Lhasa Apso

Bred in Tibet as an indoor watchdog, the Lhasa is self-possessed and in no hurry to drag you anywhere. It weighs roughly 5 to 8 kg and is one of the longer-lived breeds, at about 14 years in a large UK study. The heavy double coat is the real commitment: kept long, it needs thorough brushing several times a week, so many owners settle for a regular short clip. Lhasas are aloof with strangers, can be stubborn and are prone to itchy skin allergies.