Breed Comparison: German Pinscher Versus Lhasa Apso

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German Pinscher Versus Lhasa Apso: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso? 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 German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso 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 German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso 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 German Pinscher and for the Lhasa Apso. 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 German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the German Pinscher or the Lhasa Apso.

German Pinscher versus Lhasa Apso

German Pinscher versus Lhasa Apso: Overview

A very important difference between the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The German Pinscher is a medium-sized dog while the Lhasa Apso is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, the German Pinscher belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the Lhasa Apso 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.

German Pinscher versus Lhasa Apso: Comparison Table

The table below compares the German Pinscher to the Lhasa Apso 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 German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso

Factor German Pinscher Lhasa Apso
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Height 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Dog Friendly 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
Weight 25 to 45 pounds 12 to 15 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 1/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2040 $1780
Price Range $1150 – $2688 $1500 – $1996
Temperament Score 91.9 percent 70.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 135 71

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the German Pinscher 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 Lhasa Apso. 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 German Pinscher is 78 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Lhasa Apso is 79 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Lhasa Apso is a better pet than the German Pinscher. So, you should get the Lhasa Apso!

    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 German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    German Pinscher versus Lhasa Apso

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso

    Below is a list of where the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso are most different:

  • German Pinschers are very easy to groom. However, Lhasa Apsos require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso

    The German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso are most similar:

  • Both the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso are very easy to train.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso are highly intelligent.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of German Pinscher versus Lhasa Apso

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso.

    German Pinschers weigh 25 to 45 pounds when fully grown. German Pinschers are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Lhasa Apsos weigh 12 to 15 pounds when fully grown. Lhasa Apsos are 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of German Pinscher versus Lhasa Apso

    The lifespan of German Pinschers is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of German Pinschers is 13.0 years.

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

    Lhasa Apsos live longer than German Pinschers.

    German Pinscher versus Lhasa Apso

    Temperament of the Lhasa Apso Versus the German Pinscher

    The German Pinscher has a better temperament than the Lhasa Apso.

    This is because the temperament score for the German Pinscher is 91.9 percent while the temperament score for the Lhasa Apso is 70.4 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 91.9 percent, the German Pinscher has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 70.4 percent, the Lhasa Apso has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso by measuring the temperaments of 37 German Pinschers and 27 Lhasa Apsos.

    Price of German Pinscher versus Price of Lhasa Apso

    The average price of the German Pinscher puppy is $2040. The price of the German Pinscher typically ranges from $1150 – $2688. However, the price of a German Pinscher can be as low as $500 and as high as $3000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 10 German Pinscher puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Lhasa Apso puppy is $1780. The price of the Lhasa Apso typically ranges from $1500 – $1996. However, the price of the Lhasa Apso can be as low as $200 and as high as $3499. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 104 Lhasa Apso puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The German Pinscher is more expensive than the Lhasa Apso.

    German Pinscher Lhasa Apso
    Average Price $2040 $1780
    Price Range $1150 to $2688 $1500 to $1996

    The charts below show the price distribution for the German Pinscher and Lhasa Apso. For different price points, the charts show how many German Pinscher puppies or how many Lhasa Apso puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of German Pinschers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of German Pinschers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Lhasa Apsos?

    A breakdown of the prices of Lhasa Apsos?

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the German Pinscher puppy or the Lhasa Apso 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 to buy 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 a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    German Pinscher versus Lhasa Apso

    Adopting the German Pinscher versus Adopting the Lhasa Apso

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many German Pinschers and many Lhasa Apsos 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 German Pinscher named Skeeter that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable German Pinschers like Skeeter on pefinder.com.

    Also, like German Pinschers, Lhasa Apsos are also available for adoption. For example, Rodney is a Male Lhasa Apso that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Lhasa Apsos like Rodney that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Remi is the name of another German Pinscher (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Yippie is an adorable Male Lhasa Apso on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    German Pinschers and Lhasa Apsos are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more German Pinschers and Lhasa Apsos that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Popularity of German Pinscher versus Popularity of Lhasa Apso

    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 German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Lhasa Apso is more popular with dog owners than the German Pinscher. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Lhasa Apso is 71 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the German Pinscher is 135 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of German Pinscher

    Popularity of German Pinscher

    Popularity of Lhasa Apso

    Popularity of Lhasa Apso

    Year German Pinscher Popularity Rank Lhasa Apso Popularity Rank
    2013 130 63
    2014 141 67
    2015 138 65
    2016 146 71
    2017 136 77
    2018 134 71
    2019 123 78
    2020 139 78

    Tolerates Being Alone: German Pinscher versus Lhasa Apso

    German Pinschers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Lhasa Apsos can be left alone for some time without problems.

