Adopting a Shih Tzu in Leeds: rescues, costs and health

Any Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu cross a rescue lists with us within about 25 miles of Leeds is added to the live count under the short answer. Expect it to be empty more often than not, and we found no active Shih Tzu breed rescue to recommend, so the rescues below and Dogs Trust Leeds are the places to look. Other small dogs near the city are on our Leeds small dogs page.

We haven't found a current, verified UK source that sets out why Shih Tzus in particular are given up, so we won't guess. What the breed sources do show is how much a Shih Tzu asks of an owner: The Royal Kennel Club says the coat needs grooming every day, and PDSA says a Shih Tzu shouldn't be left alone for more than four hours a day. Ask the rescue what it knows about a dog's past home.

Adult dogs at Barnsley Animal Rescue Charity start at £250, and Aireworth Dogs in Need asks £250 for a typical adult and £100 once a dog is past 10. A rescue's fee goes towards vet work such as neutering and vaccinations, so ask each one what its dog has already had.

A bought puppy should come microchipped already, since in England the breeder must chip it by 8 weeks, so the chip costs you nothing extra. Everything else, from neutering and boosters to any dental work, is added to a purchase price that Blue Cross sets at £400 to £3,000.

A rescue Shih Tzu rarely comes with health test results for its parents, so ask what the rescue's vet has found. UK sources highlight these:

• Breathing. Dogs Trust describes Shih Tzus as brachycephalic, with short noses, flat faces or both, and PDSA lists them among the flat-faced breeds that BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome) commonly affects. The Royal Kennel Club recognised breathing grading for the breed in August 2026 and says it will join its health standard from January 2027.
• Eyes. Eye testing is The Royal Kennel Club's minimum for breeders. PDSA names dry eye, cataracts and retinal detachment among conditions the breed may develop.
• Teeth and kidneys. PDSA also lists crowded or displaced teeth, from too little room in the mouth, and renal dysplasia, an inherited kidney condition that can cause failure at a young age.

Daily brushing is the baseline: The Royal Kennel Club says the coat needs grooming every day, and Dogs Trust adds that a professional groomer can clip it every 6 to 8 weeks. PDSA says most pet owners keep the coat clipped and that the fur around the mouth and nose needs trimming and cleaning, as trapped food can make the skin sore.

Find out from the rescue whether the dog tolerates a brush and a trim, and put a groomer in the budget straight away.

Size of home is rarely the obstacle: on The Royal Kennel Club's breed profile a flat is enough, with no more than an hour's exercise daily. Tell each rescue honestly about your home and garden.

Time alone is the firmer rule. PDSA says a Shih Tzu shouldn't be left alone for more than four hours a day, and that Shih Tzus should always be supervised with children, so expect a rescue to ask about your working hours and your family.

Most people looking for a Shih Tzu near Leeds search for one for sale, but rescue dogs are adopted: you apply, the rescue matches, and you pay its fee or donation, the same for anything on our Leeds Shih Tzu page. Puppies reach rescue now and then, but most rescue Shih Tzus are adults.

If you buy, check whether the parents have been eye tested and breathing graded, as The Royal Kennel Club recommends, and see your vet first: Dogs Trust notes that some practices offer pre-purchase consultations. The Royal Kennel Club runs a "Find a puppy" service, and a scam advert can be reported to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud).