Adopting a Shih Tzu in London: 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 London and within about 35 miles, and our London Shih Tzu page links each one to its rescue. Expect it to be small, and some days empty: when we checked on 20 October 2026, the only Shih Tzu with a rescue we list near London was already reserved. Our London small dogs page shows the other small dogs listed today.

We found no active Shih Tzu breed rescue to recommend for London adopters, so the rescues below and the big charities 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 any rescue what it knows about a dog's past home.

Rescue fees near London run from £150 to £220 at All Dogs Matter and usually £400 to £450 at Cheshunt Animal Rescue, and a rescue's fee or donation goes towards vet work such as neutering and vaccinations. Ask each rescue what its dog has already had.

A bought puppy should already be microchipped by its breeder, as UK law requires by 8 weeks, but neutering and further vaccinations usually come on top of the £400 to £3,000 Blue Cross gives for the puppy itself.

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). The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders to have eyes tested and, from August 2026, recognises a breathing test 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 Royal Kennel Club lists a flat as big enough for a Shih Tzu, with up to an hour of exercise a day, and the coat needs grooming every day; Dogs Trust says a professional groomer can clip it every 6 to 8 weeks. Tell the rescue honestly about your home, including whether you have a garden.

Time alone matters more than space. PDSA says a Shih Tzu shouldn't be left alone for more than four hours a day, and Cheshunt Animal Rescue won't place a dog with anyone who works full time.

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 London Shih Tzu page is adopted that way. Puppies do reach rescue now and then, but most rescue Shih Tzus are adults, so you can see the coat and temperament you are taking on.

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, which replaced Action Fraud.