For those who love small dogs with long and nice fur, Shih Tzu vs Yorkie seem to be the hardest choice to make. In this article, we will go through some differences between these 2 breeds which might help to decide which one to get base on your personal preferences.

Introduction to Shih Tzu and Yorkie

Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu is a “Lion dog” (pronounced “sheed-zoo” or “sheet-su” in the West; the Chinese claim “sher-zer”) from the Chinese translation. As a tiny dog trained to spend their days within the stately homes, if either you live in a flat or without a large backyard, Shih Tzu makes a perfect family. They are affectionate and loving with kids. Few dogs enjoy digging holes and pursuing cats, but the fun idea of a Shih Tzu is to lay in your lap and act adorably while you want to watch TV.

Yorkie

The Yorkie is often referred to as the Yorkshire Terrier. For apartment buildings, Yorkie is one of the most suitable breeds. The Yorkie is cold-sensitive and likes warm climates. This breed is both shy around other dogs as well as comfortable with outsiders.

Shih Tzu vs Yorkie

1. Size and appearance

Shih Tzu is remarkably sturdy for pets of their size, weighing 9 and 16 pounds and standing between 8 and 11 inches.
With a long flowing double coat, Shih Tzu is a powerful, joyful, responsive playing dog. The Shih Tzu is proud to carry, has a remarkably arrogant carriage with a head well up and tail tucked over the back, suits as a highly respected, valued companion and palace pet with his noble Chinese ancestors.
Even though there’s always been a substantial variance in size, the Shih Tzu must be lightweight, sturdy, of good weight and substance.
Yorkie can measure eight to nine inches and weigh no more than seven pounds, preferably four to six pounds. In size, they are variable. Containing one Yorkie weighing less than four pounds, one weighing five to six pounds, and another growing to 12 to 15 pounds is not uncommon for a single breed.
The Yorkie’s look is that of possibly the best, long-coated, tiny (Toy-type) terrier that is readily known for its straight-flowing coat, steel blue, and brown. All over the head and from the top of the head to the end of the body, their hair is divided. Their bodies are square and proportioned similarly—the high head carriage of the dog and the expression of vigor and personality in a confident way.

2. Personality

Shih Tzu personality

The Shih Tzu’s purpose was to be a playmate; that’s exactly what they’re supposed to be. They have the urge to be with you. So don’t expect hunting, defending, or reclaiming from them; it’s not their style. Affection is their dominant trait, and their preferred spot is your lap. When they’re around their family, giving and getting love, they’re happier. They are alert and energetic and could be barking at their home’s strangers. Don’t worry about them when they see your friends or guests, though; they make friends easily with your guests the minute they walk inside.

Yorkie personality

The Yorkie is a mixture of adorably small size and energetic terrier personality, and they are clever and self-assured. The breed exhibits a variety of characters. Some may be cuddly and perky, loving nothing more than to follow the lead of their people during the day. Others are outgoing, playful, and into anything. Yorkies’ socialization, like all dogs, is exposed to several different persons, views, voices, and interactions while they are young. Socialising helps guarantee that your Yorkie is a friendly one, possibly the best dog.

3. Shedding and grooming

Shih Tzu shedding and grooming

Shih Tzus does shedding some hairs, but generally, there is low shedding. So little is shed by Shih Tzus, and they are one of those dogs with a topcoat that consists of hair rather than fur. Hair has a lengthier growth time than fur, so growing, dying, and falling out takes longer.
Shih Tzus do not shed much, but it takes more time to groom them than other dogs. And the predominant explanation for this is their coat length. It’s just a case of brushing daily.

Yorkie shedding and grooming

This breed would shed a negligible amount. It is not advisable for owners who don’t want to mess with their cars and houses with dog hair.
To keep the dog’s hair in good condition, brushing should be carried out often. It requires frequent trimming or stripping.

4. Lifespan

The life expectancy of Shih Tzu is range from Ten to Sixteen years with a median or average expectancy of thirteen years and two months. Concerning dogs, thirteen years’ age is assumed to be a typical and average life expectancy.

Yorkie’s life expectancy ranges from twelve to fifteen years and with an average expectancy of thirteen years. Female Yorkies live one and a half years longer than male Yorkies on average. However, this is not recognized as an extraordinarily long life span.

5. Price of Shih Tzu vs Yorkie

Shih Tzu has an estimated purchase price of about 500 dollars while the average buying price of the Yorkie puppy is around $750.
If you have a lower budget, you might consider to register for adoption. You might be able to save a few hundreds dollar.

6. Health Concerns

Yorkies and Shih Tzu, given sufficient care and a good diet, are generally stable and long-living dog races. Some diseases of genes are associated with each race, but all races are regarded as generally healthy and survive for a significant period of time.

These two breeds have fur that continuously grows in the dog’s eyes. Maintain your eye area clear from the fur that appears to reach the eyes of your dog, which can lead to infection or discomfort.

Each species is linked with some medical problems.

Yorkies are believed to be prone to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), heart and collapsed trachea, for starters. Such medical problems include the dislocation of the elbows and kneecap, cataracts, epilepsy, and a heart murmur.

More frequently than Yorkies, Aged Shih Tzus suffers from joint problems and arthritis. Shih Tzus is bigger and has shorter legs than do Yorkies proportionally. This combination of physical characteristics will lead to more joint problems for Shih Tzus when they are old than for the Yorkies. Yorkies have a smaller body, with less stress on the joints and fewer joint problems in Yorkies than Shih Tzus when they are held in good weight.