Adopting a Shih Tzu in Liverpool: rescues, costs and grooming

The count under the short answer is live: it shows every Shih Tzu and Shih Tzu cross listed with us in Liverpool and within about 25 miles, and our Liverpool Shih Tzu page links each one to its rescue. Expect it to be small, and some days empty. Our Liverpool small dogs page shows the other small dogs listed near the city.

We found no active Shih Tzu breed rescue to recommend for Liverpool adopters, so the rescues below and Dogs Trust Merseyside are the places to look.

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 lists the coat as needing 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.

Freshfields Animal Rescue microchips, vaccinates, neuters and treats every animal for fleas and worms before it leaves.

A bought puppy should already be microchipped by its breeder, but PDSA counts its first vaccinations, worming and neutering among your costs of getting started, on top of the £400 to £3,000 Blue Cross gives for a puppy.

A rescue dog's parents may never have been health tested, so ask what the rescue's vet has checked. UK sources name these for the breed:

• Breathing and heat. Dogs Trust describes Shih Tzus as brachycephalic (a short nose, a flat face or both) and says they are at higher risk of heat stroke. The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders to have eyes tested and dogs' breathing graded for BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome).
• Eyes, teeth, kidneys and back. PDSA lists conditions Shih Tzus may develop, including dry eye, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, crowded or displaced teeth, an inherited kidney condition (renal dysplasia) and intervertebral disc disease.

The coat needs grooming every day, according to The Royal Kennel Club, and Dogs Trust says you can have it clipped by a professional groomer every 6 to 8 weeks. PDSA says most pet owners keep it clipped. Ask how the dog copes with being brushed and budget for a groomer from the first month.

The Royal Kennel Club lists a flat as big enough for a Shih Tzu, with up to an hour of exercise a day. Freshfields Animal Rescue wants to see your landlord's permission if you rent, so tell each rescue about your home.

Time alone matters more. PDSA says a Shih Tzu shouldn't be left alone for more than four hours a day, so expect a rescue to ask about your working hours. On children, Freshfields doesn't rehome dogs to families with children aged 5 or under, and North Clwyd doesn't rehome dogs to families with children under 5, as many arrive as strays with no known history, or any dog at all with a child under 2.

Rescue Shih Tzus are adopted, not sold. You apply, the rescue matches you with a dog, and you pay its adoption fee or donation. Every Shih Tzu on our Liverpool Shih Tzu page is adopted that way. With an adult, the coat and temperament you are taking on are there to see.

If you decide to buy, Dogs Trust suggests asking your vet about a pre-purchase consultation on likely health conditions and rough costs, and The Royal Kennel Club runs a "Find a puppy" service. Report a suspected scam advert to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud).