The short answer
You can readily adopt a Shih Tzu in Perth, because they are one of the most common small dogs in rescue. Set alerts across Dogs' Refuge Home WA at Shenton Park, RSPCA WA at Malaga, the foster-based SAFE Perth and SAFE, and PetRescue, be application-ready, and stay open to a Shih Tzu cross or an older dog. Adoption runs about $600 for an adult, all-inclusive, against several thousand dollars from a breeder, and the breed is not restricted in WA. The honest part is the upkeep: the coat needs regular clipping or brushing, and as a flat-faced breed a Shih Tzu needs care in the Perth heat and can have eye, dental or breathing needs. Meet those and you have a friendly, affectionate companion that fits apartments and families alike for well over a decade.
Why Shih Tzus end up in Perth rescue
A Shih Tzu in rescue is rarely a broken dog. It is usually a friendly companion whose last home underestimated the upkeep, and understanding why tells you how to give one a better one.
The grooming outpaced the owner. The long double coat mats if it is not brushed or clipped regularly, and matting is uncomfortable and can hide skin problems. Owners who did not plan for the grooming, or the cost of a regular groomer, sometimes surrender the dog once the coat becomes a daily job.
Flat-faced health care. As a brachycephalic breed, some Shih Tzus have eye problems, dental crowding or breathing difficulty that need ongoing attention and cost, and an owner who did not expect those bills sometimes gives the dog up. A rescue will flag any known issue so you adopt with your eyes open.
Overbreeding. Small companion dogs are in constant demand, so Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu crosses are produced in volume by backyard and commercial breeders, and rescues take in the surrendered and the discarded. Crosses appear often, especially Maltese Shih Tzu and Shih Tzu Poodle blends.
Life changes. Many reach rescue through no fault of their own after a relationship breakdown, a house move or an owner who could no longer care for a pet. These dogs are often already house-trained and settled, and simply need a new home.
Where to adopt a Shih Tzu in Perth
Shih Tzus are common in rescue, so a wide alert net is the right approach. Set listing alerts on every rescue you would consider so you hear the moment one comes in. For a fuller directory, see our Perth adoption resources hub.
1. Dogs' Refuge Home WA
A dogs-only, not-for-profit shelter at Shenton Park in inner Perth, running since 1935 and one of Australia's oldest animal welfare agencies. It takes in a steady stream of small dogs under a pro-life policy, and Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu crosses appear regularly. Adoption includes desexing, vaccination, microchipping and a vet check. Browse the current dogs at dogshome.org.au.
2. RSPCA Western Australia
The state welfare body, running since 1892, with its Animal Care Centre at 108 Malaga Drive in Malaga, northern Perth. Adoptions run by appointment and every animal is health- and behaviour-checked before it is listed, which matters for a flat-faced breed because it flags any breathing or eye issue up front. Apply at rspcawa.org.au.
3. SAFE Perth and SAFE
Both run a foster-care model rather than a central metro shelter, so a Shih Tzu waits in a home rather than a kennel. Because the dog lives in a foster home, the notes on its coat, temperament, health and behaviour with people and other animals tend to be detailed and honest. SAFE Perth lists at safeperth.com.au and SAFE at safe.org.au. Both operate under the SAFE banner in WA, so confirm which organisation holds a given dog.
4. PetRescue
A national aggregator that lists Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu crosses from many smaller WA rescue groups in one searchable place, at petrescue.com.au. It is the fastest way to scan many WA rescues at once rather than checking each site in turn.
Be wary of any group that asks for money before you have confirmed a real address, a current adoptable-dog list and registered status. Browse the current Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu crosses on the Perth Shih Tzu listings.
What a Shih Tzu costs: adopt versus buy
Adoption is far cheaper at the outset. A rescue fee for an adult Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu cross through a Perth rescue commonly runs about $600, all-inclusive, and that fee already covers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check. A Shih Tzu from a breeder in WA, by contrast, often runs to several thousand dollars, with none of that vet work done yet.
