Lacasapoo: Lhasa Apso and Cockapoo Mix
| Height: | 10 to 15 inches |
| Weight: | 14 to 24 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 12 to 18 years |
| Colors: | Black, brown, silver, white, brindle, cream |
| Suitable for: | Families, people with allergies, small apartments, companionship, guarding |
| Temperament: | Active, Desire to please, happy, affectionate |
The Lacasapoo is a new breed dog that has been present for the past two decades.
If you are contemplating owning a Lacasapoo, you will love this adorable all-around pet. It is small sized with an expressive face and floppy ears. It has brown or amber eyes and a black or brown nose.
The Lacasapoo is a unique combination of a purebred Lhasa Apso and a crossbred Cockapoo.
According to DNA, the Lhasa Apso has traces of mountain wolf genes. On the other hand, the Cockapoo is a cross between a Poodle and a Cocker Spaniel. Both breeds are friendly and affectionate, traits that are present in the Lacasapoo.
The Lacasapoo is loving, cheerful, outgoing, and affectionate. This dog is loyal and protective towards its humans and always eager to please.
The breed is intelligent and learns commands and tricks fast. Its alert and wary nature towards strangers makes it a great fit as a guard dog.
Here is a detailed guide about this hybrid dog.
What is a Lacasapoo?
The Lhasa Apso Was a Sacred Protector and Watchdog for the Temples of Buddhist Monks
In the past, the Lhasa Apso was only bred by nobility and monks, and its purpose was to protect and guard the temples and monasteries. The monks never sold this dog. Instead, it was offered as a gift to worthy visitors because it was believed to bring fortune and prosperity.
The Cockapoo Is a Mixed Dog
Unlike the Lhasa Apso, the Cockapoo is a cross between a Poodle and a Cocker Spaniel. And for this, the Lacasapoo is not considered a purebred dog.
Breeders Created the Breed to Reduce the Breathing Problems of the Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apsos have breathing problems due to their short noses, which breeders wanted to fix by mixing it with a Cockapoo
How easy are Lacasapoo to train?
This hybrid dog is eager to learn and please, which makes it easy to train. Besides, it inherits intelligence from its parents. This helps the dog learn new commands fast with less repetition. Compared to other small dog breeds, the Lacasapoo has a longer attention span, and it enjoys learning new tricks and performing.
You should start the training and socialization at a young age. Doing so will help you set guidelines and rules. Lacasapoos can at times have resistive and conservative behavior during training. Should this happen, remember to stay calm, patient, firm, and consistent that you are the leader of the pack.
In addition, this dog breed thrives from receiving positive reinforcement. Praise your pet or offer its favorite treat after it obeys a command. Once the dog memorizes the trick, you should reduce the number of treats to prevent them from gaining extra weight.
Lacasapoos are sensitive and dislike scolding and punishment. It would be best if you refrained from yelling or hitting them during training.
Diet and Nutrition
The Lacasapoo is a small-sized dog with medium energy. Just one or one-and-a-half cups of a high-quality brand of dog food a day will meet their nutritional demand. You can include a few occasional snacks and treats, too.
Due to the Lacasapoo’s size, you can easily overfeed them. Therefore, have a regular feeding schedule, avoid free-feeding, and limit their intake of treats. Keep in mind that overfeeding the Lacasapoo will lead to obesity, a condition that diminishes not only the quality of your pet’s life but also shortens it.
How would you describe the temperament of Lacasapoo?
The Lacasapoo is extremely friendly and likes a lot of attention. Their small size makes them perfectly suitable for small apartments and cramped living arrangements while their attentive nature and natural curiosity allow them to feel at home in a large house with several family members.
The Lacasapoo is intelligent, easy to train, and makes a perfect watchdog. It has Poodle genes that bring high-level intelligence, and the Lhasa Apso parent provides the sentry genes, which keeps the dog quiet unless it’s warning you of danger.
How healthy are Lacasapoo?
Most mixed breeds have fewer health problems than purebreds, and the Lacasapoo benefits further from having a mixed breed parent. However, there are a few conditions that can affect any dog, and we’ll look at those in this section.
