Havanese vs Shih Tzu – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
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Compare Havanese and Shih Tzu. Which is better: Havanese or Shih Tzu?
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| Name | Havanese | Shih Tzu |
|---|---|---|
| Origins |  Cuba |  China |
| Group | Companion Dogs | Companion Dogs |
| Popularity Rank | 23 | 20 |
| Reviews | 5 | 11 |
| Rate |
| Other Names | Bichon Havanese, Bichon Habanero, Havanese Cuban Bichon, Bichon Havanais, Bichon Havanês, Havaneser, Havanezer | Chinese Lion Dog, Chrysanthemum Dog |
|---|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1996 as a Toy breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969 as a Toy breed. |
| FCI Group | Recognized by FCI in the Companion and Toy Dogs group, in the Bichons and related breeds section. | Recognized by FCI in the Companion and Toy Dogs group, in the Tibetan breeds section. |
| Breed Recognition |
American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club United Kennel Club Havanese Club of America |
American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry |
| Price | $900-$1200 | $800-$1200 |
General Appearance - Havanese vs Shih Tzu
| Size | Small | Small |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 7-13 pounds (3-6 kg) | 9–16 pounds (4-7 kg) |
| Avg. Weight | 10 pounds (4.5 kg) | 9–16 pounds (5.5 kg) |
| Height | 8-11 inches (21-29 cm) | 8-11 inches (20-28 cm) |
| Avg. Height | 10 inches (25 cm) | 9.5 inches (24 cm) |
Hair & Care - Havanese vs Shih Tzu
| Coat |
Soft Wavy Woolly Flat Long | Dense |
|---|---|---|
| Colors |
Black Reddish-Brown Fawn White Havana Brown Tobacco |
Brindle Liver Silver Blue Gold Red Black |
| Grooming | Average: The Havanese requires average grooming effort. | Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition. |
| Shedding Level | Havaneses shed none to minimal. | Shih Tzus shed none to minimal. |
Characteristics - Havanese vs Shih Tzu
| Temperament |
Affectionate Gentle Playful Companionable Intelligent Responsive Sturdy Lively Amiable Charming |
Active Friendly Happy Lively Playful Courageous Gentle Intelligent Outgoing |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Rank | Average: Havanese's has average obedience intelligence. | Low: The Shih Tzu if one of the dog breeds that have the lowest degree of obedience intelligence. |
| Trainability | Havaneses are very easy to train. | Shih Tzus are quite easy to train. |
| Playfulness | The Havanese is a highly playful breed. | Shih Tzus are not the most playful dog breed. |
| Sensitivity Level | They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. | Shih Tzus have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed. |
| Affection Level | Havaneses are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | Shih Tzus are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
| Social Needs | Havaneses need a lot of social interaction. | Shih Tzus need a lot of social interaction. |
| Barking | Low to Average: The Havanese rarely barks. | High: The Shih Tzu is a very vocal breed. |
| Watchdog Ability | Havaneses are good watchdogs. | Shih Tzus are average watchdogs. |
| Territorial | Havaneses strongly protect their territory. | Shih Tzus strongly protect their territory. |
| Biting Potential |
Low The Havanese has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Shih Tzu has a low chance of biting somebody. |
| Mouthiness | Havaneses have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Shih Tzus have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
| Impulse to Wander or Roam | Havaneses tend to escape less than other breeds. | Shih Tzus tend to escape less than other breeds. |
| Prey Drive | Havaneses have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. | Shih Tzus have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. |
| Apartment Friendly | Havaneses are very apartment-friendly dogs. | Shih Tzus are very apartment-friendly dogs. |
| Adaptability | Havaneses adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Shih Tzus adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
| Tolerates Being Left Alone | Havaneses tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. | Shih Tzus tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. |
| Fighting Dog |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Good With - Havanese vs Shih Tzu
| Stranger Friendly | Havaneses are stranger friendly dogs. | Shih Tzus are average friendly towards strangers. |
|---|---|---|
| Child Friendly | Havaneses are very kid-friendly dogs. | Shih Tzus are not the most kid-friendly dogs. |
| Cat Friendly | Havaneses are very cat-friendly dogs. | Shih Tzus are very cat-friendly dogs. |
| Dog Friendly | Havaneses are very dog-friendly dogs. | Shih Tzus are very dog-friendly dogs. |
| Office Friendly |
No Havanese is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Shih Tzu is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
| Senior Citizens Friendly | Havaneses are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Shih Tzus are not the best breed for elderly people. |
| Pet Friendly | Havaneses are one of the friendliest dog breeds. | Shih Tzus are one of the friendliest dog breeds. |
| Good For First Time Owners |
No Havaneses are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
Yes Shih Tzus are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
| Service Dog |
Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. |
| Therapy Dog |
Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog. |
| Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog |
Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
| Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) |
Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
| Boat Dog |
Not really Havanese breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really Shih Tzu breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
| Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Health Factors - Havanese vs Shih Tzu
| Health Issues | The Havanese is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | The Shih Tzu is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. |
|---|---|---|
| Health Problems |
Cataracts Chondrodysplasia Deafness Elbow Dysplasia Heart Murmurs Hip Dysplasia Legg-perthes Disease Mitral Valve Disease Patellar Luxation Portosystemic Liver Shunt |
Allergies Bladder Stones Distichiasis Dry Eye Ear Infections Ectopic Cilia Hip Dysplasia Juvenile Renal Dysplasia Keratitis Patellar Luxation Portosystemic Liver Shunt Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Proptosis Retained Baby Teeth Reverse Sneezing Snuffles Umbilical Hernias |
| Life Expectancy | 14-16 years | 10-16 years |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes | Yes |
| Energy Level | Havaneses have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you. | Shih Tzus have a lower energy level than other dogs. |
| Exercise Need | Havaneses exercise need is very minimal. | Shih Tzus exercise need is minimal. |
| Sleeping Need | Havaneses sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed. | Shih Tzus like sleeping so they do sleep a lot. |
| Avg. daily food consumption | 1/2 to 1 cup dry food a day. | Recommended daily amount: 1/2 to 1 cup of high-quality dry food a day. |
| Weight Gain Potential | Average to High. | Average to High. |
| Weather & Climate | Tolerates warm and cold weather. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
| Stinkiness |
Low The Havanese has a low chance of bad smell. |
Low The Shih Tzu has a low chance of bad smell. |
| Drooling tendency | The Havanese is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The Shih Tzu is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. |
Reproducibility - Havanese vs Shih Tzu
| Gestation Length | 60-64 days | 60-64 days |
|---|---|---|
| How often can the have a litter? |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
| Litter Size | 1-9 puppies, average 4 | 2-5 puppies |
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Reviews
- Caitlyn
Nov 26, 2019, 6:31:46 PM:
Im a bit confused. You said havanese are very easy to train. Then you said they are not good with first time owners. They are amazing with first time owners. With shih tzus they do good with kids actually.
- Erica
Jan 11, 2021, 3:38:52 AM:
I noticed the same thing as Caitlyn. The review said their easy to train, then said not recommended for first time owners because they're stubborn. Not sure I understand the reasoning behind that.