Susan S. Giles has been a dedicated breeder, owner, and handler of Lhasa Apsos for more than 52 years. She has proudly bred more than 125 champions — nearly all of whom have been breeder-owner-handled. Her dogs have achieved notable success, including: eight National Specialty Best of Breed winners, six different Best in Show winners, numerous Westminster Best of Breed winners, Obedience titles, and Canine Good Citizen, Farm Dog and Trick Dog titles
Susan’s current Lhasa is four years old and has achieved: 22 Best in Show wins, 24 Reserve Best in Show wins, two National Specialty wins and much more. He is also the All-Time Top Winning Lhasa male in AKC history.
She has been a member of the American Lhasa Apso Club for 50 years, having served as President, Vice President, and as a member of the Board of Directors for almost five decades. Additionally, Susan belongs to the Virginia Kennel Club, where she has held multiple leadership roles. She also finds great fulfillment in mentoring the next generation of Lhasa Apso breeders and handlers.
From Hounds to Non-Sporting Dogs
JJ, at five years old, is unlike any dog Giles has ever had. “He started off when he was just a puppy, and went Winner’s Dog at the National Specialty,” she says. He’s already won over 25 best in shows and reserve best in shows, as well as three national specialty wins and a host of local specialty wins.
“JJ’s probably the absolute best show dog I’ve had,” she says. “He really enjoys doing it, gets out there, always on, always ready to go.” He’s a little atypical of the breed, who Giles says can sometimes be a little stubborn. It’s the first time she’s won something of this scale with JJ or any of her dogs, but she’s no stranger to the big stage. She’s been to every AKC National Championship, and won the Non-Sporting Group with a Lhasa Apso in 2002.
“JJ has won more best in shows than any of my others, maybe even combined,” Giles says. “Part of that is the fact that he’s well put together, and that he likes to show.”
Half a Century of Lhasa Breeding
At nearly 80 years old, Giles has been breeding Lhasa Apsos for 50 years. She started in 1975, two years after she got her first Lhasa. Her dedication to the breed also earned her 2025 AKC Breeder of the Year for her program, Ta Sen Lhasa Apsos.
“I remember sitting in the trailer of a husband-and-wife breeding team one night in Pennsylvania until three o’clock in the morning discussing structure,” she laughs. “I was like a little sponge, and I enjoyed learning and I enjoyed watching professional handlers.”
The best in show at the American Kennel Club National Championship is something Giles is incredibly proud of. “It’s the icing on the cake. The breeding program is the cake: you have to have all the ingredients to come up with a well put-together dog that fits your standard and has the type and style,” she says. “Then the showmanship that allows you to get out there and win groups and best in shows is, like I said, the icing. It’s really nice to be recognized like that.”
A Happy Dog
What’s next for Giles and JJ? With so many wins already under their belt, they’re hoping to perform well at Westminster in 2026. “I’ve always enjoyed showing, and I enjoy competing.”
She loves Lhasas because of the similarities she sees in them. “I really enjoy their personalities – they’re a bit stubborn and independent, and there are things about them that kind of remind me of myself.”
Westminster will likely be his retirement. “His swan song,” she says. “But I’ll continue showing dogs. We’ve got another Lhasa coming up behind him, but I don’t know that he’ll have the same success rate as JJ.”
“He’s just a super happy dog,” she says. “For a breed that’s supposed to be wary of strangers and aloof, he’s just a sweet, happy dog.”
