LocalPetFinder

Rescue Shih Tzus for adoption and rehoming in England

There are 2 Shih Tzus looking for a new home in England right now, listed by Dogs Trust and Many Tears Animal Rescue. Includes Shih Tzu crosses.

By size, as the rescues list them: 1 small and 1 medium.

Each profile links to the rescue, who will talk you through their adoption process and fee.

Can live withCan live with:

2 dogs looking for a home

Toast, maltese x shih tzu for adoption in TewkesburyNEW

Toast

4 years · Female · Maltese x Shih Tzu

Smalllow energy

Can live with: Other dogs, Cats

Many Tears Animal Rescue · Tewkesbury

Meet Toast →

Tell me when a rescue Shih Tzu is listed near England

Email alerts are coming soon. Until then, new animals appear on this page as soon as rescues list them, so please check back.

All dogs in England →

About Shih Tzus

Source: The Royal Kennel Club: Shih Tzu
Breed groupUtility
SizeSmall
ExerciseUp to 1 hour a day
GroomingEvery day
CoatLong (listed as not shedding)
LifespanOver 10 years

What Shih Tzus are like to live with

The Royal Kennel Club says the Shih Tzu is popularly accepted to have come from China, with an ancestry of Tibetan breeds, and was once known as the "Lhasa Lion dog". It says the first Shih Tzus were shown in England in 1933, and the breed was officially recognised in the 1940s.

That is the breed in general. A rescue Shih Tzu is an individual, and many are crosses. The rescue knows how this dog behaves at home, on the lead and with visitors, so ask them.

Size and exercise

The Royal Kennel Club lists the Shih Tzu as small and needing up to an hour of exercise a day. It says a flat can be big enough, with a small or medium garden, in town or country.

Grooming

The coat is long and needs grooming every day. The Royal Kennel Club lists the breed as not shedding.

Health

The Royal Kennel Club asks Shih Tzu breeders to have eyes tested and to have dogs' breathing graded for BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome). It lists the lifespan as over 10 years.

A rescue dog's parents were rarely health tested, so ask the rescue what vet checks the dog has had and whether any condition is known. Your own vet is the right person to advise on anything you notice later.

Children, cats and other dogs

Whether a particular Shih Tzu can live with children, cats or other dogs depends on the dog, not the breed. Go by the rescue's own assessment, which is often noted on the profile.

Sources (checked 29 September 2026)

Breed descriptions are general. Every rescue animal is an individual, so the rescue's own assessment of the animal comes first.

Shih Tzus in England: your questions

How many rescue Shih Tzus are available for adoption in England?

As of 30 September 2026, 2 Shih Tzus are listed for adoption in England on LocalPetFinder, from Dogs Trust and Many Tears Animal Rescue. Each profile links to the rescue, and you apply to adopt with them directly.

Are there Shih Tzu puppies for adoption in England?

Not right now: none of the 2 listed in England is under a year old by its listed age. Puppies do get listed, so check back or look at the adults, whose rescues can tell you much more about their character.

Do Shih Tzus shed?

The Royal Kennel Club lists the Shih Tzu as not shedding. The long coat still needs grooming every day, according to The Royal Kennel Club. Ask the rescue how this dog's coat is kept and what grooming it is used to.

Can a Shih Tzu live in a flat?

The Royal Kennel Club lists a flat as a big enough home for the Shih Tzu, with a small or medium garden and up to an hour of exercise a day. Whether a particular dog will settle in a flat is a question for the rescue, who knows the dog.

How much does it cost to adopt a Shih Tzu in England?

Each rescue sets its own adoption fee. Battersea charges £230 for a dog over six months and £275 for a puppy under six months, Dogs Trust charges £300 for a puppy or adult dog in England, Wales and Scotland, and Blue Cross fees start from £235 for dogs aged 8 or over and £335 for dogs aged 1 to 7. The fee usually covers neutering, microchipping and first vaccinations, and each rescue confirms its own fee.

Are there Shih Tzus for sale in England?

No. We don't list animals for sale. Every Shih Tzu on this page is with a rescue or rehoming centre, and rescues rehome animals for an adoption fee rather than selling them: for example, Battersea charges £230 for an adult dog and Dogs Trust £300. The fee goes towards the vet work already done, such as neutering, microchipping and first vaccinations. In England, Lucy's Law has meant since 6 April 2020 that puppies under six months can't be sold by a third party such as a pet shop or dealer: you buy direct from the breeder or adopt from a rehoming centre.

Can I get a free Shih Tzu in England, or one under £500?

Usually not. UK rescues normally ask for an adoption fee, which pays towards neutering, microchipping and vaccinations. Many rescue fees are under £500: Battersea charges £230 for a dog over six months, Dogs Trust £300, and Blue Cross from £235 for dogs aged 8 or over. An animal offered "free to good home" is a private advert, not a rescue. All dogs in the UK must be microchipped by 8 weeks old, and in England, Wales and Scotland a dog can't pass to a new keeper until it is chipped, so ask to see the microchip details.

Is there a Shih Tzu rescue near me in England?

This page lists every Shih Tzu with the rescues we list in England and the places within it. Email alerts for new listings are coming soon.

More dogs in England

By breed

See all 369 dogs in England → · Shih Tzus across the UK →

Shih Tzus in other cities: Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester

For rescues and rehoming centres

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Every animal links back to your own adoption page, and you can ask to be removed at any time.

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