Small breed dogs are the favorite dogs of many people, the reason why they like these dwarf breeds is because they are easier to care for, can be picked up and do not make as much mess as a large breed dog.
Within the small breeds of dogs there are many breeds and crosses, which make some dogs completely different from others, each breed having unique and special characteristics that make the difference between some breeds and others.
Although in some breeds it is very easy to see their differentiating features, for example everyone knows what a Chihuahua and a poodle are like, there are certain breeds that are very similar to each other and that it is quite difficult to distinguish one from the other. .
This is the case of the Lhasa Paso and Shih Tzu breeds, which are two breeds of similar origins that at first glance are identical; however they are different and have some key features that differentiate them.
If you want to know exactly what these traits are, don’t miss this article that will show you how to differentiate between Lhasa Paso and Shih Tzu dogs.
What do you need to differentiate Lhasa Paso and Shih Tzu dogs?
- Observation capacity
- Read the article carefully and pay special attention
Instructions to differentiate between Lhasa Paso and Shih Tzu dogs
- Origins: Have Asian origin, the Lhasa Paso breed is a classic of Tibet, they were dogs used as guard dogs by the famous Tibetan monks, and it was made known worldwide by the Dalai Lama who took it to other countries. As for the Shih Tzu, it is a Chinese breed, it is a descendant of the Lhasa Paso breed (hence its resemblance) and other Chinese dog breeds, this breed was used by the famous Ming dynasty and was brought to Europe in the 40s in the Second World War.
- Physique: They are very similar but there are slight differences that allow you to know which is which, the Lhasa Paso is slightly larger, especially due to the length of the body, while the Shih Tzu has a shorter body and a higher head. As for the hair, the Lhasa Paso has hair parted in the middle, and the Shih Tzu has it in the shape of a ball, the color of the hair is similar in both breeds. Other useful indicators are the height of the shoulders, which is lower in Shih Tzu’s, and the raised tail that is characteristic of Shih Tzu’s as well.
- Behavior: They are very similar too; they both behave like very kind and friendly dogs. The difference that you can find is that the Shih Tzu is friendly with the guests of the house as well as with the tenants while the Lhasa Paso prefers to be friendly only with those at home. For this reason, Shih Tzu will be more skillful when it comes to training him since by dealing better with strangers, he will be more obedient to the trainer than the shy Lhasa.
- Quality of life: Although both dogs are physically strong, being able to live for many years without getting sick, the Lhasa Paso is slightly stronger because they are used to living in high mountains where they endure extreme temperatures, and the Shih Tzu also has certain problems in the sense of sight that require special care, something that Lhasa Paso does not require, in terms of food they eat more or less the same.
Tips to differentiate between Lhasa Paso and Shih Tzu dogs
- Which breed to choose: Both are really great, but depending on your tastes and lifestyle, you may want to opt for one breed or another. Lhasa Paso is ideal for lonely people who do not interact much; it is also a strikingly pretty breed since a well-cared-for Lhasa hair can be left long, giving spectacular results, in addition to having the advantage of not having that eye problem. . Shih Tzu’s are great for people with a wide social life, since they will be able to easily train the dog and take it in public as a responsible and obedient dog or even do tricks such as sitting, playing dead or giving the paw, the problem is that you will have to cut its hair and worry about its eye problem, with visits to the vet and constant reviews.,
- Practice: Here we can give you a thousand tips, but until you see the difference for yourself you will not fully understand it, if you have friends with dogs of these breeds, observe them carefully trying to get the differences that we have explained in this article in terms of appearance and behavior. If you don’t have friends with these breeds, you can look for pictures of these nice breeds on the internet, and compare them with each other, in the end you will be able to differentiate them automatically and without having to think about how to do it.
