The short answer
You can adopt a Shih Poo in Melbourne, though because it is a cross rather than a registered breed it is often listed as a Shih Tzu cross or Poodle cross, so set broad alerts across the main Victorian rescues and be application-ready, as small dogs go quickly. Adoption runs about $350 to $700 for an adult and $500 to $900 for a puppy, all-inclusive, against well into the thousands from a breeder, and the cross is not one of Victoria's restricted breeds. The honest part is the grooming and company: the wavy coat needs regular clipping, and this is a people-focused dog that does not like being left alone all day. Plan for both and a rescue Shih Poo is a lovely, easy-going companion.
Why Shih Poos reach Melbourne rescue
Shih Poos and the Shih Tzu or Poodle crosses they are listed as reach Victorian rescue steadily, usually for one of a few reasons, and almost never because of anything wrong with the dog.
Grooming was underestimated. The low-shedding wavy coat needs regular clipping every few months, and an owner who did not plan for that ongoing cost and effort sometimes surrenders the dog once it mats.
Company and separation anxiety. The Shih Poo is very people-focused and does not cope well with being left alone all day, and a dog that becomes anxious or noisy when left is sometimes given up rather than helped.
The designer-cross boom. Small crosses like the Shih Poo are heavily bred, often by backyard and commercial breeders, so more are produced than homes can keep, and rescues take in the overflow along with dogs surrendered on a change of circumstances.
Where to adopt a Shih Poo in Melbourne
Because a Shih Poo is a cross and often listed under its parent breeds, a wide alert net is essential. Set listing alerts on every rescue you would consider, and search for Shih Tzu and Poodle crosses too. For a fuller directory, see our list of Melbourne rescues and shelters.
1. RSPCA Victoria
The state body runs adoption centres at Burwood East and RSPCA Peninsula at Pearcedale. Small companion dogs and crosses come through via owner surrender, and every adoption includes desexing, vaccination, microchipping, a vet workup and a behavioural assessment. Apply at rspcavic.org.
2. The Lost Dogs' Home
Melbourne's long-established metro shelter, based in North Melbourne with a second facility at Cranbourne. It handles a large intake of stray and surrendered dogs, so a Shih Poo or Shih Tzu cross turns up from time to time, always with a behavioural assessment. Adoption includes desexing, vaccination, microchipping and a vet check. Listings at dogshome.com.
3. Lort Smith
Lort Smith runs an Adoption Centre at Campbellfield with a full vet workup behind every dog. A broad mix of breeds means a Shih Poo or small cross features regularly, and small dogs tend to be snapped up quickly, so an alert helps. More at lortsmith.com.
4. Save-A-Dog Scheme
A Melbourne-based no-kill rescue running since 1985, with a mix of shelter and foster placements. Because many dogs live in foster homes, the notes on a Shih Poo's temperament, coat and how it copes alone tend to be detailed and honest, which is exactly what you want with a people-focused cross. More at saveadog.org.au.
5. Second Chance Animal Rescue
A Victorian foster-based rescue that takes a broad mix of dogs and crosses, including small companion dogs. Because dogs live in foster, you get a clear picture of the real temperament before you commit, and the application usually includes a home check. Listings at secondchanceanimalrescue.com.au.
Beyond these, Animal Aid at Coldstream and the Australian Animal Protection Society at Keysborough both rehome dogs including small crosses, and the fastest way to scan many Victorian rescues at once is PetRescue, a national aggregator that lists animals from hundreds of member rescues in one searchable place. Be wary of any group calling itself a Shih Poo rescue that asks for money before you have confirmed a real address, a current adoptable-dog list and charitable status. Browse the current Shih Poos and Shih Tzu or Poodle crosses on the Melbourne Shih Poo listings.
What a Shih Poo costs: adopt versus buy
Adoption is far cheaper at the outset. A rescue fee for an adult Shih Poo through a Melbourne rescue commonly runs about $350 to $700 for an adult, with puppies usually $500 to $900, and that fee already covers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check.
