Lhasa Apso vs Scottish Terrier

Lhasa Apso vs Scottish Terrier: full comparison

Size and living space

The Lhasa Apso is a compact little dog that suits apartments and smaller homes well and needs little floor space. By comparison, the Scottish Terrier is a compact little dog that suits apartments and smaller homes well and needs little floor space. Because they are a similar size, neither has a clear space advantage — both will suit the same kind of home.

Exercise and energy needs

The Lhasa Apso needs a solid walk or two a day plus some active play. The Scottish Terrier needs a solid walk or two a day plus some active play. Their exercise needs are broadly the same, so this is unlikely to be a deciding factor.

Grooming and shedding

The Lhasa Apso is high-maintenance to groom, needing regular professional grooming and daily brushing and sheds only lightly. The Scottish Terrier needs frequent grooming and benefits from professional trims and sheds only lightly. The Lhasa Apso is also considered hypoallergenic, an advantage for allergy sufferers. If low upkeep matters to you, factor this in — the difference adds up over a dog's lifetime.

Temperament, training and family life

The Lhasa Apso picks things up at a fair pace with steady practice, barks fairly often, especially to alert you and is generally good with children when socialized and supervised. The Scottish Terrier learns steadily provided you stay consistent, gives voice moderately, typically when something warrants it and is generally good with children when socialized and supervised. On guarding instinct, Lhasa Apso is naturally alert and defends its people, whereas Scottish Terrier is naturally alert and defends its people.

Which is better for…

• For apartment or apartment living, Scottish Terrier has the edge, thanks to its size, quieter nature and more manageable energy.
• For families with young children, Lhasa Apso and Scottish Terrier are an even match — either can work well.
• For first-time dog owners, Lhasa Apso has the edge, as it is easier to train and more forgiving of beginner mistakes.
• For being left alone during the workday, Lhasa Apso has the edge, coping better with independence and being quieter when unsupervised.
• For allergy sufferers, Lhasa Apso has the edge, as it is hypoallergenic and lower-shedding.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Lhasa Apso if you need a hypoallergenic, low-dander coat, you want an easier dog to train, or you want a longer-lived breed.

Choose the Scottish Terrier if you prefer lower grooming upkeep or you prefer a quieter dog.

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