Havanese vs Shih Tzu: Which Suits Your Home?

These two are close to twins in scale -- Havanese 7-13 lbs, Shih Tzu 9-16 lbs, and both share the identical 8-11 inch height range. If you're choosing based on size alone, there's not much daylight between them. Both breeds were developed as companion dogs rather than working breeds -- the Havanese in Cuba, the Shih Tzu in China -- which shows up in how similarly they're rated across almost every category in this comparison.

Both rate a low 2/5 for exercise need. Energy level is logged slightly higher for the Havanese, moderate (3/5), against the Shih Tzu, low (2/5), though neither breed asks for much beyond short walks and play indoors. Either dog fits comfortably into a low-activity household, and the small gap in energy level is unlikely to be noticeable day to day for most owners.

The Shih Tzu needs marginally more grooming, 5/5, the top of the scale, versus the Havanese's 4/5, but sheds less, 1/5 vs 2/5, its long, flowing coat is often described as closer to hypoallergenic, at the cost of near-daily brushing to prevent mats. Many Shih Tzu owners opt for a shorter "puppy cut" specifically to reduce that daily grooming burden, something less commonly done with Havanese coats.

Both tie at 5/5 for apartment suitability and at moderate (3/5) for barking, essentially interchangeable for a small-space living situation. Neither breed is likely to trigger noise complaints in a typical apartment building, and both were bred with companionship and indoor living specifically in mind, which shows in just how closely matched their apartment and barking scores are here across the board.

The Havanese trains a step higher, 4/5 vs 3/5, and edges ahead for first-time owners too, 5/5 vs 4/5, though the Shih Tzu's 4/5 first-time-owner score is still solidly beginner-friendly. Neither breed demands an experienced trainer, and both respond well to positive-reinforcement methods -- the gap here is small enough that personal rapport with the individual dog will likely matter more than the breed averages.

Both score the same with kids, 4/5. The Havanese leads with other dogs, 5/5 vs 4/5, and strangers, 4/5 vs 3/5, while the Shih Tzu tolerates being left alone considerably better, 3/5 vs the Havanese's very low 1/5, a real point in its favor for a working household. If alone-time tolerance is your top concern in an otherwise near-identical comparison, that single score may be the one that decides it.

The Havanese's lifespan range runs a bit higher on the low end, 13-16 years vs 10-16 for the Shih Tzu, though both can reach 16. Their health lists overlap heavily -- hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, ear infections, allergies, and liver shunts appear on both -- but the Shih Tzu's list adds brachycephalic airway issues and dental problems tied to its flatter face. That overlap means many of the same preventive-care conversations with your vet will apply to either breed.

The Shih Tzu runs somewhat higher: $120-250 monthly against the Havanese's $80-160, and $1,500-3,000 in the first year versus $1,200-2,300, despite both sharing the same "high" cost tier rating, 4/5. Grooming is again the likely explanation, given the Shih Tzu's top-of-scale 5/5 grooming need pushing routine maintenance costs above what a Havanese typically requires. Dental care is worth budgeting for too, given dental issues appear specifically on the Shih Tzu's health list.