Council registration is a separate legal step, with the fee set by your local council rather than a single Perth figure. Under the Dog Act 1976, a dog must be microchipped by 3 months and before it changes hands, and registered with your local council from 3 months. A desexed and microchipped Shih Tzu pays a substantially reduced registration fee, and pensioner or concession card holders commonly get a further discount. Check the WA Government dog ownership hub and your own council for the current amount.
The ongoing costs to plan for are grooming, dental care, and the eye and breathing care a flat-faced breed can need, plus routine parasite prevention. Adopting an assessed adult lets you see the temperament, coat and any known health history rather than gamble on a puppy, and small dogs live a long time, so the years of companionship are many.
Shih Tzus and Western Australian dog law
The Shih Tzu is not a restricted breed in Western Australia. Under the Dog Act 1976, only five breeds are restricted: the American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario. A Shih Tzu is legal to own and to rehome normally. It simply needs to be microchipped by 3 months of age and before it changes hands, and registered with your local council from 3 months, with a substantially reduced fee for a desexed and microchipped dog. A rescue Shih Tzu arrives already desexed and microchipped. Check the WA Government dog ownership hub for the current rules.
Browse adoptable Shih Tzus in Perth
Shih Tzus are common in rescue, and an adult lets you see the temperament, coat and any health needs before you commit. Browse live WA listings and set an alert.
See Available Shih Tzus →If you have been searching “Shih Tzu for sale Perth”
Plenty of people arrive here after searching for a Shih Tzu to buy, and for this breed adoption is a genuinely strong alternative, because Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu crosses are among the most common small dogs in rescue and an adult lets you see the temperament, coat and any flat-faced health needs rather than gamble on a puppy. The for-sale listings are easy to find, but this popular small breed attracts backyard breeding and the occasional scam, so a cheap puppy or a deposit request for a dog you have not met in person is a warning sign rather than a bargain, and Scamwatch has documented deposit scams for puppies that do not exist.
WA does not run a Pet Exchange Register or a breeder source-number scheme, so there is no source number to look up here. The practical safeguard is the microchip: a dog sold or given away legally in WA must be microchipped and registered, so ask to see the microchip paperwork before you pay anything, and treat a seller who cannot produce it as a red flag. With a flat-faced breed, buying also carries a real health gamble from poorly bred lines, so a vet-checked rescue dog is the safer start. Adoption costs a fraction of a breeder price and gives a vet-checked dog a home. The RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase has good general guidance on choosing a dog and avoiding poorly bred puppies.
Adult or puppy, and is a Shih Tzu right for you?
For most adopters an assessed adult is the better choice. An adult shows you the real temperament, the coat and any flat-faced health needs, often has some training in place, and comes with a lower adoption fee, while a puppy is a gamble on temperament and health and needs intensive early socialisation and house-training. A foster-assessed adult Shih Tzu, matched to the right home, is the easier and more predictable way into the breed.
A Shih Tzu suits a home that will keep up the grooming, manage the Perth heat sensibly for a flat-faced dog, and enjoy a friendly, affectionate companion that is happy in an apartment or a family home. It is a sociable little dog that generally gets on with children and other pets. If you wanted a low-grooming dog or a tireless exercise partner, be honest with the rescue and let them steer you to a better fit. Read the foster carer's notes on a specific dog with children, cats and other dogs, because they predict the match far better than the breed average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I adopt a Shih Tzu near me in Perth?
Start with the main Perth shelters and rescues and widen out. Dogs' Refuge Home WA at Shenton Park and RSPCA WA at Malaga both take in small dogs, and the foster-based SAFE Perth and SAFE rehome Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu crosses through the year. PetRescue lists small dogs from many smaller WA rescues in one place. Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu crosses, including Maltese Shih Tzu and Shih Tzu Poodle mixes, are one of the more common small dogs in rescue, so set listing alerts across every rescue you would consider and have your application ready. Never send money to a group before you have confirmed it is a real, registered rescue.
Why do Shih Tzus end up in rescue?
Rarely because of the dog. The long double coat mats if it is not groomed or clipped regularly, and some Shih Tzus are surrendered once the grooming becomes more than the owner planned for. As a flat-faced breed, some have breathing, eye or dental problems that need ongoing care and cost, which can also lead to surrender. Small-dog overbreeding and puppy farming put a steady supply of Shih Tzus and crosses into rescue. Others arrive through no fault of their own after a relationship breakdown, a house move or an owner who could no longer care for them. Most are friendly, affectionate dogs that settle quickly in a new home.
