Lhasa Apso vs Shih Tzu

Photo: Svenska Mässan from Sweden

Photo: Mostafameraji

Side by side

Lhasa Apso

Shih Tzu

Adult weight

5.4–8.2 kg (12–18 lb) (estimated: the AKC breed page's 12-18 lb, one range for both sexes)

4.5–8 kg (9.9–18 lb)1

Lifespan

Median 14 years2

Median 12.8 years2

Fully grown

10 months, both sexes3

Group

Companion & toy4

Companion & toy1

Coat

Long coat4

Long coat1

Shedding

Moults most as the seasons change

Grooming

Daily brushing

Exercise

A modest amount

Health

Cherry eye (far more likely); Dry eye (far more likely)5,6

Corneal ulcers (far more likely); Dry eye (far more likely)6,7

Class

Companion

Lap dog

Which suits you

Lifespan

In UK vet records the Lhasa Apso lives longer: a median of 14 years, against 12.8 for the Shih Tzu.

Temperament

They differ most on loyalty (Lhasa Apso: sticks close to its people; Shih Tzu: friendly with everyone) and on affection (Lhasa Apso: affectionate on its own terms; Shih Tzu: a lap or leaning dog).

Alike

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

Alike

Both are rated the same on prey drive: usually fine with small pets.

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

Lhasa Apso

Companion & toy · Small

In temperament the Lhasa is confident and self-possessed, and quick to warn of anything unfamiliar.

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 Lhasa Apso page →The Shih Tzu page →

Breed traits

Day to day

Lhasa Apso

Shih Tzu

Activity

Happy with modest walks

Intelligence

Differs

Learns readily, likes games

Easy-going, simple routines

Handler demand

Differs

Needs steady training

Suits a first-time owner

With people

Lhasa Apso

Shih Tzu

Affection

Differs

Affectionate on its own terms

A lap or leaning dog

Loyalty

Differs

Sticks close to its people

Friendly with everyone

Independence

Differs

Decides for itself

Cooperative, with its own ideas

Around the home

Lhasa Apso

Shih Tzu

Sensitivity

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 behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes

Summary

Detail

Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 6.5 kg. The Lhasa Apso's weight is not a published figure.

Lhasa Apso

Shih Tzu

More comparisons

Compare the Lhasa Apso with

Maltese vs Shih Tzu Havanese vs Lhasa Apso Pekingese vs Shih Tzu Bichon Frise vs Shih Tzu Havanese vs Shih Tzu Lhasa Apso vs Tibetan Terrier All breed comparisons →

Sources

1
FCI. Breed standard no. 208. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/208g09-en.pdf
2
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
3
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
4
FCI. Breed standard no. 227. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/227g09-en.pdf
5
O'Neill et al., 2022. Breed and conformational predispositions for prolapsed nictitating membrane gland (PNMG) in dogs in the UK: A VetCompass study. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260538
6
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
7
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
8
Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
doi.org/10.1126/science.abk0639
9
Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/getting-dog/choosing-dog/finding-a-breeder
10
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/
11
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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