Known for its gorgeous, floor-length hanging coat and short stature, the Lhasa Apso is an intelligent, strong-willed, and cautious creature able to live as long as 14 years.
This dog breed is calm in nature, dignified, child-friendly, and well-suited to the apartment life; making it the perfect companion to have at home.
Hailing from Tibet, Lhasas were originally bred and raised 2,000 years ago to serve as sentinels in the Buddhist monasteries and have been closely associated with the Dalai Lama.
The modern Lhasa Apso of today has not departed from that purpose and is now one of the most reliable watchdogs out there.
Initial Costs of Lhasa Apso Ownership
These are the one-time costs of owning a dog of this breed which would include the Lhasa Apso price, the expenses for shipping & transport, training, and certification.
- Actual Dog Price
Lhasa Apsos aren’t as expensive as some other breeds could be. Generally, their prices play around $500 to $1,000. However, puppies from champion bloodlines could reach prices up to $2,500. It is highly recommended that you buy one from a reputable breeder because ending up with a cheap dog from a pet store can cost you even more in the long run.
- Shelter
Your Lhasa Apso’s shelter needs mainly revolve around a dog bed inside the comfort of your home. However, you can also buy a doghouse for your beloved pet if you have space outside.
Dog beds are generally priced around $15 to $120 depending on the material used to make them. Doghouses, on the other hand, can range from $50 to over $500. You may also need a dog kennel for whenever you have to travel with your dog. These may cost you $20 to over $300.
- Shipping & Transport
Air travel can become really costly. It starts with a pet coordination fee of around $350 to $375 for consultations, airline bookings, planning, and more. The actual airfare would cost around $300 to $950 and an additional $295 to $550 along with a $75 handling fee could be paid to transport the pet from the airport to your home.
You can also opt to drive to get your pet if the distance isn’t too much of a problem.
- Certification
If you don’t have any plans to become a breeder yourself, a limited registration with the American Kennel Club would suffice for you and your pet. Thankfully, buying from a reputable breeder usually gives you a dog with a limited registration status.
A $20 fee is needed for the breeder to request to revoke the limited status and then you can apply for a basic registration for $34.
You can also apply to become a member of the The American Lhasa Apso Club for only $20.
- Obedience Training
Obedience training would be a great step towards housebreaking your dog. You can either enroll your dog to a regular obedience class for $119 to $165 or to a private one-on-one class for $800.
Recurring Costs of Lhasa Apso Ownership
The recurring costs are mainly the figures associated with the maintenance of your dog namely for food, grooming, health, shelter, and accessory items like collars, leashes, and toys.
- Feeding Expenses
The Lhasa Apso dog can weigh around 12 to 18 pounds and thus would need to eat 1 to 1 ¾ cups of high-quality dog food every 24 hours with meals divided into two or three servings a day.
Dog food can cost around $15 to more than $60 per bag ranging from 6 to 30-lb. bag while dog treat prices tend to play around $2 to $30 per pack depending on the content and quality. Food bowls would also need to be replaced from time-to-time due to constant wear-and-tear and can cost around $2 to $45.
- Grooming
Apso basically means “long-haired dog” in the Tibetan language because that is what it is known for – silky floor-length coat. For this reason, you would need to visit a professional groomer frequently in order to maintain the appearance of your pet.
A full-grooming would basically cost around $50 to $65. However, you can also choose to give your dog a short puppy cut to make grooming much easier.
- Accessories
Collars and leashes are necessary to have if you own a dog. You may only need to buy one of each for your pet. Regular collars typically cost $4.45 or more while electronic collars with a built-in tracking system may go over $100.
As for leashes, they normally don’t cost that much being only $10 to $30 at most. Your Lhasa Apso will also need a few toys to stimulate its mind and keep it entertained. Toys usually cost around $2 to $16.
- Routine Veterinary Checkups
It is important to visit the vet at least once a year to make sure that your beloved canine pet is at its best health.
When you visit the vet clinic, be prepared to pay for a $33 to $55 physical exam, $10 to $35 vaccinations, $15 to $45 de-worming, a $27 to $55 heartworm test, a consultation fee of $35 to $65, and blood work costing about $80.
Yearly $320 dental cleanings are also recommended to keep your dog’s teeth healthy.
Furthermore, there may be unexpected emergency expenses especially when your dog falls ill or gets into an accident. Emergencies can get quite costly. In fact, advanced surgeries could cost as much as $6,500.
To avoid these excessive fees, you may want to get a health insurance for your pet for only $25 to $70 a month.
Where to Buy Lhasa Apso Dogs?
As much as possible, you should buy purebred dogs from a reputable breeder because it will offer you pets of great quality and health. Try searching the American Kennel Club Market for a list of trusted breeders.
Kunza at FleetFire Timbers is a respected breeder that you may want to check out if the experience is an important factor for you.
