Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Coton de Tulear Versus Shih Tzu: Introduction
- Coton de Tulear versus Shih Tzu: Overview
- Coton de Tulear versus Shih Tzu: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu
- The Similarities Between the Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu
- Size (Weight and Height) of Coton de Tulear versus Shih Tzu
- Price of Coton de Tulear versus Price of Shih Tzu
- Adopting the Coton de Tulear versus Adopting the Shih Tzu
- The Popularity of Coton de Tulear versus Popularity of Shih Tzu
- Tolerates Being Alone: Coton de Tulear versus Shih Tzu
- Do Coton de Tulears shed more than Shih Tzus?
- Which one drools more, the Coton de Tulear or the Shih Tzu
- Does the Coton de Tulear Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Shih Tzu?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Coton de Tulear or the Shih Tzu?
- Do Coton de Tulears Bark and Howl? What about Shih Tzus?
- Can Coton de Tulears Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Shih Tzus Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Coton de Tulears Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shih Tzus Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Is the Coton de Tulear Easier to Train than the Shih Tzu?
- Wanderlust Potential: Coton de Tulear vs. Shih Tzu
- Are Coton de Tulears good family dogs? What about Shih Tzus?
- How Kid-friendly are Coton de Tulears and Shih Tzus?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Coton de Tulear or the Shih Tzu?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Coton de Tulear
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Shih Tzu
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Coton de Tulear versus Shih Tzu. Which One is a Better Pet?
Coton de Tulear Versus Shih Tzu: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear or the Shih Tzu
Coton de Tulear versus Shih Tzu: Overview
Both the Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu are similar in size. The Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu are both tiny-sized dogs.
Furthermore, both the Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu are Companion Dogs. This means both the Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu 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.
Coton de Tulear versus Shih Tzu: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Coton de Tulear 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.
| Factor | Coton de Tulear | Shih Tzu |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Life Span | 14 to 16 years | 10 to 16 years |
| Easy To Groom | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Train | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Height | 8 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder | 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Weight | 8 to 13 pounds | 9 to 16 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 15.0 years | 13.0 years |
| Average Price | $2060 | $1820 |
| Price Range | $1745 – $2500 | $1200 – $2300 |
| Temperament Score | No Data | 77.6 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
No Data |
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 74 | 18 |
*Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Coton de Tulear 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 a Coton de Tulear is 94 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Shih Tzu is 86 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Coton de Tulear is a better pet than the Shih Tzu. So, you should get the Coton de Tulear!
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 Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu
Below is a list of where the Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu are most different:
The Similarities Between the Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu
The Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Coton de Tulear versus Shih Tzu
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu.
Coton de Tulears weigh 8 to 13 pounds when fully grown. Coton de Tulears are 8 to 12 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.
Price of Coton de Tulear versus Price of Shih Tzu
The average price of the Coton de Tulear puppy is $2060. The price of the Coton de Tulear typically ranges from $1745 – $2500. However, the price of a Coton de Tulear can be as low as $1000 and as high as $3200. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 127 Coton de Tulear puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Shih Tzu puppy is $1820. The price of the Shih Tzu typically ranges from $1200 – $2300. However, the price of a Shih Tzu can be as low as $200 and as high as $5850. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 806 Shih Tzu puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Coton de Tulear is more expensive than the Shih Tzu.
| Coton de Tulear | Shih Tzu | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $2060 | $1820 |
| Price Range | $1745 to $2500 | $1200 to $2300 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Coton de Tulear and Shih Tzu. For different price points, the charts show how many Coton de Tulear puppies or how many Shih Tzu puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Coton de Tulears. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Shih Tzus
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Coton de Tulear puppy or the Shih Tzu puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.
Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Adopting the Coton de Tulear versus Adopting the Shih Tzu
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Coton de Tulears and many Shih Tzus are currently available for adoption.
These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Coton de Tulear named Chef that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Coton de Tulears like Chef on pefinder.com.
