Breed adoption guide
Adopting a Shih Tzu in Sheffield: rescues, costs and grooming
Few Shih Tzus are listed with the rescues around Sheffield at any one time, and we found no active Shih Tzu breed rescue to recommend. Here is where a rescue Shih Tzu is most likely to turn up, what adopting costs against buying, and what to ask about health, grooming and time alone.
By the LocalPetFinder Team · Checked 27 October 2026
The short answer
To adopt a Shih Tzu in Sheffield, watch our Sheffield Shih Tzu page for dogs with the rescues around the city, such as Sheffield Dog Rescue at Mosborough and Thornberry Animal Sanctuary at North Anston. We found no active Shih Tzu breed rescue to recommend, so be ready to wait or to travel. Rescues charge an adoption fee or donation, not a sale price.
- Rescue adoption fees
- Each rescue sets its own adoption fee. 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.
- Buying a puppy
- Blue Cross puts the cost of buying a puppy at £400 to £3,000, before food, insurance and vet bills. We don't quote a Shih Tzu price because we have found no reliable one.
- Rescues around Sheffield
- Sheffield Dog Rescue charges £200 (£300 for pedigree breeds), RAIN Rescue generally £250 to £350, Helping Yorkshire Poundies a minimum donation of £300 for an adult dog, and Cliffe Kennels & Rescue from £380.
- A lifetime with a small dog
- PDSA puts the minimum lifetime cost of a small dog at £6,200 to £12,000 (its 2024 figures, including insurance but not vet bills if the dog becomes ill).
Where to adopt a Shih Tzu in Sheffield
The count under the short answer is live: it shows every Shih Tzu and Shih Tzu cross listed with us in Sheffield and within about 25 miles, and our Sheffield Shih Tzu page links each one to its rescue. Expect it to be small, and some days empty. Our Sheffield small dogs page shows the other small dogs listed near the city.
Rescues around Sheffield whose dogs we list
None of them specialises in Shih Tzus, but the general rescues rehome all kinds of dogs, so a Shih Tzu can turn up at any of them. We found no active Shih Tzu breed rescue to recommend, so these rescues are the places to look. Sheffield Dog Rescue at Mosborough is the only one with kennels inside the city; you visit by appointment to walk the dogs, and a home check comes before any adoption. Thornberry Animal Sanctuary at North Anston, about 10 miles east, works from an enquiry form and appointments, and checks every dog's new home by video and photos.
RAIN Rescue reserves no dog until a home check and a meet and greet have happened; the dogs we list are at its centre at Misson, about 21 miles away. Helping Yorkshire Poundies has kennels near Rotherham and some dogs in foster homes. Our guide to Sheffield dog rescues compares them all.
Why Shih Tzus need new homes
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.
Adopting or buying a Shih Tzu: what you pay
At Sheffield Dog Rescue, the £200 fee (£300 for pedigree breeds) helps cover neutering, first vaccinations, a microchip, and flea and worm treatment.
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.
Shih Tzu health: what to ask the rescue
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.
Grooming a rescue Shih Tzu
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.
Living with a Shih Tzu in Sheffield
The Royal Kennel Club lists a flat as big enough for a Shih Tzu, with up to an hour of exercise a day. Sheffield Dog Rescue wants a securely fenced garden, 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, and Sheffield Dog Rescue wants adopters who are not out at work full time. Sheffield Dog Rescue also doesn't rehome older dogs to families with children under seven.
If you've been searching "Shih Tzu puppies for sale Sheffield"
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 Sheffield 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).
The law in England
Microchipping and change of keeper
In England, as everywhere in the UK, every dog must be microchipped and registered by 8 weeks old. Since 6 April 2016 a dog in England can't pass to a new keeper until it is chipped, and the new keeper must update the database (the England regulations). A rescue chips before rehoming; after adoption, keep the details up to date.
Lucy's Law: buying a puppy
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.
Banned dog types
In England, it is against the law to sell, abandon, give away or breed from a banned type: the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and XL Bully. Whether a dog is banned depends on what it looks like rather than its breed or name, so no rescue can rehome one and none appear on LocalPetFinder. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not a banned type.
XL Bully dogs
In England, since 31 December 2023 it has been illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange or abandon an XL Bully or let it stray, and since 1 February 2024 illegal to own one without a Certificate of Exemption (gov.uk: England and Wales).
Questions
Tap a question to expand
Is there a Shih Tzu rescue that covers Sheffield?
