Comparison: Maltese and Shih Tzu

Maltese and Shih Tzu are marked as similar in our database. The table compares only the data we have on the breeds.

	Maltese	Shih Tzu
FCI group	9. Companion and Toy Dogs	9. Companion and Toy Dogs
Country of origin	Malta	China
Category	Very small (toy)	Small
Height at withers	21–25 cm	20–28 cm
Weight	3–4 kg	4–7.5 kg
Life span	12–15 years	12–16 years
Recognition features	Long, silky pure white coat to the ground Black nose and dark round eyes Small dog up to 3 kg with a tail curled over the back	Long, flowing silky coat Flat face with a beard and a ´chrysanthemum´ head Tail carried over the back, short legs
Coat	Long, silky, straight coat, white.	Long dense coat with an undercoat.
Purpose	An ancient Mediterranean lap dog favoured by classical nobility; bred purely as a companion.	A Chinese companion dog bred at the imperial court in Beijing; the ´lion dog´.

Breed page: Maltese · Breed page: Shih Tzu

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The information is indicative. Texts are based on available sources and may contain inaccuracies; for binding details (e.g. for breeding or shows) use the official breed standard.