A Shih Poo puppy from a breeder in Victoria, by contrast, typically runs well into the thousands, with none of that vet work done yet. So adopting is many times cheaper up front, and the dog arrives already vetted and, if you adopt an adult, with a known size and coat.
The ongoing cost worth planning for is grooming: the wavy coat needs clipping every few months, plus routine dental and preventative care. Council registration under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 is a modest yearly cost, reduced for a desexed and microchipped dog, and pet insurance taken out while the dog is young is worth having.
Living with a Shih Poo, and the health picture
The Shih Poo is affectionate, cheerful and people-focused, happy with moderate exercise and well suited to apartment and first-time owners. The two things it asks for are grooming, because the coat needs regular clipping to avoid matting, and company, because it is very attached to its people and can become anxious if left alone all day. Reward-based training and early socialisation bring out a confident, friendly little dog.
On health a Shih Poo can inherit issues from either parent breed, including the flat-faced breathing and eye problems of the Shih Tzu side, along with luxating patellas, dental disease and some eye conditions. A rescue Shih Poo arrives vet-checked, so ask the rescue what the in-care assessment found, keep up with dental and eye care, watch it in Melbourne heat if it is flatter-faced, and insure the dog while it is young.
Shih Poos and Victorian breed law
The Shih Poo is not one of Victoria's restricted breeds, which under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 are the pit bull terrier, dogo argentino, fila brasileiro, japanese tosa and perro de presa canario. A Shih Poo is legal to own and rehome normally, and simply needs to be microchipped and registered with your local council from three months of age, re-registered each year. Check Agriculture Victoria and your council for registration details.
Browse adoptable Shih Poos in Melbourne
Small dogs go quickly, so set an alert, and an adult lets you see the size and coat before you commit. Browse live Victorian listings now.
See Available Shih Poos →If you have been searching “Shih Poo puppies for sale”
Plenty of people arrive here after searching for a Shih Poo puppy to buy, and for this cross adoption has a real advantage: an adult rescue Shih Poo lets you see the size, coat and temperament you are taking on, where a puppy is more of a gamble. The for-sale listings are everywhere, because small designer crosses are heavily bred, which means a lot of backyard breeding and the occasional scam, so a cheap Shih Poo puppy or a deposit request for a dog you have not met is a warning sign rather than a bargain. In Victoria, any advertisement to sell or give away a dog must display the animal's microchip number and a Pet Exchange Register source number, so check that number on the Pet Exchange Register before you pay, and cross-check anything that feels off against Scamwatch.
Adoption costs a fraction of a breeder price and gives a vet-checked dog a home. Register your interest with small-breed rescues, search under Shih Tzu and Poodle crosses, set alerts, and be patient; the right dog does come up.
Adult or puppy, and is a Shih Poo right for you?
For most adopters an adult is the better choice, because an adult shows you the real size, coat and temperament, where a puppy from a cross is more of an unknown. An adult also often has some house-training and a grooming routine in place and a lower adoption fee. A carefully matched, foster-assessed adult Shih Poo is a straightforward way into the breed.
Be honest about whether this cross fits your life. A Shih Poo is a lovely, easy-going companion for an owner who can keep up with the grooming and can give the dog company for much of the day. If you can offer both, a rescue Shih Poo is a wonderful little dog. If the household is out long hours or cannot manage the coat, a different breed may suit you both better than adopting and surrendering later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I adopt a Shih Poo near me in Melbourne?
Start with the live listings on this page, which pull Shih Poos and Shih Tzu or Poodle crosses from shelters and foster-based rescues across Victoria, then widen out. RSPCA Victoria, the Lost Dogs' Home, Lort Smith, Save-A-Dog Scheme and Second Chance Animal Rescue all rehome small companion dogs and crosses, and PetRescue aggregates many smaller Victorian rescues in one place. Because the Shih Poo is a cross rather than a registered breed, it is often listed as a Shih Tzu cross or a Poodle cross, so set broad listing alerts and have your application ready, as small dogs are snapped up quickly.
Why do Shih Poos end up in rescue?
