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The La Pom is a cross between a Lhasa Apso and a Pomeranian. It’s uncertain when the first La Pom was bred, but it’s believed to have been sometime in the last decade or so. Regardless of its origins, the La Pom is a prized family pet for those lucky enough to own one. They’re sweet, affectionate, loyal, playful, and smart.
Breed Overview
Height:
7 – 12 inches
Weight:
7 – 15 pounds
Lifespan:
12 – 16 years
Colors:
Fawn, cream, black, red, white
Suitable for:
Single people or families with time to spend with a dog
Temperament:
Sweet, friendly, social, intelligent
These traits mean a La Pom can be a solid addition to most families. They typically get along with other pets, children, and are the ideal companion dog.
Read on to learn more about these adorable little dogs.
La Pom Puppies
La Poms are likely to inherit traits from both parent breeds, including a playful and affectionate personality, as well as a love for human attention. La Pom puppies tend to be intelligent and quick learners, making them easy to train and a good choice for first-time dog owners.
Its is important to consider the potential health issues that can be inherited from both parent breeds. As with any mixed breed, it is important to research both parent breeds to get a better understanding of the potential characteristics and temperaments of the puppies. A reputable breeder who follows ethical breeding practices and provides appropriate health screenings for the parents can help ensure that the La Pom puppies are healthy and have the best possible start in life. Be sure to ask the breeder a lot of questions and only move forward if you feel confident.
Temperament & Intelligence of the La Pom
La Poms are sweet and smart dogs. They love their people and want to spend as much time around them as possible. These dogs are the perfect companion for a family or an active single person with time to lavish their dog with attention and affection.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
Yes, La Poms are excellent family dogs. They are friendly, affectionate, playful, and loyal. You’ll need to make sure young children know how to behave around a small dog so that they don’t injure the tiny La Pom with rough play.
While the La Pom will thrive with a family to love, you can also own a La Pom as a single person or active couple. This breed is adaptable and, as long as they’re getting enough attention and affection, will be happy in most living situations.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽
Yes, the La Pom tends to be friendly and social with other pets. The key to a happy relationship between your pets is a slow introduction to give them a chance to get used to each other. The younger you can introduce your La Pom to another pet, the higher likelihood you have of the two of them becoming friends.
One thing to be aware of is the La Pom’s courage. They often think they’re much bigger than they are. Therefore, it’s important to keep an eye on your La Pom when it’s playing with larger dogs so that it doesn’t get injured.
Things to Know When Owning a La Pom
Just as for any other pet, you’ll want to know how to care for your dog’s basic needs before you bring a puppy into your family. La Poms are pretty low maintenance as long as they are given enough exercise and their grooming needs are taken care of. Keep reading to learn more about the La Pom’s daily requirements.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
As a small dog, the La Pom doesn’t require huge amounts of food. Typically, you can expect to feed a La Pom around one cup of food per day, depending on its age, activity level, and appetite. You should speak with your veterinarian about your dog’s diet to ensure that you are giving them the right type and amount of food to meet their nutritional needs.
Exercise 🐕
The La Pom has a medium level of energy but it does require daily exercise. However, two 30-minute walks and a few short play sessions at home will likely be enough to meet its needs. After activities, you’ll likely find that your La Pom is ready to settle down for some quality cuddle time with you and your family.
Even though the La Pom is small, it tends to like other dogs quite a bit. As long as your La Pom is well-socialized, you can take it to a dog park for fun play sessions with fellow friendly canines.
Without enough attention and exercise, a La Pom can become yappy which isn’t ideal if you live in an apartment building.
Training 🎾
The La Pom is known for being intelligent and eager to please. Both of these qualities make them easy to train. You can teach them commands and tricks that they’ll be happy to show off for you and your guests.
Some La Poms also do well in agility competitions. If your La Pom seems to enjoy training activities, you might want to give agility courses a try to see if they do well.
Grooming ✂️
La Poms have a dense coat with silky, straight hair that does require daily brushing to keep it free from knots. They don’t shed too much except for the early summer months.
Their sensitive skin does not react well to frequent bathing so you should only bath your La Pom when necessary.
Regular teeth cleaning and nail clipping are also important components of a La Pom’s care.
Health and Conditions 🏥
The La Pom has a rather long lifespan and is generally pretty healthy. There are a few serious conditions and some minor ones you should be aware of.
- Tracheal collapse –Typically impacting small dogs, tracheal collapse occurs in mid to late life. The symptoms include chronic coughing and other breathing problems. It typically requires regular treatment and medication.
- Hip dysplasia – While hip dysplasia is more commonly thought of as a large dog problem, it can affect small dogs too.
- Legg-Calve-Perthes – This is a debilitating condition that attacks the hip joints in dogs. It’s very painful and can require surgery in serious cases.
- Allergies – The La Pom has sensitive skin and can be prone to itching, rashes, and other issues.
- Epilepsy – These dogs are also known to experience epileptic seizures at a higher rate than some other breeds.
Male vs Female
There aren’t any apparent differences in behavior, temperament, or appearance between male and female La Poms. Both are equally amenable to training when it’s introduced early in life and both love being around their people.
3 Little-Known Facts About the La Pom Dogs
1. They don’t realize how small they are.
La Poms may be tiny, but they certainly don’t think they are. The La Pom can be very protective of its family and has no problem barking at dogs that are three times their size. They’ll also bark at strangers who approach your door to warn you that someone’s coming.
2. The La Pom is a people pleaser.
The intelligence of the La Pom combined with their eagerness to please their owners means that they are highly trainable. You can even teach them to perform fun little tricks to entertain your guests. The La Pom will be thrilled by the attention they receive.
3. The La Pom has the ears of a Lhasa Apso.
Although it’s a crossbreed, the La Pom tends to have the floppy ears of the Lhasa Apso. Their ears can be almost a little too large for their round faces which gives them a charming appearance.
Closing Thoughts
The La Pom is an adorable, friendly, and loyal dog. When properly trained at a young age, they’ll bring you and your family years of joy. They’ll get along well with respectful children and other pets.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more loyal companion than a La Pom. Their loving and affectionate nature makes the La Pom an ideal addition to any home.
See also:
- Labrador vs Pitbull: The Differences (With Pictures)
- Labrabull (Pitbull & Labrador Mix): Info, Pictures, Care & More!
Featured Image Credit: Deedee McDonald, Shutterstock