Major conditions:
These are the major conditions associated with the Lacasapoo.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is a very common dog ailment that usually affects larger dogs but can affect any breed. A malformed hip joint causes Hip Dysplasia, and it causes the top of the thigh bone to wear down over time from rubbing on the hip joint. This condition can make it difficult for your pet to get up from a resting position and may cause them to have a swaying gait. Obesity and overactivity can worsen the symptoms and increase the speed of bone degeneration. Medication, weight reduction, and in some cases, surgery may be necessary to alleviate symptoms.
Addison’s Disease
Addison’s disease is a condition that affects the adrenal gland and hormone production. Symptoms of Addison’s disease are somewhat vague but usually include vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, sudden weight loss, and increased urination. When the condition becomes more severe, it can cause your dog to collapse. In most cases, medication can alleviate the symptoms of Addison’s disease, and your pet can go on to live a happy life.
Minor conditions:
These are the minor conditions associated with the Lacasapoo.
Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is common in all dog breeds. Toxins in the environment and their food, cancer, injuries, or infections can all cause the kidneys to degenerate and fail. The damage is usually irreversible, so early detection is critical. With early detection and treatment, your dog could go on to live many years with kidney disease.
Allergies
Your dog can suffer from allergies the same way humans do, but they are more susceptible to food allergies than us though they may just be more sensitive to different foods. However, they can develop a reaction to pollen or insect bites as well, mainly from flea bites or bee stings. Itchy ears and paws is a sign of a food allergy, while a rash may be from pollen for dust allergy. Symptoms of a pollen allergy will subside as the season changes.
How active are Lacasapoo?
The Lacasapoo breed does not need intense physical activities to stay fit and content. Thanks to its small size, it can benefit from following you around the home all day. The dog does not necessarily need a yard, but if there’s one, they’ll use the space to investigate and run around.
The breed needs at least a short walk and 45 minutes of light play daily to stimulate their mind and body as well as burn off energy.
Grooming
Depending on the parent the Lacasapoo takes after, it can have a short, curly coat or a long, straight coat. Either way, both coats need frequent brushing to prevent tangles and knots. The dog takes after its parents’ hypoallergenic nature and rarely shed or drool.
It would be best if you also clipped the dog’s long nails. Be careful not to cut too low as it could hurt the dog. Wipe its ears once a week with ear cleaning solutions and check for infections. Also, brush your pet’s teeth twice or thrice a week and provide dental chew toys.
You can include an occasional bath, too. However, refrain from frequent baths as it damages the skin’s natural oils.
Male vs. Female
Male Lacasapoos usually grow a few inches taller than their female counterpart. It also loves attention more and stays a puppy longer than the female. Females tend to get along a little better with children and are more independent.
Related Questions
What’s The Price of Lacasapoo Puppies?
The Lacasapoo is still a new dog breed, and there’s no established price yet. However, breeders may charge you between $500 and $1500. Apart from the buying price, the dog’s average annual medical expenses range between $460 and $560, while the non-medical expenses are $680 to $750.
You want to buy a Lacasapoo pup from breeders who prioritize health over profits. Make sure you perform diligent research and visit the breeding site before settling.
How Long Does a Lacasapoo Live?
Like most small-sized canines, the Lacasapoo enjoys a longer lifespan than other bigger dogs. They can live between 12 to 18 years. You can tip this number up by giving them healthy food and enough daily playtime. Make sure to meet their daily requirements, and it would be a big help in this regard.
How Big Do Lacasapoo Get?
Lacasapoo is a small pup that gets appearance and size from both of its parent breeds. They are small-sized dogs, and their height can be anywhere between 10 – 15 inches for both males and females. Their weight is also equal for both sexes that is around 14 – 24 pounds.
Final Thoughts
The Lacasapoo is an active, friendly, and energetic pet that will provide you and your family endless entertainment. Despite its small size, the dog acts as a guard dog and will protect you without being noisy and aggressive.
You will enjoy being around this eager-to-please canine. It might even rub its joyous, well-mannered, and outgoing nature on you!
