the dash and mesmerized by something they see outside the window of the RV.

Rusty -- evidently so tired he has decided to lie down to eat.

Gayle sent this photo of her Gabby, all pretty in pink. So cute! She almost looks like a stuffed toy! Gayle wrote, "Gabby!!! We love her, just an incredible puppy, spunky, happy, responsive, playful...she  is perfect, thanks to you, You two are exceptional and we're so thankful!"

Lisa sent this photo of Duncan on the occasion of his 2nd birthday.

Sandy, Millie's new owner, wrote, "Millie has bonded with me.  We are best friends...She had some time figuring out stairs, if she does not think about it she just does them. As you know, she is smart.  Her new favorite treat is peanut butter.  

I love how her personality is coming out with her being more comfortable.  She is a great watch dog.  She sees everything. She loves to do flying leaps, from the floor to the couch and into my lap.  Her energy is amazing.  We walk everyday and she has found “pee-mail” at the fire hydrants.

Thank you for sweet Millie."

Lynn K, Autumn's new owner wrote, "Now to my favorite topic:  AUTUMN . I love her sooo much!  We are working through some normal transitional issues and will be fine. But I do wish she’d eat regularly...I guess she’s devouring her bowlful when she is hungry. I’m mixing it up with a bit of hot water too. Anyway she weighs 15 lbs and is Spritely and full of energy so I’m not too worried."

Later, Autumn (via Lynn) sent a note about their walk to Lake Michigan. "Autumn" wrote, "I enjoyed our walk and we even ran a bit. I am adjusting well but I will always miss you."

Nanda sent pictures of Ty and Gigi, full siblings from different litters (Gigi is the younger).

Here is Shelly's Tucker. He just had his 4th birthday!

Michelle sent this picture of Sunny when they visited the castle-like Clark Tower in Winterset, IA. She also sent this photo they took of the northern lights. Beautiful!

Judy G sent an update about her Lhasas. It sounds like she and they have been busy training and earning titles! Congratulations Judy!! "...On Saturday, October 19, we will be at a rally trial in LaPorte. If Onyx receives 2 qualifying scores she will  have her Rally Novice title.

Winter will be starting her Rally Excellent A title. The A  stands for I have not titled a dog in rally excellent before. She is working very well off lease and is very showy. 

Of course!! I think they will both do very well as they have been in the building before. Two years ago, Ty received his Rally Novice title and last year WInter received her RN at the show.

I just mailed to AKC all of the paperwork for Winter, Ty and Winny to receive their Fit Dog  Bronze titles."

This picture is of Judy L's Lippy and Gus.

Many thanks to all who sent photos and updates. 

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Other Stuff

Here are some links to websites that may be helpful or of interest to you.

 

The first is to a site that has some great Lhasa history and many photos.

https://apsorescuecolorado.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/lhasa-apso-bearded-lion-dog-of-tibet.pdf

The next two offer general information about vaccinations and calming treats.

 

Can You Over-Vaccinate Your Pet? 

https://www.petmd.com/news/view/can-you-over-vaccinate-your-pet-35190

Dog Calming Treats: Uses and Alternatives

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-calming-treats/?sc_src=email_1132182&sc_lid=67629638&sc_uid=F6bEljFOvp&sc_llid=53368&sc_eh=77fcf0f1188623611&utm_campaign=20240809-pr_comms&utm_source=emarsys&utm_medium=email&utm_term=LEARN+MORE

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Thanks for reading the blog and thanks again to those who participated in the survey and those who sent photos and updates about their Joyslyn's Lhasas.

Until next time...

Joyce