Silky-Lhasa

Because the Silky-Lhasa is a new breed, it is necessary to use the histories of the Lhasa Apso and the Silky Terrier. The Lhasa Apso from Tibet was bred to be a guardian of monasteries and temples in the Tibetan Mountains several thousand years ago. It was the Buddhist Monks that developed the Lhasa Apso to perfection from the Tibetan Terrier and possibly a variety of mountain wolf. They were specially chosen for their excellent judge of character, superior hearing, and ability to handle the cold weather of the Tibetan Mountains. Because of their superior talents, they were guarded by the Monks from outside interference and were never sold to commoners. However, some of the Dalai Lamas did give some of these little dignitaries to royal visitors. It is believed that these gifted dogs were contributors to other small breeds that originated around that time such as the Shih Tzu. In fact, these two breeds were often mistaken for each other until the Lhasa Apso Foundation was developed in the United States in 1933. Two years later, the Lhasa Apso was acknowledged by the American Kennel Club and they are now the 71st most common breed of dog in America. The Silky Terrier originated in the 1800s by combining the Yorkshire Terrier with the Australian Terrier to make a wonderful family pet. In the early 1900s, the Silky Terrier was acknowledged as a breed in Victoria and New South Wales. Soldiers returning to America from World War II brought along some of these lovable furry dogs and they became very popular. They are also known for their bravery and in 1996, a Silky Terrier was given the Australian Purple Cross of Bravery for protecting his 9-year-old owner from a venomous snake. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1959 and they are the 100th most well-liked dog breed in America.