How long does a Lhasa Apso live?

The listed lifespan for a Lhasa Apso is 12–15 years.

Is a Lhasa Apso good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Lhasa Apso is 3 out of 5.

When is a Lhasa Apso full grown?

The growth size band for a Lhasa Apso is 8–12 months.

What is the energy level of a Lhasa Apso?

The AKC energy score for a Lhasa Apso is 3 out of 5.

Non-Sporting Group

Lhasa Apso

Lhasa Apso is a small dog in the Non-Sporting Group. Adult weight is 12–18 lb, and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Confident, Smart, Comical.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Lhasa Apso dog — Photo: Flickr user lisaschaos . Photo uploaded to commons by user ltshears · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–15 years

Weight12–18 lb

SizeSmall GroupNon-Sporting Group

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

1 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about the same as the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 15 lb is about the same as the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is Tibet. The coat is described as silky, long. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.5 points below the group average of 3.5 for the Non-Sporting Group. Shedding scores 1 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 83 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: No recommended health tests. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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