If you have decided to adopt from a Lhasa Apso rescue, you need to make sure you properly test the dog you are interested in adopting before bringing him/her home.
The following is what you need to keep in mind when testing a Lhasa Apso rescue dog
Don’t be overly-enthusiastic during your first meeting with the dog. Many rescue dogs have come from abusive homes, or have experienced situations that have made them lose their trust in humans. Therefore, don’t push a dog to interact or play with you right away. On your first meeting you should be quiet, and slowly approach the dog. Crouch down to his/her level, flatten your hand (fingers pressed together), and offer him/her your palm in greeting. Allow them to take their time to sniff you and observe you until they no longer consider you a threat.
Once you have become acquainted with the dog, take him/her to a nice quiet area where you can become better acquainted.
Don’t ever grab a dog you are unfamiliar with. This is considered very threatening and the Lhasa Apso may respond with biting, snapping or snarling. Therefore, make sure if you are bringing your children with you to the Lhasa Apso rescue that they know not to attempt to touch the dog. No dog will want to be touched until he/she feels they can trust you.
Carefully analyze your interaction together. Play with the dog and observe how he/she responds to the attention you give him/her. Do they try to avoid you, ignore you, or are they hanging on to your every gesture. Does the Lhasa try to bite you, or show fear? If you get up and walk around the room, does the Lhasa follow you, or does he/she look relieved to see you leave? If you toss a toy does the dog show interest and go after it, or do they look bored with the game? The reactions the dog displays will give you a good indication of their personality and behavioral issues you need to be aware of.
The aggressive dog. If the Lhasa Apso rescue dog you like is aggressive when playing with you and tries to dominate the games, become territorial or snappy, he/she may be difficult to train and hard to mold into a positive companion. These types of dogs should only be considered by dog owners who are experienced with dominance training and are willing to put plenty of time and effort in training the dog.
The submissive dog . If the Lhasa tries to avoid you, or cowers towards the ground at your approach or touch, this dog will require a lot of positive reinforcement. He/she has likely experienced physical abuse in the past and fears any human contact. It will take plenty of patience, care, affection and time to earn this dog’s trust.
A Lhasa Apso rescue is definitely something to consider if you would like to welcome a Lhasa into your family. However, remember that many rescue dogs have pre-existing behavioral issues that you may not have the time or skill to deal with. Therefore, make sure you get to know each rescue dog you are interested in, or those considered a compatible choice for you by the rescue, to ensure that you and the dog are a good match.
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