Shih Tzu vs Havanese
A side-by-side look at two breeds people often weigh against each other. Every line below comes from each breed's own care profile on this site, so both sides are described the same way.
Key differences at a glance
- The Havanese tends to live longer - about 14-16 years, against 10-18 years for the Shih Tzu.
- The Shih Tzu is the bigger dog - a small breed at 4-7 kg, while the Havanese is toy at 3-6 kg.
 Shih Tzu The Shih Tzu is a small, long-coated toy dog with imperial Chinese origins and a personality as elaborate as its show... |  Havanese The Havanese is the national dog of Cuba and the only breed native to the island. | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Small | Toy |
| Typical weight | 4-7 kg | 3-6 kg |
| Lifespan | 10-18 years | 14-16 years |
| Temperament | Friendly, sociable, and outgoing. | Friendly, outgoing, and gentle. |
| Exercise needs | Modest. | Modest. |
| Grooming | The long double coat is the highest-maintenance feature. | The long silky coat is the main work. |
| Good with kids | Yes with respectful older children. | Excellent - patient, gentle, sociable. |
| Best suited for | Retirees and singles wanting a constant companion. | Families with children of any age. |
Which one suits you?
These two look like alternatives to each other, and in one important way they are not: the Shih Tzu is a brachycephalic breed and the Havanese is not. If you want a small, sociable, long-coated companion without the breathing and heat limits of a flat face, the Havanese is the straightforward answer. The Shih Tzu's appeal is real, but it comes with the flat-faced package.
Health, and what it costs you
The Havanese averages 14-16 years. The Shih Tzu's range is unusually wide at 10-18 on AKC figures; a 2024 UK study found 12.8 years. The Shih Tzu carries brachycephalic airway syndrome, heat intolerance and eye conditions of the prominent-eye kind, plus dental disease. The Havanese's list is the ordinary small-dog one: dental disease, patellar luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes and hip dysplasia. Both need daily tooth brushing to reach the top of those ranges.
What each one asks of a normal week
Similar and modest - 20 to 40 minutes for the Shih Tzu, 30 to 45 for the Havanese - but the Shih Tzu's ceiling is set by heat rather than fitness, and summer walks need real caution. Both coats are high-maintenance: daily brushing or a regular clip, and for the Shih Tzu, daily face care that its own profile calls tedious for some owners. Both are sociable, both are good with children, and neither wants to be alone all day.
Choose the Shih Tzu if
you love the breed specifically and will manage heat, face care and a flat-faced dog's limits.
Choose the Havanese if
you want the same companionship and coat without brachycephalic risk, and the longer average life.
Health figures above come from each breed's own profile on this site, and breed averages are exactly that - averages. An individual dog from screened parents can do far better than its breed's statistics, and one from an unscreened litter can do far worse. Ask any breeder which tests the parents have had, and walk away from anyone who finds the question rude.
Common questions
Does the Shih Tzu or the Havanese live longer?
On published ranges the Havanese tends to live longer, roughly 14-16 years against 10-18 years for the Shih Tzu. Any individual dog varies with genetics, weight and care.
Is the Shih Tzu bigger than the Havanese?
The Shih Tzu is the larger breed - a small dog at roughly 4-7 kg, where the Havanese is toy at 3-6 kg.
Is the Shih Tzu or the Havanese better with kids?
For the Shih Tzu, our profile notes: Yes with respectful older children. For the Havanese: Excellent - patient, gentle, sociable. With either breed, supervise young children and pick the individual dog's temperament over breed rules.
Which one fits depends on your home, your time and your experience with dogs. Read the full guides for Shih Tzu and Havanese, or compare two other breeds.
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