Is the Lhasa Apso quietly disappearing? The shocking decline explained

The numbers don’t lie, and they’re telling us something rather startling. While trendy crossbreeds flood our social media feeds, Britain’s beloved Lhasa Apsos are quietly slipping away like sand through our fingers. The drop in registrations isn’t just a blip – it’s a proper nosedive.

The numbers that made us gasp

Picture this: in 2020, 1,220 new Lhasa Apso puppies proudly joined the Kennel Club’s books. Fast forward to 2023, and that number has tumbled to a mere 605. That’s not a gentle slide – it’s a 45% plummet that’s got breed enthusiasts properly rattled.

There’s been a tiny silver lining – registrations did edge up to 669 in 2024. We’re still watching our little lion dogs inch uncomfortably close to that a figure that many experts refer to as a warning signal: 300 puppies per year. That marker is set for British and Irish native breeds on KC’s vulnerable native list, and the Lhasa Apso does not appear on it. Even so, the maths behind that limit (shrinking gene pools) still applies to any pedigree.

Whilst extinction is not looming, the trendline is heading the wrong way for our Lhasas. We will want to monitor these numbers to see if there is a sustained multi year increase, before we celebrate the uptick in 2024.

Misery loves company

Our Lhasas aren’t crying alone in the corner. Their utility group mates are feeling the pinch too:

• Shih Tzus have lost a whopping 42% of registrations since 2019
• Shar-Peis have watched their numbers get cut in half
• Tibetan Terriers (practically cousins to our Lhasas) have shed a third of their annual pups

The Kennel Club has even wider concerns…

The Kennel Club has dropped a hefty piece of research that should get every dog lover’s attention. After crunching 30 years’ worth of data from over 11 million pedigree registrations, they’ve discovered our beloved purebred populations are shrinking faster than a wool jumper in a hot wash.

The decline has been modest overall but has picked up serious pace in the last decade, raising alarm bells about the future supply of properly bred puppies. What’s particularly concerning is that only a tiny fraction of registered dogs actually get used for breeding, which is squeezing the gene pool.

The research throws up some proper conundrums for breed preservation. Every pedigree dog ultimately traces back to a handful of ‘breed founders’, meaning genetic diversity was always going to be a juggling act. The Kennel Club’s boffins are now warning that we need tailored strategies for each breed – there’s no magic one-size-fits-all solution here. They’re especially worried about the vast numbers of unregistered dogs being bred with zero health testing or genetic consideration.

As Dr Joanna Ilska, Genetics and Research Manager at The Kennel Club and author of the research, puts it, the smaller these gene pools get, the trickier it becomes to balance responsible breeding with keeping our breeds sustainable. It’s a wake-up call that demands action from everyone who cares about the future of Britain’s 224 pedigree breeds.

The perfect storm of puppy problems

The fashion factor

Remember when French Bulldogs hit 54,074 registrations in 2021? That’s what happens when breeds go viral. While social media darlings bask in the spotlight, our steadfast Lhasas quietly fade into the background.

The designer doodle dilemma

Cockapoos and their fashionable friends have grabbed the market’s attention. Add routine neutering to the mix, and we’ve got fewer pedigree pups every year.

The one-click puppy trap

Online shopping has turned puppy-buying into an impulse decision. When buyers can click ‘add to cart’ on whatever breed’s trending, traditional breeds like Lhasas get left on the shelf.

The grooming ghost story

Here’s a myth that needs busting: Lhasa grooming isn’t some Herculean task. Yes, they look magnificent with their full coat, but a weekly brush and professional trim every couple of months keeps them perfectly presentable.

Playing with fire (genetics-wise)

Smaller breeding pools spell trouble. Concentration of ancestry cranks up the risk of inherited conditions. The Kennel Club’s boffins are waving red flags about genetic diversity, urging careful mate selection and more health testing.

Your mission (should you choose to accept it)

Want to help our Lhasa Apsos stick around? Here’s how:

• Share the truth about Lhasas’ temperament and minimal shedding (they’re practically built for allergic households)
• Champion breeders who do proper health testing
• If you’ve got a health-tested Lhasa, consider a well-planned litter (with experienced mentorship, of course)
• Steer puppy seekers away from dodgy online ads towards the Kennel Club’s Find a Puppy service

The final paw-spective

Let’s be clear – Lhasa Apsos aren’t vanishing into thin air tomorrow. But the writing’s on the wall if we don’t act.

We’ve previously written about why you might want to choose a Lhasa Apso as your next pet. Give that a read and see what you think!

Think your Lhasa would look dashing as a show dog? Or perhaps you know someone who’d be perfect for these characterful companions? Drop us a comment below!