A member of the Non-sporting Group, the Lhasa Apso is a dog that is small in stature but big on spirit. The breed is noted for a long, heavy and somewhat shaggy coat that comes in a variety of colors. The long, straight coat cascades over the dog's face covering its dark eyes and giving it the appearance of having a beard and mustache. The breed is intelligent, affectionate and tends to be possessive. Despite its small size, the Lhasa Apso makes a good guard dog because it is very alert, suspicious of strangers and is not hesitant to bark.