Bichon Frise vs Shih Tzu

Photo: Heike Andres

Photo: Mostafameraji

Side by side

Bichon Frise

Shih Tzu

Adult weight

5.4–8.2 kg (12–18 lb) (breed club figure)1

4.5–8 kg (9.9–18 lb)2

Height

Males 24.1–29.2 cm; females 24.1–29.2 cm (breed club figure)1

No sourced figure

Lifespan

Median 12.5 years3

Median 12.8 years3

Fully grown

10 months, both sexes4

Group

Companion & toy5

Companion & toy2

Coat

Curly coat5

Long coat2

Shedding

Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out

Moults most as the seasons change

Grooming

Brushing a few times a week

Daily brushing

Exercise

A modest amount

Health

Cushing's syndrome (much more likely); Torn cruciate ligament in one knee (more likely)6,7

Corneal ulcers (far more likely); Dry eye (far more likely)8,9

Class

Lap dog

Which suits you

Shedding

Their coats shed differently: the Bichon Frise holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out, the Shih Tzu moults most as the seasons change.

Grooming

The Shih Tzu needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Bichon Frise needs brushing a few times a week.

Temperament

They differ most on intelligence (Bichon Frise: learns readily, likes games; Shih Tzu: easy-going, simple routines) and on sensitivity (Bichon Frise: needs a calm, predictable home; Shih Tzu: average).

Alike

They are much the same size as adults, about 6.8 kg (15 lb) for the Bichon Frise and 6.3 kg (14 lb) for the Shih Tzu.

Alike

Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.

Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.

Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Bichon Frise

Companion & toy · Small

In temperament the Bichon is cheerful, sociable and quick to learn, qualities that suited its years as a performer.

Shih Tzu

Companion & toy · Small

In temperament the breed is lively, alert and friendly, with a proud, slightly haughty bearing. It is sociable with people and playful at home, but tends to be independent rather than eager to please.

The Bichon Frise page →The Shih Tzu page →

Breed traits

Day to day

Bichon Frise

Shih Tzu

Activity

Happy with modest walks

Intelligence

Differs

Learns readily, likes games

Easy-going, simple routines

Handler demand

Suits a first-time owner

With people

Bichon Frise

Shih Tzu

Affection

A lap or leaning dog

Loyalty

Friendly with everyone

Independence

Cooperative, with its own ideas

Around the home

Bichon Frise

Shih Tzu

Sensitivity

Differs

Needs a calm, predictable home

Average

Voice

Barks to alert, then settles

Prey drive

Usually fine with small pets

Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour10. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home11,12.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes

Summary

Detail

Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 6.5 kg.

Bichon Frise

Shih Tzu

More comparisons

Compare the Bichon Frise with

Lhasa Apso vs Shih Tzu Bichon Frise vs Maltese Bichon Frise vs Standard Poodle Maltese vs Shih Tzu Bichon Frise vs Toy Poodle Pekingese vs Shih Tzu All breed comparisons →

Sources

1
American Kennel Club. Bichon Frise breed page. ↑
2
FCI. Breed standard no. 208. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/208g09-en.pdf
3
McMillan et al., 2024. Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports 14, 531 (VetCompass). CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w
4
Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.8.2027S
5
FCI. Breed standard no. 215. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/215g09-en.pdf
6
Schofield et al., 2022. Frequency and risk factors for naturally occurring Cushing's syndrome in dogs attending UK primary‐care practices. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13450
7
Pegram et al., 2023. Risk factors for unilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture diagnosis and for clinical management in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.105952
8
O'Neill et al., 2017. Corneal ulcerative disease in dogs under primary veterinary care in England: epidemiology and clinical management. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1186/s40575-017-0045-5
9
O'Neill et al., 2021. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK: an epidemiological study. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13382
10
Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
doi.org/10.1126/science.abk0639
11
Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/getting-dog/choosing-dog/finding-a-breeder
12
American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/screening-puppy-buyers-how-top-breeders-find-the-best-homes/
13
Salt et al., 2017. Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes. PLoS ONE 12(9): e0182064 (WALTHAM). CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182064

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