Which is Better between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso?

Last Updated: Apr 09, 2022

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Yorkshire Terrier Versus Lhasa Apso: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier or the Lhasa Apso.

Yorkshire Terrier versus Lhasa Apso

Yorkshire Terrier versus Lhasa Apso: Overview

Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso are similar in size. The Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso are both tiny-sized dogs.

Furthermore, both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso are Companion Dogs. This means both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso 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.

Yorkshire Terrier versus Lhasa Apso: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso

FactorYorkshire TerrierLhasa Apso
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/54/5
Tolerates Cold Weather2/53/5
Tolerates Hot Weather2/52/5
Kid-Friendly2/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers2/52/5
Does NOT Shed4/53/5
Easy To Groom2/51/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight4/53/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Low Prey Drive4/52/5
Dog Friendly3/53/5
Easy To Train3/53/5
Intelligence3/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/52/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/54/5
Good For Novice Owners4/55/5
Affectionate With Family4/54/5
General Health4/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor2/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/53/5
Weight4 to 6 pounds12 to 15 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/55/5
Easygoing1/51/5
NOT Rambunctious1/52/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Height8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan13.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$2420$1560
Price Range$1600 – $2950$1200 – $1850
Temperament Score83.7 percent70.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds972
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)2768

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier is 76 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Lhasa Apso is 79 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Lhasa Apso, we still believe that the Yorkshire Terrier is a better pet than the Lhasa Apso.

    This is because Yorkshire Terriers are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Yorkshire Terrier will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Yorkshire Terrier :-). We are for the Yorkshire Terrier. So get a Yorkshire Terrier!

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Lhasa Apso

    The Similarities Between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso

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

  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier versus Lhasa Apso

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso.

    The Yorkshire Terrier weighs 4 to 6 pounds when fully grown. The Yorkshire Terrier is 8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Lhasa Apso weighs 12 to 15 pounds when fully grown. The Lhasa Apso is 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Yorkshire Terrier versus Size of Lhasa Apso

    Appearance (Colors) of the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso

    Yorkshire Terrier Colors

    The Yorkshire Terrier comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Bicolor
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Black
    • Golden
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Apricot / Beige
    • White / Cream
    • Sable

    The Yorkshire Terrier comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Black
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Golden
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Sable
    • Bicolor

    Lhasa Apso Colors

    The Lhasa Apso comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • White / Cream
    • Black
    • Bicolor
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Sable
    • Gray / Blue / Silver

    The Lhasa Apso comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Black
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Bicolor
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn

    Lifespan of Yorkshire Terrier versus Lhasa Apso

    The lifespan of the Yorkshire Terrier is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Yorkshire Terrier is 13.5 years.

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

    The Lhasa Apso live as long as the Yorkshire Terrier.

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Lhasa Apso

    Temperament of the Yorkshire Terrier Versus the Lhasa Apso

    The Yorkshire Terrier has a better temperament than the Lhasa Apso.

    This is because the temperament score for the Yorkshire Terrier is 83.7 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 83.7 percent, the Yorkshire Terrier has a below-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 Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso by measuring the temperaments of 43 Yorkshire Terriers and 27 Lhasa Apsos.

    Price of Yorkshire Terrier versus Price of Lhasa Apso

    The average price of the Yorkshire Terrier puppy is $2420. The price of the Yorkshire Terrier typically ranges from $1600 – $2950. However, the price of a Yorkshire Terrier can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 957 Yorkshire Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Lhasa Apso puppy is $1560. The price of the Lhasa Apso typically ranges from $1200 – $1850. 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 191 Lhasa Apso puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Yorkshire Terrier is more expensive than the Lhasa Apso.

    `
    Yorkshire Terrier Lhasa Apso
    Average Price $2420 $1560
    Price Range $1600 to $2950 $1200 to $1850

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Yorkshire Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Yorkshire Terriers. 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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.

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Lhasa Apso

    The Intelligence of the Yorkshire Terrier versus the Intelligence of the Lhasa Apso

    `
    Yorkshire Terrier Lhasa Apso
    Intelligence Rank 27 out of 130 dog breeds 68 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions!

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Yorkshire Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 27 out of 130 dog breeds. The Yorkshire Terrier belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Yorkshire Terriers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Lhasa Apso has an obedience intelligence rank of 68 out of 130 dog breeds. The Lhasa Apso belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Lhasa Apsos tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Yorkshire Terrier is more intelligent than the Lhasa Apso.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Yorkshire Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Lhasa Apso. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Yorkshire Terrier is 9 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Lhasa Apso is 72 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Popularity of Lhasa Apso

    Popularity of Lhasa Apso

    `
    Year Yorkshire Terrier Popularity Rank Lhasa Apso Popularity Rank
    2013 6 63
    2014 6 67
    2015 7 65
    2016 9 71
    2017 9 77
    2018 10 71
    2019 12 78
    2020 13 78
    2021 13 84

    Tolerates Being Alone: Yorkshire Terrier versus Lhasa Apso

    Yorkshire Terriers do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do Yorkshire Terriers shed more than Lhasa Apsos?

    Yorkshire Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Lhasa Apsos shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Yorkshire Terrier or the Lhasa Apso?

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

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Yorkshire Terrier or the Lhasa Apso?

    Yorkshire Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Lhasa Apsos get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Yorkshire Terriers good family dogs? What about Lhasa Apsos?

    Yorkshire Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Is the Yorkshire Terrier Easier to Train than the Lhasa Apso?

    Yorkshire Terriers are fairly easy to train.

    Lhasa Apsos are fairly easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Yorkshire Terrier or the Lhasa Apso

    Yorkshire Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Lhasa Apsos do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Yorkshire Terriers and Lhasa Apsos?

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

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

    Does the Yorkshire Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Lhasa Apso?

    Yorkshire Terriers 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.

    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 Yorkshire Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Lhasa Apsos?

    Yorkshire Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Lhasa Apsos Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Lhasa Apsos can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Yorkshire Terrier vs. Lhasa Apso

    Yorkshire Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get 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 Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Lhasa Apsos Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Is the Yorkshire Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Lhasa Apso?

    Yorkshire Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Lhasa Apsos adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Yorkshire Terrier or the Lhasa Apso?

    Yorkshire Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Lhasa Apsos are very good for new dog owners.

    Yorkshire Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Yorkshire Terrier compares to other breeds aside from the Lhasa Apso. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier to other breeds:

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Weimaraner     Yorkshire Terrier versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Yorkshire Terrier versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Yorkshire Terrier versus German Pinscher     Yorkshire Terrier versus Norfolk Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Puli     Yorkshire Terrier versus Mudi     Yorkshire Terrier versus Irish Water Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus Coton de Tulear     Yorkshire Terrier versus Patterdale Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Pomeranian     Yorkshire Terrier versus Lhasa Apso     Yorkshire Terrier versus Border Collie     Yorkshire Terrier versus Irish Setter     Yorkshire Terrier versus Havanese     Yorkshire Terrier versus Pomsky     Yorkshire Terrier versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     

    Conclusion: Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso better suits you and your family.