Breed comparison
Havanese vs Shih Tzu
How the two breeds compare on the American Kennel Club's 1 to 5 trait ratings, and which one suits which home.
5Affection with family5
5Good with young children5
5Good with other dogs5
5Openness to strangers3
5Playfulness3
3Energy level3
4Trainability4
3Mental stimulation needs3
5Adaptability5
3Watchdog / protective3
4Barking3
2Shedding1
3Coat grooming4
1Drooling1
The biggest differences
- Openness to strangers: the Havanese scores 5 out of 5, the Shih Tzu 3.
- Playfulness: the Havanese scores 5 out of 5, the Shih Tzu 3.
They score the same on affection with family, good with young children, good with other dogs, energy level, trainability, mental stimulation needs.
Which one should you choose?
Pick the Havanese if its looks and size suit you better, since the ratings are close. Pick the Shih Tzu if you want less dog hair, you want a quieter dog.
Ratings are general breed tendencies from the AKC. Every dog is an individual, so meet the dog, and its parents if you can, before you decide. Not sure? Try the breed selector.
Source: American Kennel Club breed ratings (compiled February 2022). How we check.