Pughasa

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

When the long-coated Lhasa Apso and the short-coated Pug are bred, the offspring are usually born with medium-to-long fur, but with an incredible personality and and an all-around propensity to enjoy living in close quarters with people.

The Pughasa comes from breeds that used to be select and not for everyone's ownership. The Lhasa Apso, a Tibetan breed dating back as far as 800 BC, was believed to be descended from mountain wolves. It was bred to be a sentry of nobles' homes. Tibetan monks also preferred it, and trained it to raise the alarm against intruders of monasteries and places of worship. While small, the Lhasa is fearless and alert and worked effectively in tandem with larger guard dogs that would actually challenge would-be intruders.

The Pug is believed to date back as far as 400 BC, and has graced many a lap of ancient Chinese royals. Its squashed appearance and small, compact build notwithstanding, the Pug is prized for its confidence, sociability and eagerness to make friends with anyone, human or animal.

Color

The Pughasa can come in a variety of coat colors, including the Pug's common fawn or apricot/fawn. Eyes, nose, lips and tips of ears are often black.

Coat

A Pughasa taking after its Lhasa parent could have a beautiful fall of top coat that is rough in texture, and a fluffier undercoat. This was a necessary protection against the cold weather conditions of the Himalayan ranges. A Pug's single coat would be fine and shiny, lying flat against the skin.

Personality

A Pughasa would ideally need socialization from pupyhood, to curb either timidity or aloofness later on. Like all breeds with watchdog/sentry ancestry, the Pughasa will be wary of strangers if not given time or introduced properly. Inside a small living area, the Pughasa will willingly and happily lounge with its owner, sometimes yapping and teasing mischievously to catch attention. It enjoys games and will love the combination of the spotlight and laughter when it plays. It is comfortable playing with children, although smaller dogs should not be left alone with younger children, as they could be unintentionally hurt in rough play. The Pughasa is a fairly intelligent dog, and while it could be stubborn at times, proper handling and training can result in a tractable, amiable animal.

Care

A long coat will need daily brushing and a regular monthly grooming, as it tends to accumulate dirt and develop mats from the fall out of the undercoat. An option is to have it in a puppy clip, which maintenance won't be as tedious. A short single coat can do with brushing every 2 or 3 days. Bathing can be minimal, especially if the dog doesn't stay outdoors for long. A shortened muzzle will mean possible respiration problems, and a lessened ability to cool itself off. In hot weather, care should be taken so the Pughasa doesn't overexert itself and suffer from heatstroke.

Training

Socialization and early training are very important, as an unexposed and untrained Pughasa could be stubborn and aggressive towards strangers. A trainer will have to exercise patience; the breed is naturally eager to please, and any kinks in its behavior can be ironed out with consistent commands and occasional rewards.

Activity

The Pughasa will enjoy outdoor walks, with its sociability, but it will do as well with indoor activities. This should be regular, though, to keep the dog from getting bored, and to help maintain its weight. Balanced in build and with good musculature, the Pughasa can be taught simple agility tricks to enhance its activity sessions.