Lhasa Apso or Shih Tzu

[EshSchools]

We have an opportunity to get a Lhasa Apso pup. We have been talking about getting a Shih Tzu for a while but then heard of the Lhasa Apso - sounded ideal as more energetic and althletic, possibly more intelligent too (sorry Shih Tzu owners!). We have recently read though that they can be aggressive towards other dogs, bark a lot and might even be likely to bite.

We have secondary schools aged children - and cats.

Does anyone have any experience or opinions to share?

my mum has a lhasa and shes very much a big dog in a small dogs body. Not keen on other dogs although she is being introduced to my puppy and seems ok with him. Absolutely loves people. She is barky but lhasas were originally bred to guard temples in the himalayas so its a "theres something there" bark rather than just barking for barkings sake. they do have quite high maintainance coats and need regular brushing and trips to the groomer for haircuts.

My MIL has two Lhasas. One is nervy and strange, doesn’t like walking, prone to snapping at kids and other people. Also shits in peoples things if he doesn’t like them. The other is very sweet but terrible health problems, one of his eyes keeps falling out and he has had two ACL surgeries and so much dental work. Both are fine with my dog. Very very barky.

MIL used to have a shit tzu and she never managed to get it house trained. He was bonkers and never settled. But friendly and sweet.

We had a Lhasa as a family dog when I was a teen. Agree that they are big dogs in little bodies. He was content around the house and local walks but really happy out hiking on the moors. Good watchdog rather than an excessive barker and not keen on other dogs but caused no bother with them. Lovely fun dog with lots of personality. I'd have another.

A neighbour had a shih tzu and it never ever shut up. It lived next to us for years and still barked incessantly every time we went in the garden. It was a bloody nuisance

We have a shih tzu and they are great companion dogs. She is very intelligent compared to the other dogs I have had, but stubborn! She is playful and inquisitive but has been difficult to house break, she is almost 2.

We had a Lhasa that my sister wanted to rehome because she was so ill behaved she was 5 at the time. She was a dream when she lived with us. I think she just wasn't stimulated enough. She was a big dog in a little body. When it rained and she was walking she would just stop and stand perfectly still until I carried her. She was a bit snappy but usually when she wanted to be left alone and she didn't like being groomed when she was older. She was certainly the pack leader (we had 3 dogs at the time) she wasn't a barker at all.
I miss her. She made us all smile.

Oh god yes stubborn, all the Tibetan breeds are stubborn!

I’ve known a few Lhasas and fostered one...

They’re real stubborn and not easy to train - I mean, it can be quite charming in its own wee way, they are fairly prone to just sort of going... yeah, I don’t see the point of this, I’m just going to go over here and have a nap, but you bash on, wake me up when you’re done...

Had two Lhasas one lasted 14 years the other 16!, Both suffered with Eye problems and eventually one went blind, apart from that excellent little dogs who tend to be bread larger now?
Shihi Tzu's are prone to breathing issues due to the flat nose.
One was fine with other dogs the other just ignored them but stood his ground if approached, not excessively barking either.
Excellent with our kids, never shower aggression to other dogs, no idea about cats

Both come into the category of breeds I'd actively steer away from, sorry OP. Someone in our road has a Lhasa. It seems typical of the breed. It's aggressive towards every dog it meets. It doesn't bark...it just yaps and yaps and yaps. For no apparent reason. It upsets the immediate next door neighbours barking and hurling itself repeatedly at the boundary fence/hedgewhenever they're in their garden. Both breeds have the reputation of being nippy. Our vet says he's only ever been bitten by Lhasas or STs; he describes them as 'nasty little buggers'

We rehomed a Lhasa a couple of years ago.

She is an angel. Sweet natured but a bit stubborn. She loves the family but is quite independent as well. She loves her walks & being out. Great with other dogs.

Barks if she needs letting out to do a wee or if someone approaches the house. They are guard dogs after all.

Had eye & teeth problems but we got her when she was 6 so not sure if that’s because she’d not been looked after?

Take her to the groomers once a month & brush her in between. She’ll do anything for a treat. And she’s a bit of a scavenger. Quite food orientated so easy to train. She’d never been on a lead but picked it up quite quickly.

However if she doesn’t see the point in doing something she won’t do it unless there’s something in it for her. Bit like a toddler really.

No experience with llasa aspo but without fail every Shiz Tzu we meet on our walks have been amazingly friendly & kind to our dog as well as being incredibly cute. Would definitely consider a Shiz Tzu for myself in the future

I had a rescue Lhasa many years ago. Not the most intelligent dog, bless her! Very much a lap dog, didn’t like to chase or play with toys or balls. Didn’t even like standing on wet grass 😆

I have a shih tzu x poodle now, she is daft and a bit neurotic but very lively. Loves walks, chasing and playing fetch, swimming in the sea. Guess that’s the poodle side to her.

Both lovely dogs 🐶

@dancemusicsexromance my lhasa used to do the same in the rain. He was impossible to move when he didn’t want to.
He also lived to 18 which was amazing

My shih tzu poodle is very much a people person. Just loves people and is extremely loyal. She has an irrational dislike of some dog breeds, yet completely non plussed about others.

I had a Lhasa Apso rescue. I always thought it was the 'rescue' part that made him dislike other dogs but reading comments perhaps it was influenced by his breed too.

He wasn't barky though unless he was telling you the doorbell had gone. And he was good with people. Funny about the big dog in little body description, that's exactly it. At the end he was blind and deaf (lived to 17 years!) and was still the 'alpha' out of the dogs.

Thank you everyone! Still undecided, the breeder (through kennel club) didn't seem to know a lot about those characteristics so we are still wary. DH thinks a Shih Tzu might be a safer bet, we are also looking at some different breeds too. DD very set on a smaller dog as she is nervous. Also we have cats so that's a big consideration.