Breed Comparison: Afador Versus Shih Tzu

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Afador Versus Shih Tzu: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Afador and the Shih Tzu? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Afador and the Shih Tzu better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Afador and the Shih Tzu.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afador and the Shih Tzu is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Afador and for the Shih Tzu. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Afador and the Shih Tzu.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Afador or the Shih Tzu.

Afador versus Shih Tzu: Overview

A very important difference between the Afador and the Shih Tzu is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afador is a large-sized dog while the Shih Tzu is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Afador belongs to the Mixed Breed Dogs group. Mixed Breed Dogs are not purebred dogs.

On the other hand, the Shih Tzu belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Afador versus Shih Tzu: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Afador to the Shih Tzu based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Afador and the Shih Tzu

Factor Afador Shih Tzu
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 5/5
Easy To Train 1/5 3/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 16 years
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 1/5
Height 20 to 29 inches 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 3/5 5/5
General Health 3/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Weight 50 to 75 pounds 9 to 16 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.0 years
Price Range No Data $1200 – $2300
Average Price No Data $1820
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data No Data

Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Afador in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Shih Tzu. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

The Better-Pet score for the Afador is 59 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Shih Tzu is 86 out of 125.

Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Shih Tzu is a better pet than the Afador. So, you should get the Shih Tzu!

Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Afador and the Shih Tzu so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Afador and the Shih Tzu

Below is a list of where the Afador and the Shih Tzu are most different:

  • Afadors do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Shih Tzus adapt well to apartment living.
  • Afadors are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Shih Tzus are good for new dog owners.
  • Afadors are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Shih Tzus are very friendly towards strangers.

The Similarities Between the Afador and the Shih Tzu

The Afador and the Shih Tzu are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Afador and the Shih Tzu are most similar:

  • Both the Afador and the Shih Tzu cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Afador and the Shih Tzu require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Afador and the Shih Tzu can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Afador and the Shih Tzu are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Afador and the Shih Tzu shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Afador and the Shih Tzu gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Afador and the Shih Tzu are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Afador and the Shih Tzu have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Afador and the Shih Tzu do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Afador and the Shih Tzu are highly intelligent.

Size Comparison of Afador versus Shih Tzu

Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afador and the Shih Tzu.

Afadors weigh 50 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Afadors are 20 to 29 inches when fully grown.

On the other hand, Shih Tzus weigh 9 to 16 pounds when fully grown. Shih Tzus are 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

Lifespan of Afador versus Shih Tzu

The lifespan of Afadors is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Afadors is 11.0 years.

The lifespan of Shih Tzus is between 10 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Shih Tzus is 13.0 years.

Shih Tzus live longer than Afadors.

Tolerates Being Alone: Afador versus Shih Tzu

Afadors can be left alone only for a short time.

Shih Tzus can be left alone only for a short time.

Do Afadors shed more than Shih Tzus?

Afadors shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

Shih Tzus shed moderately.

Which one drools more, the Afador or the Shih Tzu

Afadors drool moderately.

Shih Tzus do have a very low tendency to drool.

Which is Easier to Groom, the Afador or the Shih Tzu?

Afadors require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

Shih Tzus require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

Does the Afador Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Shih Tzu?

Afadors have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

Shih Tzus have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

Do Afadors Bark and Howl? What about Shih Tzus?

Afadors are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

Shih Tzus are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

Can Afadors Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Shih Tzus Tolerate Cold Weather?

Afadors can very well tolerate cold weather.

Shih Tzus can moderately tolerate cold weather.

Wanderlust Potential: Afador vs. Shih Tzu

Afadors have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

Shih Tzus do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

Can Afadors Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shih Tzus Tolerate Hot Weather?

Afadors cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

Shih Tzus cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afador or the Shih Tzu?

Afadors get along fairly well with other dogs.

Shih Tzus get along very well with other dogs.

Are Afadors good family dogs? What about Shih Tzus?

Afadors are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

Shih Tzus are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

How Kid-friendly are Afadors and Shih Tzus?

Afadors do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

Shih Tzus get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

Is the Afador Easier to Train than the Shih Tzu?

Afadors are not easy to train.

Shih Tzus are fairly easy to train.

Is the Afador Better for Apartment Owners than the Shih Tzu?

Afadors do not adapt well to apartment living.

Shih Tzus adapt very well to apartment living.

Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afador or the Shih Tzu?

Afadors are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

Shih Tzus are very good for new dog owners.

Conclusion: Afador versus Shih Tzu. Which One is a Better Pet?

In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Afador and the Shih Tzu better suits you and your family.