What's the difference between a Lhasa Apso and a Shih Tzu?

Which is bigger, a Lhasa Apso or a Shih Tzu?

The Lhasa Apso, by a little. A Lhasa ideally stands 10 to 11 inches at the shoulder, with females a little smaller, while a Shih Tzu stands 9 to 10.5 inches. A Shih Tzu ideally weighs 9 to 16 pounds and a Lhasa usually 12 to 18.

Both should be a little longer than they are tall, and neither should be delicate. The Lhasa is a dog of moderation, nimble on rugged mountain ground and never heavy-boned, while the Shih Tzu is compact and solid. At dog shows the Shih Tzu competes with the toy breeds and the Lhasa with the non-sporting breeds. Our Shih Tzu size guide has our mamas' weights and what our puppies are expected to reach.

How can you tell their faces apart?

Look at the muzzle. A Shih Tzu has a round, broad head with a domed skull, a clear step between the forehead and the nose, and a short, square muzzle, ideally no more than an inch from the tip of the nose to that step. A Lhasa has a narrow skull, a gentler step and a straight nose of fair length, about a third of the whole head. A square muzzle is a must on a Shih Tzu and a fault on a Lhasa.

The eyes differ too. A Shih Tzu's are large, round and very dark, set well apart and looking straight ahead, which gives it a warm, sweet, wide-eyed look. A Lhasa's are dark brown and almond shaped, with an alert, thoughtful look under a heavy fall of hair, and its regal attitude carries an air of seriousness.

How are their coats different?

The Shih Tzu's coat flows, and the Lhasa's hangs heavy and straight. A Shih Tzu has a luxurious, thick, long double coat that may have a slight wave, with the hair on top of the head tied up. A Lhasa has a heavy, straight, hard and dense double coat, neither woolly nor silky, parted down the middle from head to tail.

Neither breed sheds much, though the Shih Tzu needs grooming a little more often. Neither coat looks after itself. A Lhasa in a long coat wants a bath at least every two weeks with brushing in between, and damp hair will mat even when it's clean.

Both breeds can be any color, and they part ways at the nose. A Lhasa should have a black one, while a liver-colored Shih Tzu has a liver nose, as our Shih Tzu color guide explains.

How do their temperaments compare?

The Shih Tzu was bred to love everybody and the Lhasa to keep watch. Where a Shih Tzu trusts everyone, a Lhasa is alert, confident, very smart and loyal, and it can be standoffish with strangers. That wariness goes back to the breed's past as an indoor watchdog in Tibet, which is why early socializing matters so much.

Both breeds are very affectionate with family and bark a moderate amount. The Shih Tzu is better with young children and other dogs, and the Lhasa is the better watchdog. Lhasas also tend to attach to the adults in a family more than the children, and very few suffer from being left alone.

Both can be trained, and the difference is in how willing they are. The Shih Tzu leans more toward eager to please, while a Lhasa's goal in life isn't necessarily to please you. Harsh discipline backfires with both. Our Shih Tzu temperament guide covers housetraining and barking in more depth.

Where did the Lhasa Apso and the Shih Tzu come from?

The Lhasa comes from Tibet, where it guarded the insides of palaces, monasteries and noble homes while larger mastiffs watched the gates. Its Tibetan name, Apso Seng Kyi, means bearded lion dog. Lhasa is the name of Tibet's sacred city, and Apso means longhaired dog. The breed was recognized in the United States in 1935.

The Shih Tzu was developed in the palace of the Chinese emperor, and its name means lion. It came from Tibetan dogs, most likely a cross of the Lhasa Apso and the Pekingese, though some historians lean toward the Tibetan Spaniel and the Pekingese with some Lhasa in the mix. Early Shih Tzus brought to America were often registered as Lhasa Apsos, which kept the breed waiting years for its own recognition, and some of today's Lhasas may have Shih Tzu ancestors and the other way around. The Shih Tzu was recognized in the United States in 1969.

Which one do we raise?

We raise Shih Tzus and not Lhasa Apsos. If your heart is set on a Lhasa, look for a breeder who raises them.

If the Shih Tzu sounds like your dog, browse our Shih Tzu puppies, each shown with its mama and papa, and start with our puppy application when you're ready. What a Shih Tzu costs is in our Shih Tzu price guide, and the health side is in our lifespan and health guide.