Not a breed rescue we can recommend: we found no active Shih Tzu breed rescue to point you to. A Shih Tzu can turn up at the general rescues around Sheffield whose dogs we list, so watch our Sheffield Shih Tzu page.
How much does it cost to adopt a Shih Tzu compared with buying one?
Usually less. Sheffield Dog Rescue charges £200 (£300 for pedigree breeds) and RAIN Rescue generally £250 to £350. Blue Cross puts the cost of buying a puppy at £400 to £3,000.
Can I get a Shih Tzu for free, or for £200 or less, near Sheffield?
Not free from a rescue, but £200 is possible: Sheffield Dog Rescue charges £200 (£300 for pedigree breeds). Reputable rescues ask a fee or donation towards vet work such as neutering, vaccinations and dental treatment. A "free to good home" Shih Tzu advert comes from a private owner with no rescue behind it, so be cautious and check the microchip details.
Why do Shih Tzus end up in rescue?
We haven't found a 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 the commitment: 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.
What health problems should I ask about with a rescue Shih Tzu?
Ask about breathing, eyes and teeth. Dogs Trust describes the breed as brachycephalic and at higher risk of heat stroke, and PDSA lists dry eye, cataracts, crowded teeth, a kidney condition and back problems among conditions Shih Tzus may develop. Ask what the rescue's vet has found.
Should I adopt a Shih Tzu puppy, an adult or an older dog?
For most homes, an adult or an older dog, whose coat, health and character are already known. The Royal Kennel Club gives the lifespan as over 10 years and Dogs Trust typically 10 or more, so an older dog can still have years ahead. Puppies reach rescue only now and then.
Can a Shih Tzu be left alone while I work?
Not for long. PDSA says a Shih Tzu shouldn't be left alone for more than four hours a day, and Sheffield Dog Rescue wants adopters who are not out at work full time. Tell the rescue how the dog's day would be covered.
Can I adopt a Shih Tzu if I have young children?
It depends on the rescue and the dog. Sheffield Dog Rescue doesn't rehome older dogs to families with children under seven. Thornberry Animal Sanctuary sets children's ages dog by dog.
Keep reading
- Shih Tzus for adoption in and around Sheffield
- All rescue dogs in and around Sheffield
- The best dog rescues in Sheffield, compared
- Shih Tzus across the UK
- Adopting a Chihuahua in Sheffield: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Cockapoo or Cavapoo in Sheffield: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Cocker Spaniel in Sheffield: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Dachshund in Sheffield: rescues, rules and costs
- Adopting a French Bulldog in Sheffield: rescues, costs and breathing
- Adopting a German Shepherd in Sheffield: rescues, costs and the law
- Adopting a greyhound in Sheffield: charities, rules and costs
- Adopting a Jack Russell in Sheffield: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Labrador in Sheffield: rescues, costs and matching
- Adopting a Pug in Sheffield: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Rottweiler in Sheffield: rescues, costs and health
- Adopting a Staffy in Sheffield: rescues, costs and the law
- Adopting a Whippet in Sheffield: rescues, rules and costs
- Every dog adoption guide for Sheffield
- Rescue pets in Sheffield
- Rehoming a Shih Tzu? Our owner guide
Shih Tzus in other cities: Chesterfield, Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham, Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Canterbury, Cardiff, Carlisle, Dumfries and Galloway, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Ipswich, Kendal, Kingston upon Hull, Leeds, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northampton, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Stoke-on-Trent, Swansea, Truro, Worcester
Shih Tzu guides in other cities: Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham
For rescues and rehoming centres
Are you a rescue near Sheffield? Get your animals listed free.
Every animal links back to your own adoption page, and you can ask to be removed at any time.
Sources: Sheffield Dog Rescue: available dogs · Thornberry Animal Sanctuary: adopt an animal · RAIN Rescue: dog adoption FAQs · Helping Yorkshire Poundies: adoption process · Cliffe Kennels & Rescue: dogs for adoption · The Royal Kennel Club: Shih Tzu · Dogs Trust: Shih Tzu · PDSA: Shih Tzu · Blue Cross: getting a puppy · PDSA: the cost of owning a dog · The Royal Kennel Club: Find a puppy · Report Fraud · gov.uk: Get your dog microchipped · gov.uk: Banned dogs · gov.uk: Lucy's Law in England · legislation.gov.uk: Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023 · gov.uk: Ban on XL Bully dogs