Also, like Coton de Tulears, Shih Tzus are also available for adoption. For example, Casey is a Male Shih Tzu that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Shih Tzus like Casey that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Also Tj, an adorable Male Shih Tzu on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Coton de Tulears and Shih Tzus that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Popularity of Coton de Tulear versus Popularity of Shih Tzu
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).
The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Shih Tzu is more popular with dog owners than the Coton de Tulear. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Shih Tzu is 18 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Coton de Tulear is 74 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Coton de Tulear
Popularity of Shih Tzu
| Year | Coton de Tulear Popularity Rank | Shih Tzu Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 31.0 | 17 |
| 2015 | 85.0 | 19 |
| 2016 | 80.0 | 20 |
| 2017 | 81.0 | 20 |
| 2018 | 81.0 | 20 |
| 2019 | 81.0 | 20 |
| 2020 | 80.0 | 20 |
| 2013 | no data | 15 |
Tolerates Being Alone: Coton de Tulear versus Shih Tzu
Coton de Tulears do not like to be left alone.
Shih Tzus can be left alone only for a short time.
Do Coton de Tulears shed more than Shih Tzus?
Coton de Tulears do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Shih Tzus shed moderately.
Which one drools more, the Coton de Tulear or the Shih Tzu
Coton de Tulears do have a very low tendency to drool.
Shih Tzus do have a very low tendency to drool.
Does the Coton de Tulear Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Shih Tzu?
Coton de Tulears have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to 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.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Coton de Tulear or the Shih Tzu?
Coton de Tulears 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.
Do Coton de Tulears Bark and Howl? What about Shih Tzus?
Coton de Tulears 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 Coton de Tulears Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Shih Tzus Tolerate Cold Weather?
Coton de Tulears can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Shih Tzus can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Can Coton de Tulears Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shih Tzus Tolerate Hot Weather?
Coton de Tulears can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Shih Tzus cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Is the Coton de Tulear Easier to Train than the Shih Tzu?
Coton de Tulears are fairly easy to train.
Shih Tzus are fairly easy to train.
Wanderlust Potential: Coton de Tulear vs. Shih Tzu
Coton de Tulears have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get 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.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Coton de Tulear or the Shih Tzu?
Coton de Tulears are very good for new dog owners.
Shih Tzus are very good for new dog owners.
Is the Coton de Tulear Better for Apartment Owners than the Shih Tzu?
Coton de Tulears adapt very well to apartment living.
Shih Tzus adapt very well to apartment living.
Are Coton de Tulears good family dogs? What about Shih Tzus?
Coton de Tulears 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 Coton de Tulears and Shih Tzus?
Coton de Tulears get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Shih Tzus get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Coton de Tulear or the Shih Tzu?
Coton de Tulears get along very well with other dogs.
Shih Tzus get along very well with other dogs.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Coton de Tulear
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Coton de Tulear that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.
We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Coton de Tulear:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Shih Tzu
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Shih Tzu that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.
We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Shih Tzu:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Coton de Tulear and how the Shih Tzu compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Coton de Tulear and of the Shih Tzu to other breeds:
Coton de Tulear Versus Other Dog Breeds
Coton de Tulear versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi Coton de Tulear versus Swedish Vallhund Coton de Tulear versus Azawakh Coton de Tulear versus Bordoodle Coton de Tulear versus Karelian Bear Dog Coton de Tulear versus Pyrenean Mastiff Coton de Tulear versus Bracco Italiano Coton de Tulear versus Barbet Coton de Tulear versus Norwich Terrier Coton de Tulear versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Shih Tzu Versus Other Dog Breeds
Shih Tzu versus Boykin Spaniel Shih Tzu versus Barbet Shih Tzu versus Pomeranian Shih Tzu versus Lakeland Terrier Shih Tzu versus Norfolk Terrier Shih Tzu versus Estrela Mountain Dog Shih Tzu versus Yorkipoo Shih Tzu versus Whippet Shih Tzu versus Bernese Mountain Dog Shih Tzu versus Affenpinscher
Conclusion: Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear and the Shih Tzu better suits you and your family.