Shih Tzu vs Yorkshire Terrier

Compare the Shih Tzu to the Yorkshire Terrier. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Shih Tzus and Yorkshire Terriers.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - Both the Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier are excellent choices for new or inexperienced owners.
Children - The Shih Tzu is very child friendly. The Yorkshire Terrier does okay around kids, but is not as tolerant as the Shih Tzu.
Grooming - Both breeds require very high amounts of grooming.
Barking - The Yorkshire Terrier has an above-average tendency to bark, while the Shih Tzu is an average barker.

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Shih Tzu vs Yorkshire Terrier

Breed Name	Shih Tzu	Yorkshire Terrier
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	Yes	Yes
Lifespan	10-15 yrs.	12-15 yrs.
Height	9-10 in.	8-9 in.
Weight	9-16 lb	4-7 lb
Intelligence	Average	Average
History
Origin Country	China	United Kingdom
Origin Year	618 AD	1865 AD
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Very Good	Good
Family Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Kid Friendly	Very Good	Below Average
Pet Friendly	Very Good	Good
Stranger Friendly	Very Good	Below Average
Personality
	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle	Affectionate Aggressive Enjoys Attention Jealous Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle Stubborn Willing To Please
Living Environment
Apartment	Yes	Yes
Indoor	Yes	Yes
Small Yard	No	No
Medium Yard	No	No
Large Yard	No	No
Temperature Tolerance ¹	55°F to 80°F	55°F to 80°F
Barks/Howls	Below Average	Often
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	Medium	Medium
Exercise Required	Low	Low
Top Running Speed	12 mph	11 mph
Strength	Low	Low
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	Medium	High
Shedding	None	Low
Dander	None	Low
Drool Amount	None	None

¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.

Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed Name	Shih Tzu	Yorkshire Terrier
Breed Mentality
Dominant/Alpha	No	Yes
Family/Pack	Yes	No
Independent	No	Yes
Breed Focus
Distracted Easily	No	No
Average	Yes	Yes
Focused & Patient	No	No
Breed Instincts
Aggression	Below Average	Very Low
Burrow/Digging	Below Average	Very Low
Chasing	Below Average	Very Low
Follow Commands	Below Average	Below Average
Fighting	Below Average	Very Low
Guarding	Below Average	Very Low
Herding	Below Average	Very Low
Hunting	Below Average	Average
Protection	Below Average	Very Low
Remove Vermin	Below Average	High
Sledding	Below Average	Very Low
Watch	Below Average	Average

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Shih Tzu	Yorkshire Terrier
Lifespan
Lifespan	10-15 yrs.	12-15 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Allergies	Yes	No
Bladder Stones	Yes	No
Collapsed Trachea	No	Yes
Distichiasis	Yes	No
Dry Eye	Yes	No
Ear Infections	Yes	No
Ectopic Cilia	Yes	No
Hip Dysplasia	Yes	No
Hypoglycemia	No	Yes
Juvenile Renal Dysplasia	Yes	No
Keratitis	Yes	No
Patellar Luxation	Yes	Yes
Portosystemic Liver Shunt	Yes	Yes
Progressive Retinal Atrophy	Yes	Yes
Proptosis	Yes	No
Retained Baby Teeth	Yes	No
Reverse Sneezing	Yes	Yes
Snuffles	Yes	No
Umbilical Hernias	Yes	No

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Shih Tzu	Yorkshire Terrier
Coat
Hair	Yes	Yes
Coat Type
Double Coat	Yes	No
Single Coat	No	Yes
Coat Texture
Silky	Yes	Yes
Coat Length(s)
Long	Yes	Yes
Coat Color(s)
Black	Yes	No
Black & White	Yes	No
Black, Gold, & Silver	Yes	No
Black, Gold, & White	Yes	No
Black, White, & Silver	Yes	No
Blue	Yes	No
Blue & White	Yes	No
Brindle	Yes	No
Brindle & White	Yes	No
Gold	Yes	No
Gold & White	Yes	No
Liver	Yes	No
Liver & White	Yes	No
Red	Yes	No
Red & White	Yes	No
Silver	Yes	No
Silver & White	Yes	No
Silver, Gold, & White	Yes	No
White	Yes	No
Black & Gold	No	Yes
Black & Tan	No	Yes
Blue & Gold	No	Yes
Blue & Tan	No	Yes