Is the Azawakh Better than the Shih Tzu as a Pet? Our Answer.

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Azawakh Versus Shih Tzu: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Azawakh 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 Azawakh 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 Azawakh and the Shih Tzu.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Azawakh 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 Azawakh 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 Azawakh 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 Azawakh or the Shih Tzu.

Azawakh versus Shih Tzu: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Azawakh belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

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.

Azawakh versus Shih Tzu: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Azawakh 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 Azawakh and the Shih Tzu

Factor Azawakh Shih Tzu
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 4/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 10 to 16 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 3/5
Height 23 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 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 Shed 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 4/5
Weight 33 to 55 pounds 9 to 16 pounds
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 1/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Price Range No Data $1200 – $2300
Average Price No Data $1820
Temperament Score 100.0 percent 77.6 percent
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 Azawakh 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 Azawakh is 81 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 Azawakh. 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 Azawakh 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 Azawakh and the Shih Tzu

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

  • Azawakhs are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Shih Tzus are good for new dog owners.
  • Azawakhs are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Shih Tzus are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Azawakhs can tolerate hot weather. However, Shih Tzus cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Azawakhs are very easy to groom. However, Shih Tzus require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.

The Similarities Between the Azawakh and the Shih Tzu

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

  • Both the Azawakh and the Shih Tzu do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Azawakh and the Shih Tzu are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Azawakh and the Shih Tzu do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Azawakh and the Shih Tzu do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Azawakh and the Shih Tzu are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Azawakh and the Shih Tzu have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Azawakh and the Shih Tzu adapt well to apartment living.

Size Comparison of Azawakh versus Shih Tzu

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

Azawakhs weigh 33 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Azawakhs are 23 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 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 Azawakh versus Shih Tzu

The lifespan of Azawakhs is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Azawakhs is 13.5 years.

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

Azawakhs live longer than Shih Tzus.

Temperament of the Azawakh Versus the Shih Tzu

The Azawakh has a better temperament than the Shih Tzu.

This is because the temperament score for the Azawakh is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Shih Tzu is 77.6 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Azawakh has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

With its temperament score of 77.6 percent, the Shih Tzu has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Azawakh and the Shih Tzu by measuring the temperaments of 1 Azawakhs and 49 Shih Tzus.

Tolerates Being Alone: Azawakh versus Shih Tzu

Azawakhs can be left alone only for a short time.

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

Do Azawakhs shed more than Shih Tzus?

Azawakhs shed moderately.

Shih Tzus shed moderately.

Which one drools more, the Azawakh or the Shih Tzu

Azawakhs do have a very low tendency to drool.

Shih Tzus do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

Azawakhs are very easy to groom.

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

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

Azawakhs 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 Azawakhs Bark and Howl? What about Shih Tzus?

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

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

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

Azawakhs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

Shih Tzus can moderately tolerate cold weather.

Wanderlust Potential: Azawakh vs. Shih Tzu

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

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 Azawakhs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shih Tzus Tolerate Hot Weather?

Azawakhs can tolerate hot weather.

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

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

Azawakhs get along fairly well with other dogs.

Shih Tzus get along very well with other dogs.

Are Azawakhs good family dogs? What about Shih Tzus?

Azawakhs 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 Azawakhs and Shih Tzus?

Azawakhs 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 Azawakh Easier to Train than the Shih Tzu?

Azawakhs are fairly easy to train.

Shih Tzus are fairly easy to train.

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

Azawakhs adapt very well to apartment living.

Shih Tzus adapt very well to apartment living.

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

Azawakhs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

Shih Tzus are very good for new dog owners.

Conclusion: Azawakh 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 Azawakh and the Shih Tzu better suits you and your family.