I wanted an Irish Wolf Hound but lived in the city with a postage stamp backyard. I decided that was not the place to exercise a large dog and abandoned the idea. Shortly after that I met my first Lhasa. It was 1972. I purchased my first Lhasa in Jan. of 1973. He was a pet that I started showing. Taklakot had straight front legs and a wonderful happy show attitude. After that he was so full of holes he should have leaked. But it gave me the opportunity to meet other Lhasa breeders and owners, go over every Lhasa that I saw, and learn as much as I could. It was great fun to sit up to 3 or 4 in the morning talking structure and movement and breed type. There were a lot of people showing Lhasas back in the 70’s and early 80’s which offered many opportunities to learn more about the Lhasa Apso. 

I got my first “show” Lhasa in January of 1974 from one of the “Grand Dames” of the breed, Ellen Lonigro, Kinderland Lhasa Apsos. Ch Kinderland’s Choks Seneca was 9 months at the time. And I finished her by September that year with 2 – 5 point majors.  Ellen and I co-owned Seneca and everything out of her and the following generations spanning a little over 20 years.

A Seneca grandson was our first dog of note, Ch Kinderland’s Ta Sen Dakini produced two record holders. The first record holder, #2 Top Producing Bitch with 18 champions – Kinderland’s Ta Sen Isis, ROM*****.

Isis, Brood Bitch Class – 1987 National Specialty,  Judge: Norman Herbel, deceased. From left to right. Kinderland’s Ta Sen Isis, Ch Kinderland Ta Sen Amity O’Isis, Ch Kinderland Ta Sen Coral Bell, Ch Kinderland Ta Sen Tiger Lily, Ch Kinderland Ta Sen Candy Tuft, Ch Kinderland Ta Sen Daisy.

The next record holder out of Dakini was Multiple Best In Specialty Show Ch Orlane’s Scirocco, ROM*****. #2 Top Producing Sire with 48 champions.

Rocks, Stud Dog Class – 1988 National Specialty, Judge: Barbara (Bobbie) Wood. From left to right. Ch Orlane’s Scirocco, Ch Kinderland Ta Sen Little Rock, Ch Hylan Sho Tru Tak’ Em By Storm, Ch Sho Tru Hylan Rocksanne, Ch Sho Tru Hylan Rock-a-bye Baby 

Then a Scirocco granddaughter, Multiple Best In Specialty Show AM and FIN Ch Ta Sen Victory Tip Toe (Tulip) hit the scene. She won the Finnish Specialty while she was with Juha Kares. She came back to the US and had a very nice show career but her greatest contribution to TA SEN was Ch Ta Sen Victory Peyote. 

National Specialty Winner, Best In Show, Multiple Best In Specialty Show Ch Ta Sen Victory Peyote

Pete who has 29 champions so far with more in the wings. He is the sire of BISS Ch My Thai Girl Friday and a full sister, BIS, BISS Ch My Thai Ta Sen Halleluiah Chorus. 

Over the years I’ve owned a couple of Maltese, Lowchen and Westies, but the Lhasa has been and remains my true love. I like their elegance, beauty and challenging personalities. I also love their independence, stubbornness and intelligence. The style Lhasa that I like is a somewhat compact energetic dog with narrow head, reverse scissors bite, good length of neck, clean shoulders, straight front legs, level backline and a good strong rear. And of course a beautiful flowing coat. 

One of the best things about showing dogs has been the number of friends that I have made all over the world. I’ve met so many people that I wouldn’t know if it wasn’t for our sport. 

Susan Giles – Owner – Breeder – Handler