Usually because of the grooming and companionship demands, or a change in the owner's circumstances, not because of anything wrong with the dog. A Shih Poo is a Shih Tzu and Poodle cross, affectionate and cheerful but very attached to its people and prone to separation anxiety, with a low-shedding wavy coat that needs regular grooming. When an owner did not plan for the grooming cost, cannot give the dog company, or faces a move or illness, the dog is surrendered. The designer-cross boom also means more are bred than homes can keep, and rescues take in the overflow.
How much does it cost to adopt a Shih Poo in Melbourne versus buying one?
Adoption is far cheaper at the outset. A rescue fee for an adult Shih Poo through a Melbourne rescue commonly runs about $350 to $700 for an adult, with puppies usually $500 to $900, and that fee already covers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check. A Shih Poo puppy from a breeder, by contrast, typically runs well into the thousands, with none of that vet work done yet. The ongoing cost worth planning for is grooming: the wavy coat needs clipping every few months, so budget for that whichever way you get one.
Are Shih Poos a restricted breed in Victoria?
No. The Shih Poo is not one of Victoria's restricted breeds, which are the pit bull terrier, dogo argentino, fila brasileiro, japanese tosa and perro de presa canario. A Shih Poo is legal to own and rehome normally and simply needs to be microchipped and registered with your local council from three months of age. A rescue Shih Poo arrives already desexed and microchipped.
Is a Shih Poo a good first dog?
Yes, for the right household. A Shih Poo is small, affectionate and generally easy-going, which suits first-time and apartment owners, and it does not need huge amounts of exercise. The two things to plan for are grooming, because the coat needs regular clipping, and company, because the breed is very people-focused and does not cope well with being left alone all day. If you can offer regular grooming and company, a Shih Poo is a lovely, low-demand first dog.
Are Shih Poos good with children and other pets?
Generally yes, with sensible introductions. A well-socialised Shih Poo is typically affectionate and gentle, usually good with considerate children and other pets, though its small size means supervision around toddlers and rough handling. Because each Shih Poo is an individual cross, temperament varies, so a foster carer who has lived with the dog can tell you exactly how it is with children, other dogs and cats, which is the most reliable guide.
Should I adopt an adult Shih Poo or a puppy?
For most adopters an adult is the better choice, because an adult shows you its real size, coat and temperament, where a puppy from a cross is more of an unknown. An adult also often has some house-training and a grooming routine in place and a lower adoption fee. A vet-checked, foster-assessed adult Shih Poo, matched carefully to your household, is a straightforward way into the breed.
Are there free Shih Poos in Melbourne, or ones under $500?
Be careful with free or very cheap Shih Poos. A legitimate rescue charges an adoption fee, commonly $350 to $700 for an adult and $500 to $900 for a puppy, so the lower end lands under the $500 people search for, because that fee part-covers the desexing, vaccination, microchipping and vet check the dog has already had. A Shih Poo advertised free to a good home, or well under a rescue fee, is one of the classic scam and backyard-breeding setups, so treat a bargain as a warning sign and check any seller against the Victorian rules below before paying anything.
I keep seeing Shih Poo puppies for sale. Is adopting really an option?
It is, and for this cross adoption has a real advantage, because an adult rescue Shih Poo lets you see the size, coat and temperament you are taking on, where a puppy is more of a gamble. The for-sale listings are everywhere, because small designer crosses are heavily bred, which means a lot of backyard breeding and the occasional scam, so a cheap Shih Poo puppy or a deposit request for a dog you have not met is a warning sign rather than a bargain. In Victoria, any advertisement to sell or give away a dog must display the microchip number and a Pet Exchange Register source number, so check that number on the Pet Exchange Register before paying anything. Adoption costs a fraction of a breeder price and gives a vet-checked dog a home, so register your interest, set alerts, and be patient.
Keep reading
Adoptable Shih Poos in Melbourne
Live listings with foster carer notes on size, coat and temperament.
Best Dog Rescues in Melbourne
The verified shelters and foster rescues to set alerts with across Victoria.
Registering a Dog in Melbourne
Council registration, microchipping and the Victorian rules for a new dog.
Melbourne Adoption Resources
Guides on adopting, costs, council rules and settling a rescue dog in Melbourne.