Give a Shih Tzu a second home, and learn the coat and eye care to expect, why senior Shih Tzus are rewarding, and how to vet the handoff.
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu mix
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu mix
Adopting a Shih Tzu means taking on a sweet, sturdy little lap dog, often an adult or senior who just wants a warm spot beside you. On Petmeetly that handoff is owner to owner, with no rescue group in the middle. That makes it personal and direct, and it also means the checks are yours to do.
The Shih Tzus listed above are looking for new homes right now. This guide shows you how to choose well and bring one home safely.
Short answer
Most Shih Tzus are rehomed because of the owner's life, not the dog. But the breed has a pattern too: the daily grooming and the eye care are more work than people expect, and the dog can be slow to housetrain. A prepared, gentle home is exactly what they need.
Most dogs are given up for the owner's circumstances, not the dog (a 2015 ASPCA study put the figure above a million households a year). A rehomed Shih Tzu is almost never a bad dog, and breed rescues take in many puppy-mill survivors who have a lot of love left to give.
Short answer
A Shih Tzu is an easy, loving companion in most ways, but two things take real commitment: the coat and the eyes. The coat mats without regular grooming, and the eyes need daily care and a quick response to trouble. Get both right, and you have one of the most devoted little dogs there is.
What to plan for:
Short answer
Many Shih Tzus in rescue are adults or seniors, including puppy-mill survivors who never had a real home. They are gentle, low-exercise lap dogs, and an adult shows you its real size and temperament up front. A senior may need dental or eye care, which is well worth budgeting for.
For a small, gentle breed, an adult's known temperament is a feature, not a compromise (adult vs puppy). An older dog needs a budget for senior care, but a senior Shih Tzu gives back devotion like few dogs can. Set on a puppy instead? Here is how to buy a Shih Tzu.
In a private rehoming there is no rescue file, so everything a shelter would tell you, you have to ask for. Ask out loud, and ask for copies. This follows the AKC's questions for adopting a dog.
Beyond the questions, protect both sides with a few simple steps. Meet the dog in person first, get the vet records, transfer the microchip in writing, and sign a short transfer-of-ownership agreement. Keep the dog on its current food and routine at first.
Short answer
A fair private rehoming fee for a Shih Tzu is usually $50 to $250, and it should rarely top $300. The fee is not a sale. It helps cover recent vet care, and it quietly screens out people who would take a free dog to flip it or worse. A reasonable fee is a good sign, not a red flag.
Shelters often charge more ($100 to $500) because that fee runs a whole organization, which is different from one owner rehoming one dog. Either way, a private fee is a fraction of a puppy's cost (guidance from Adopt-a-Pet).
Short answer
Give a newly adopted Shih Tzu time with the 3-3-3 guideline. Expect about 3 days to decompress (settle and calm down), 3 weeks to learn the routine, and 3 months to feel fully at home. Shih Tzus often bond quickly, but a small, gentle dog still needs a calm start.
A new Shih Tzu may be quiet, clingy, or unsettled. Give it a calm, gentle space, keep things low-key, and do not force interaction. A small, gentle dog needs a soft landing.
The dog relaxes and its sweet, playful side shows. Begin gentle, reward-based training, set a routine, and start a daily brushing and eye-care habit.
Most dogs need about three months to fully trust a new home. Shih Tzus often bond fast, so keep the routine steady and enjoy the cuddles.
A few things help in those first weeks: the same food at first, a calm introduction, a daily eye-care habit, and reward-based training only (skip choke, prong, and shock collars). The 3-3-3 guide and AKC advice for adult dogs both stress a slow, steady start.
Short answer
Rehoming scams prey on goodwill, with a low-fee dog and a sympathetic story. The rules are simple: meet the dog and the person before any money changes hands, and pay in person. Never wire money or send a cash-app payment for a dog you have not met.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund and the FTC give the same advice: pay and meet in person, and never wire money for a dog sight unseen. For more on spotting fake listings, read our guide to spotting pet scams.
Petmeetly connects you directly with owners rehoming their Shih Tzus. The dogs available for adoption are listed near the top of this page. Run the checks above, meet in person, and pay only when you are sure. New to adopting? Start with our dog adopter's checklist.
Sources
Get answers to common questions about adopting Shih Tzus responsibly
Mostly the owner’s life, like a move, money, or housing, not the dog. But the breed adds a pattern: the grooming and the eye care are more work than people expect, and many Shih Tzus come out of puppy mills and into rescue.
A coat that needs daily brushing or a regular clip, daily eye care, and dental care for a small, crowded mouth. Go easy on exercise in the heat, since the flat face makes overheating easier.
Yes. The big, shallow-set eyes are prone to dry eye and ulcers, and a hard bump can pop the eye out (proptosis), which is an emergency. Watch for redness, squinting, or pawing, and see a vet fast.
Often yes. Senior Shih Tzus are gentle, low-exercise lap dogs, and many in rescue are mill survivors who deserve a soft place to land. Budget for dental and eye care, and you have a devoted companion.
Yes, a modest fee is normal and healthy. For a private Shih Tzu rehoming it is usually $50 to $250 and should rarely top $300. The fee helps the owner recover recent vet costs, and it screens out people who would take a free dog to flip or harm it.
More vetted material for Shih Tzu adopters
A standards-backed dog adopter's checklist covering readiness (lifestyle, budget, household), questions to ask the previous owner or shelter, your 30-day supplies and paperwork kit, the 3-3-3 decompression rule, and long-term care.
Find out how to re-home your pet responsibly. Learn the steps to ensure a safe and smooth transition for your pet into a new loving home.
Find loving dogs of various breeds waiting for their forever homes
Browse Shih Tzus looking for new homes on Petmeetly, then use the checks above before you meet and commit.
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