Differences and Similarities between the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso.

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Beagle Versus Lhasa Apso: Introduction

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

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

Beagle versus Lhasa Apso

Beagle versus Lhasa Apso: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Beagle belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

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.

Beagle versus Lhasa Apso: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Beagle 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 Beagle and the Lhasa Apso

FactorBeagleLhasa Apso
Tolerates Being Alone1/54/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
General Health1/53/5
Easy To Train1/53/5
Life Span10 to 15 years12 to 15 years
Height13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight18 to 30 pounds12 to 15 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather2/53/5
Good For Novice Owners3/55/5
Does NOT Shed3/53/5
Does NOT chew on things3/53/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/55/5
Easygoing2/51/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/52/5
Easy To Groom4/51/5
Intelligence4/54/5
NOT Rambunctious2/52/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/54/5
Kid-Friendly5/54/5
Dog Friendly5/53/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/52/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight1/53/5
Low Prey Drive1/52/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl1/52/5
Tendency NOT to Wander1/54/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor1/53/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Average Lifespan12.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$1210$1560
Price Range$700 – $1500$1200 – $1850
Temperament Score79.7 percent70.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Advanced Cardiac Evaluation
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • FACTOR VII Deficiency
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • MLS
  • Patellar Luxation
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds572
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)7268
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Beagle 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 Beagle is 71 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 Beagle is a better pet than the Lhasa Apso.

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

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

    Beagle versus Lhasa Apso

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso

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

  • Beagles do not like to be left alone. However, Lhasa Apsos can be left alone for some time without problems.
  • Beagles are very easy to groom. However, Lhasa Apsos require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Beagles are very friendly towards strangers. However, Lhasa Apsos are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Beagles have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Lhasa Apsos do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • The Similarities Between the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso

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

  • Both the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Beagle 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 Beagle and the Lhasa Apso are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Beagle versus Lhasa Apso

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

    The Beagle weighs 18 to 30 pounds when fully grown. The Beagle is 13 to 15 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 Beagle versus Size of Lhasa Apso

    Appearance (Colors) of the Beagle and the Lhasa Apso

    Beagle Colors

    The Beagle comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

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

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

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

    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
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)

    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
    • Apricot / Beige

    Lifespan of Beagle versus Lhasa Apso

    The lifespan of the Beagle is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Beagle is 12.5 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 lives longer than the Beagle.

    Beagle versus Lhasa Apso

    Temperament of the Beagle Versus the Lhasa Apso

    The Beagle has a better temperament than the Lhasa Apso.

    This is because the temperament score for the Beagle is 79.7 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 79.7 percent, the Beagle 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 Beagle and the Lhasa Apso by measuring the temperaments of 79 Beagles and 27 Lhasa Apsos.

    Price of Beagle versus Price of Lhasa Apso

    The average price of the Beagle puppy is $1210. The price of the Beagle typically ranges from $700 – $1500. However, the price of a Beagle can be as low as $100 and as high as $4500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1086 Beagle 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 Lhasa Apso is more expensive than the Beagle.

    Beagle Lhasa Apso
    Average Price $1210 $1560
    Price Range $700 to $1500 $1200 to $1850

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Beagles. 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 Beagle 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.

    Beagle versus Lhasa Apso

    Adopting the Beagle versus Adopting the Lhasa Apso

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Beagles 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 Beagle named Ringo that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Beagles like Ringo on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Beagles, Lhasa Apsos are also available for adoption. For example, Hector And Spartacus (Bonded Pair) is a Male Lhasa Apso that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Lhasa Apsos like Hector And Spartacus (Bonded Pair) that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

    Victor is the name of another Beagle (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

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

    Beagles and Lhasa Apsos are always available for adoption. Images and image labels from petfinder.com

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

    The Intelligence of the Beagle versus the Intelligence of the Lhasa Apso

    Beagle Lhasa Apso
    Intelligence Rank 72 out of 130 dog breeds 68 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! 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 Beagle has an obedience intelligence rank of 72 out of 130 dog breeds. The Beagle belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Beagles tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    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 Lhasa Apso is more intelligent than the Beagle.

    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 Beagle 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 Beagle and the Lhasa Apso over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Beagle is more popular with dog owners than the Lhasa Apso. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Beagle is 5 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Lhasa Apso is 72 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Beagle

    Popularity of Beagle

    Popularity of Lhasa Apso

    Popularity of Lhasa Apso

    Year Beagle Popularity Rank Lhasa Apso Popularity Rank
    2013 4 63
    2014 5 67
    2015 5 65
    2016 5 71
    2017 6 77
    2018 6 71
    2019 7 78
    2020 7 78
    2021 7 84

    Tolerates Being Alone: Beagle versus Lhasa Apso

    Beagles do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do Beagles shed more than Lhasa Apsos?

    Beagles shed moderately.

    Lhasa Apsos shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Beagle or the Lhasa Apso?

    Beagles are 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 Beagle or the Lhasa Apso?

    Beagles get along very well with other dogs.

    Lhasa Apsos get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Beagles good family dogs? What about Lhasa Apsos?

    Beagles are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Is the Beagle Easier to Train than the Lhasa Apso?

    Beagles are not easy to train.

    Lhasa Apsos are fairly easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Beagle or the Lhasa Apso

    Beagles do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Lhasa Apsos do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Beagles and Lhasa Apsos?

    Beagles get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Does the Beagle Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Lhasa Apso?

    Beagles 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 Beagles Bark and Howl? What about Lhasa Apsos?

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

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

    Can Beagles Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Lhasa Apsos Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Beagles cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Lhasa Apsos can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Beagle vs. Lhasa Apso

    Beagles 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 Beagles Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Lhasa Apsos Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Beagles can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Is the Beagle Better for Apartment Owners than the Lhasa Apso?

    Beagles adapt very well to apartment living.

    Lhasa Apsos adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Beagles are OK for new dog owners.

    Lhasa Apsos are very good for new dog owners.

    Beagle Versus Other Dog Breeds

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

    Beagle versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Beagle versus Shetland Sheepdog     Beagle versus Australian Cattle Dog     Beagle versus Yorkipoo     Beagle versus Shichon     Beagle versus Schnoodle     Beagle versus Bedlington Terrier     Beagle versus Shih Tzu     Beagle versus French Bulldog     Beagle versus American Water Spaniel     Beagle versus Dogo Argentino     Beagle versus Stabyhoun     Beagle versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Beagle versus Goldendoodle     Beagle versus Borzoi     Beagle versus Maremma Sheepdog     Beagle versus Morkie     Beagle versus Cairn Terrier     Beagle versus Afador     

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