Adopt Shih Tzu Shelter Dogs

Taking in a Shih Tzu from a shelter is a decision with a lot of heart. Once bred as a tender companion for the Chinese nobility, this compact little dog (25–27 cm at the shoulder, 4–7 kg) has a cheerful, outgoing and playful nature. If you want to adopt a Shih Tzu, you're giving a loyal companion dog a new home – and gaining a friend who rewards its family with boundless affection.

When such a family- and child-friendly dog is given up to a rescue, it rarely has anything to do with its lovable character. Usually the owners' circumstances change through illness, allergies or upheaval at work. On top of that come breed-typical demands that were underestimated before getting the dog:

• High grooming effort: The dense, long topcoat hardly sheds, but it needs daily brushing and regular trimming. Without the time for that, the coat quickly mats right down to the skin.
• A need for closeness: As a pure companion dog, the Shih Tzu wants to share in its people's daily life. If it has to stay alone for many hours every day, it suffers quietly or develops separation stress.
• Underestimated vet bills: If a dog comes from a puppy mill that breeds without health checks, expensive health problems often appear early and overwhelm owners financially.

A Shih Tzu from a shelter comes with its own history. Many of these dogs are hesitant at first but quickly come out of their shell once they feel safe. Then the breed's typical charming stubbornness shines through again: because trainability is in the middle range, patience and loving consistency get you furthest.

Health deserves special attention. Because of their build, Shih Tzus carry clearly increased health risks – above all for breathing, the eyes and the knees. Breed-typical issues include brachycephalic syndrome, eye conditions such as cataracts, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye) and generalized progressive retinal atrophy, as well as intervertebral disc disease, heart disease and familial nephropathy. Malformations such as cleft palate, dermoid sinus or hydrocephalus also occur in the breed. Responsible breeders have the parents' knees, eyes and kidneys examined clinically, select for open airways and ask about known cases in the line to lower the risk for the puppies – but with a shelter dog, the genetic background is often unknown. Even with the best preventive care, these breed-typical risks can't be eliminated entirely. So strictly limit heat and physical exertion, choose joint-friendly exercise and make regular eye and vet checkups a fixed part of your routine.

If you buy a Shih Tzu puppy from a breeder, the price range is between 1,200 and 2,500 EUR. At a shelter, you pay an adoption fee instead, which is considerably lower. It usually already covers vaccinations, a microchip and a veterinary check on arrival; ask the shelter to show you the relevant paperwork.

On top of the adoption fee, budget for good-quality basics: a well-fitting harness (which spares the delicate neck and windpipe), combs and brushes, eye-care products and an orthopedic bed. We also recommend building up a financial cushion for future vet bills, since the Shih Tzu has a life expectancy of 10 to 16 years.