Enga-Apso

The hybrid called the Enga-Apso is a new breed of dog that does not have a detailed history, but looking at the parents can give a good picture of the past. The English Toy Spaniel’s origin is England as a hunting dog, though it is thought that he may have first originated in Asia, where mostly they were given as gifts to royalty from Japan. They may have been mixed with Pugs in the early 1900's, resulting in the signature short and slightly flattened muzzle. Once classified by four colors, this Spaniel was re-classified in 1904 by the American Kennel Club as the English Toy Spaniel. No longer known separately as the King Charles, Prince Charles, Blenheim and Ruby, this breed is a wonderful show dog under the English Toy Spaniel classification. The Lhasa Apso was developed by monks residing in Buddhist Temples in the Tibetan mountains. Perhaps descendants of the Tibetan Terrier, they were guardians of the temples and the monastery in which they lived. Studies of the DNA of the Lhasa Apso suggest the dogs may be closely related to their wolf like ancestors, including a type of mountain wolf. Known for their keen sense of hearing, they were prized as protectors. They were never sold - only the Dalai Lama could gift them to those he felt worthy, usually visiting dignitaries and Imperial families. The breed did make its way to the United States via Mr. and Mrs. Suydam Cutting who were gifted a pair. These dogs formed the foundation of the breed in the U.S., gaining recognition by the American Kennel Club in 1935.