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Comparison

Labrador Retriever vs Shih Tzu

Side-by-side comparison from peer-reviewed sources. Lifespan and health figures draw on Royal Veterinary College VetCompass and AKC breed data.

"Labrador Retriever studio portrait"
Large13.1 yr avg

Labrador Retriever

AKC · Sporting

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"Shih Tzu studio portrait"
Small12.8 yr avg

Shih Tzu

AKC · Toy

View breed
At a glance

Side-by-side

The numbers that most change day-to-day care. A citrus border marks a meaningful advantage.

Large

Labrador Retriever

Lifespan13.1 yrrange 13–14
SizeLarge
Weight55–80 lb24.9–36.3 kg
Height21.5–24.5 in54.6–62.2 cm
Senior at6 yrgeriatric at 10
AKC groupSporting
Energy5/590 min/day
Trainability5/5
Shedding4/5
With kids5/5
With other dogs5/5
Small

Shih Tzu

Lifespan12.8 yrrange 12–13
SizeSmall
Weight9–16 lb4.1–7.3 kg
Height9–10.5 in22.9–26.7 cm
Senior at8 yrgeriatric at 12
AKC groupToy
Energy3/545 min/day
Trainability4/5
Shedding1/5
With kids5/5
With other dogs5/5
Health

Common health issues

Top 3 prevalence-ranked conditions for each breed. See each breed's full health profile for screening schedules and source data.

Labrador Retriever

  • Moderatetypical onset ~2 yr

    Elbow Dysplasia

    Description and veterinary guidance for Elbow Dysplasia land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~7 yr

    Cataracts

    Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~1 yr

    Congenital Cardiac Defect

    Description and veterinary guidance for Congenital Cardiac Defect land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Shih Tzu

  • High prevalencetypical onset ~8 yr

    Degenerative Myelopathy

    Description and veterinary guidance for Degenerative Myelopathy land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Moderatetypical onset ~2 yr

    Elbow Dysplasia

    Description and veterinary guidance for Elbow Dysplasia land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Moderatetypical onset ~5 yr

    Periodontal Disease

    Description and veterinary guidance for Periodontal Disease land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Synthesis

Which is right for you?

Labrador Retriever and Shih Tzu have similar median lifespans, around 13 years.

Size gap is meaningful: the Labrador Retriever is large and the Shih Tzu is small. Expect different considerations for housing, travel, and vet-care costs.

Energy levels differ significantly. Labrador Retrievers need substantially more daily exercise than Shih Tzus — plan for 90+ active minutes per day with the Labrador Retriever.

Shih Tzus carry a heavier breed-specific health burden (1 high-prevalence conditions vs 0 for the Labrador Retriever). Budget for screening accordingly.

See Labrador Retriever profileSee Shih Tzu profile
Or calculate your dog's age
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