    Do German Pinschers shed more than Lhasa Apsos?

    German Pinschers shed moderately.

    Lhasa Apsos shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the German Pinscher or the Lhasa Apso

    German Pinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Lhasa Apsos do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the German Pinscher or the Lhasa Apso?

    German Pinschers are very easy to groom.

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

    Does the German Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Lhasa Apso?

    German Pinschers 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.

    Lhasa Apsos 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 German Pinschers Bark and Howl? What about Lhasa Apsos?

    German Pinschers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can German Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Lhasa Apsos Tolerate Cold Weather?

    German Pinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Lhasa Apsos can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: German Pinscher vs. Lhasa Apso

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

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

    Can German Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Lhasa Apsos Tolerate Hot Weather?

    German Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

    Lhasa Apsos cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the German Pinscher or the Lhasa Apso?

    German Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Lhasa Apsos get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are German Pinschers good family dogs? What about Lhasa Apsos?

    German Pinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Lhasa Apsos are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are German Pinschers and Lhasa Apsos?

    German Pinschers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Lhasa Apsos get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the German Pinscher Easier to Train than the Lhasa Apso?

    German Pinschers are very easy to train.

    Lhasa Apsos are fairly easy to train.

    Is the German Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Lhasa Apso?

    German Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Lhasa Apsos adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the German Pinscher or the Lhasa Apso?

    German Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

    Lhasa Apsos are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the German Pinscher

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the German Pinscher 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 German Pinscher:

  • Australian Kelpie (79 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Lhasa Apso vs Australian Kelpie.
  • Belgian Malinois (80 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Lhasa Apso vs Belgian Malinois.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (83 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Lhasa Apso vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Mudi (79 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Lhasa Apso vs Mudi.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Lhasa Apso

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Lhasa Apso 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 Lhasa Apso:

  • Cardigan Welsh Corgi (77 percent match with Lhasa Apso). Here is our comparison of the German Pinscher vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
  • Peek A Poo (79 percent match with Lhasa Apso). Here is our comparison of the German Pinscher vs Peek A Poo.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the German Pinscher and how the Lhasa Apso compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the German Pinscher and of the Lhasa Apso to other breeds:

    German Pinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Pinscher versus Mal Shi     German Pinscher versus Scottish Deerhound     German Pinscher versus Cockapoo     German Pinscher versus Frenchton     German Pinscher versus Karelian Bear Dog     German Pinscher versus Coton de Tulear     German Pinscher versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     German Pinscher versus Clumber Spaniel     German Pinscher versus Whoodle     German Pinscher versus Japanese Spitz     German Pinscher versus German Longhaired Pointer     German Pinscher versus Bulldog     German Pinscher versus Saint Berdoodle     German Pinscher versus Shiba Inu     German Pinscher versus Puggle     German Pinscher versus American Staffordshire Terrier     German Pinscher versus Pyrenean Mastiff     German Pinscher versus Westiepoo     German Pinscher versus Bernedoodle     German Pinscher versus Sloughi     German Pinscher versus Akita     German Pinscher versus Alaskan Klee Kai     German Pinscher versus Bolognese     German Pinscher versus Pointer     German Pinscher versus Toy Fox Terrier     

    Lhasa Apso Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Lhasa Apso versus Siberian Husky     Lhasa Apso versus Bluetick Coonhound     Lhasa Apso versus Portuguese Water Dog     Lhasa Apso versus Shichon     Lhasa Apso versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Lhasa Apso versus Australian Terrier     Lhasa Apso versus Pointer     Lhasa Apso versus Italian Greyhound     Lhasa Apso versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Lhasa Apso versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Lhasa Apso versus Great Pyrenees     Lhasa Apso versus Westiepoo     Lhasa Apso versus West Highland White Terrier     Lhasa Apso versus Affenpinscher     Lhasa Apso versus Whoodle     Lhasa Apso versus Kishu Ken     Lhasa Apso versus Pomapoo     Lhasa Apso versus Redbone Coonhound     Lhasa Apso versus Cane Corso     Lhasa Apso versus Spanish Mastiff     Lhasa Apso versus Irish Water Spaniel     Lhasa Apso versus Bich Poo     Lhasa Apso versus Toy Poodle     Lhasa Apso versus Saluki     Lhasa Apso versus Shetland Sheepdog     

    Conclusion: German Pinscher versus Lhasa Apso. 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 German Pinscher and the Lhasa Apso better suits you and your family.