Rufie

The Lhasa Apso is a beautiful dog with a storied history. It was originally bred by Tibetan Buddhist Monks to live in temples of nobility and sleep with its masters. Recorded history of the breed goes back to 800 B.C.E., when the Lhasa was claimed to be the sacred vessel of its master’s soul upon the owner’s passing. It also served as an indoor sentinel dog since its keen hearing and quick bark alerted the much larger outdoor Tibetan Mastiffs of an intruder. The Lhasa was even used as a food taster and foot warmer.

Although adorable, playful, and usually friendly, Lhasas are famously strong-willed, opinionated, and very hardy, having lived in Tibet’s harsh environment for thousands of years. Many of them are also very arrogant and have little patience for small, clumsy children, but when treated with respect, they show love to everyone. Originally, the only way to acquire one was as a gift from a Dalai Lama. In 1933, the Dalai Lama Thubten Gyatso gave a pair to naturalist C. Suydam Cutting, who brought them to America. Lhasas were accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1935 and have since won Best in Show and Best in Breed at the Westminister Dog Show in the non-sporting event.

My dog Rufie was a Lhasa Apso, and he came from championship stock, but there was one little problem — his underbite gave the appearance that he was always biting his tongue. This small fault eliminated him from dog show competitions, but it didn’t matter. He remained as self-assured and regal as a dog could be. When we went walking, he always held his head high, his tail curled up over his back, and he trotted as though presenting himself at a dog show. Moreover, his luminous coat somehow gave the appearance that he was floating, not walking, an awesome sight.

Rufie and I understood each other. I knew, for instance, that he not only required extra attention, but he fully expected it. During tummy rubs, he would lie on his back spread eagle, absorbing every bit of the moment until he fell asleep with his tongue hanging out from the side of his mouth. The rub itself was never enough. Rufie needed to be stroked to the point of unconsciousness.