The Lhasa Apso originated in the area of Tibet over 4,000
years ago as a small breed of mountain wolf. They were domesticated and
actively bred perhaps as long ago as 800 BC, which makes it one of the oldest
recognized breeds in the world. Referred to in Tibet as Apso Seng Kyi, which can be
translated as "Bearded Lion Dog", the Lhasa's primary function was
that of a household sentinel, guarding the homes of Tibetan nobility and
Buddhist monasteries, particularly in or near the sacred city of Lhasa.
