Training the Lhasa Apso Puppy

Because a Lhasa Apso can be rather wary of strangers, he can also take a little time to adapt to his new surroundings. So when the Apso youngster first arrives home, begin by getting him used to the immediate members of your family, allowing him time to acclimate to his new environment. Be sure to instill confidence into your puppy to help with his early socialization. Soon you will be able to introduce him to people outside the home. It is important that your Lhasa Apso puppy is not bombarded with too many faces, sounds and smells all at the same time! 

Depending on the age of your puppy, and whether his course of vaccinations is complete, you may or may not be able to take him out in public places immediately. Whichever the case, allow him to settle down at home for the first few days before venturing into the big wide world. There will be lots you can do with your Lhasa Apso puppy at home, so you will both undoubtedly have great fun. Allow him to get sufficient rest, too.

If restricted to your home territory for a little while, you can have fun playing games with your puppy with his suitably safe, soft toys. Do not allow him to tug on anything, though, as you do not want to cause chaos to his tooth formation, especially in this breed that is usually slightly undershot. Check regularly that sharp or unsafe parts, such as plastic eyes or "squeakers," do not become detached from the toy, as they can cause injury. Your puppy's teeth will be very sharp, so toys can easily be damaged.

Whether or not you plan to show your Lhasa Apso, it is always good to do a little early training, getting him to stand calmly on a table and to lie on his side to be gently groomed. Both of these exercises will be helpful on numerous occasions, including visits to the vet. It is much easier to deal with a well-behaved dog, and you will be so proud of your clever companion!

Accustom your puppy to being on a lead, which is always a strange experience for a tiny youngster. Begin by just attaching a simple collar, not too tightly, but not so loose that it can be caught on things, causing panic and possible injury. Just put it on for a few minutes at a time, lengthening each period slightly until your puppy feels comfortable in his first item of clothing. Don't expect miracles; this may take a few days.

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