How much does it cost to adopt a Shih Tzu versus buy one?
Adoption is far cheaper up front. A rescue fee for an adult Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu cross through a Perth rescue commonly runs about $600, all-inclusive, and that fee already covers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check. A Shih Tzu from a breeder in WA, by contrast, often runs to several thousand dollars, with none of that vet work done yet. So adopting is many times cheaper at the outset and the dog arrives already vetted. The ongoing costs to plan for are grooming, dental care, and the eye and breathing care a flat-faced breed can need, plus routine parasite prevention.
Are Shih Tzus restricted in Western Australia?
No. The Shih Tzu is not a restricted breed in WA. The five restricted breeds under the Dog Act 1976 are the American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario. A Shih Tzu is legal to own and to rehome normally. Like any WA dog it needs to be microchipped by 3 months of age and before it changes hands, and registered with your local council from 3 months, with a substantially reduced registration fee for a desexed and microchipped dog.
Do Shih Tzus cope with the Perth heat?
They need care, because the Shih Tzu is a flat-faced (brachycephalic) breed and flat-faced dogs do not cool themselves as efficiently as longer-nosed dogs, so they are more prone to overheating on hot Perth days. Walk only in the cool of the early morning or evening in summer, never leave a dog in a parked car, provide shade, fresh water and a cool indoor spot, and watch for laboured breathing. Keeping the coat in a shorter clip through the warmer months helps. A rescue will tell you how a particular dog copes and flag any existing breathing issue.
Are Shih Tzus good with children and other pets?
They often are, which is part of their appeal. A well-socialised Shih Tzu is friendly, sturdy for its size and generally sociable with children, other dogs and cats, and it was bred purely as a companion rather than a working dog. As with any small dog, supervise around toddlers and rough handling, and introduce other animals calmly. A foster carer who has lived with the individual dog can tell you exactly how it is with children, other dogs and visitors, which predicts the fit far better than the breed average.
Should I adopt an adult Shih Tzu or a puppy?
For most adopters an adult is the better choice. An adult shows you its real temperament, coat and any flat-faced health needs, often has some training in place, and comes with a lower adoption fee. A puppy is a gamble on temperament and health and needs intensive early socialisation and house-training. A vet-checked, foster-assessed adult Shih Tzu, matched to the right home, is the easier and more predictable way into the breed, and small dogs live a long time so an adult still gives you many years.
How much grooming does a Shih Tzu need?
A fair amount. The long double coat mats easily, so it needs daily brushing to keep a full coat or, as most Perth owners choose, a regular clip into a shorter, low-maintenance puppy cut every six to eight weeks, which is also kinder in the heat. The face, eyes and ears need gentle routine cleaning, and the nails need regular trimming. Factor a groomer into the budget if you do not want to do the full coat yourself.
I keep seeing Shih Tzu puppies for sale. Is adopting really an option?
It is, and for this breed adoption is a strong option, because Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu crosses are one of the most common small dogs in rescue, and an adult lets you see the temperament, coat and any flat-faced health needs rather than gamble on a puppy. The for-sale listings are easy to find, but this popular small breed attracts backyard breeding and the occasional scam, so a cheap puppy or a deposit request for a dog you have not met is a warning sign rather than a bargain. WA does not run a Pet Exchange Register or a breeder source-number scheme, so the practical safeguard is the microchip: a dog sold or given away legally in WA must be microchipped and registered, so ask to see the microchip paperwork before you pay. Adoption costs a fraction of a breeder price and gives a vet-checked dog a home.
Keep reading
Adoptable Shih Tzus in Perth
Live listings of Shih Tzus and Shih Tzu crosses across Perth and WA rescues.
Best Dog Rescues in Perth
The verified shelters and foster rescues to set alerts with across Perth and WA.
Registering a Dog in Perth
Council registration, microchipping and the WA rules for a new dog.
Perth Adoption Resources
Guides on adopting, costs, council rules and settling a rescue dog in Perth.