Lhasa Apso vs Tibetan Terrier

Photo: Svenska Mässan from Sweden

Photo: stsnck

Side by side

Lhasa Apso

Tibetan Terrier

Adult weight

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

8.2–14 kg (18–30 lb)1

Lifespan

Median 14 years2

Median 13.8 years2

Fully grown

10 months, both sexes3

Group

Companion & toy4

Companion & toy5

Coat

Long coat4

Long coat5

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)6,7

Underactive thyroid (far more likely); Mouth melanoma (more likely)8,9

Class

Companion

Which suits you

Size

The Tibetan Terrier is larger on average: about 11 kg (24 lb) as an adult, against 6.8 kg (15 lb) for the Lhasa Apso.

Temperament

They differ most on independence (Lhasa Apso: decides for itself; Tibetan Terrier: cooperative, with its own ideas).

Alike

Both are rated the same on loyalty: sticks close to its people.

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.

Tibetan Terrier

Companion & toy · Medium

In temperament the breed is lively, affectionate and loyal to its household, though often reserved with strangers.

The Lhasa Apso page →The Tibetan Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day

Lhasa Apso

Tibetan Terrier

Activity

Differs

Happy with modest walks

A good daily walk and play

Intelligence

Learns readily, likes games

Handler demand

Needs steady training

With people

Lhasa Apso

Tibetan Terrier

Affection

Affectionate on its own terms

Loyalty

Sticks close to its people

Independence

Differs

Decides for itself

Cooperative, with its own ideas

Around the home

Lhasa Apso

Tibetan Terrier

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 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

The Tibetan Terrier grows to the heavier adult, about 11 kg against the Lhasa Apso's 6.8 kg. The Lhasa Apso's weight is not a published figure.

Lhasa Apso

Tibetan Terrier

More comparisons

Compare the Lhasa Apso with

Lhasa Apso vs Shih Tzu Havanese vs Lhasa Apso Tibetan Spaniel vs Tibetan Terrier Bearded Collie vs Tibetan Terrier Havanese vs Tibetan Terrier French Bulldog vs Tibetan Terrier All breed comparisons →

Sources

1
American Kennel Club. Tibetan Terrier breed standard. ↑
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
FCI. Breed standard no. 209. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/209g09-en.pdf
6
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
7
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
8
O'Neill et al., 2022. Frequency, breed predispositions and other demographic risk factors for diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1186/s40575-022-00123-8
9
Rodríguez et al., 2026. Epidemiology of Four Major Canine Tumours in the UK: Insights From a National Pathology Registry With Comparative Oncology Perspectives. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1111/vco.70056
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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