Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Shih Tzu
Side by side
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Shih Tzu
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Daily brushing
Exercise
A modest amount
Health
Class
Lap dog
Lap dog
Which suits you
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Shih Tzu lives longer: a median of 12.8 years, against 11.8 for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sheds through the year, the Shih Tzu moults most as the seasons change.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: keen to work with you; Shih Tzu: cooperative, with its own ideas) and on intelligence (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: learns readily, likes games; Shih Tzu: easy-going, simple routines).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 6.7 kg (15 lb) for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 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.
What they're like
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Companion & toy · Small
In temperament the Cavalier is affectionate, gentle and sociable, keen to stay close to its people and seldom shy or aggressive.
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.
Breed traits
Day to day
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Shih Tzu
Activity
Happy with modest walks
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Suits a first-time owner
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Shih Tzu
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Friendly with everyone
Friendly with everyone
Independence
Differs
Keen to work with you
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Shih Tzu
Sensitivity
Differs
Needs a calm, predictable home
Average
Voice
Differs
Quiet
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Usually fine with small pets
Puppy growth
Reference curves · both sexes
Summary
Detail
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 6.5 kg.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Shih Tzu
More comparisons
Compare the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with
Sources
- 1American Kennel Club. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed standard. ↑
- 2
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- 4Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
- 5
- 6
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- 8Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
- 9Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
- 10American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
- 11
Parts of this page were written by AI ·