Shih Tzus in Montreal, right now
We're currently tracking 1 adoptable Shih Tzu in or near Montreal, listed by 1 rescue including Animatch. Listings update regularly, and most Shih Tzus in Montreal get adopted within days of being posted — if one catches your eye, reach out fast.
Adopting a Shih Tzu in Quebec
Shih Tzus reach Quebec rescue steadily, and the reason is usually the coat. A great many are surrendered matted, because the grooming a Shih Tzu needs is relentless and the cost of it surprises people who bought the dog for its size and temperament rather than its maintenance.
Budget the grooming before you budget anything else
A Shih Tzu coat does not shed out. It grows continuously and mats against the skin if it is not brushed through several times a week, which means a professional groom roughly every six to eight weeks for the life of the dog. In Montreal and Quebec City that is a recurring cost most owners underestimate, and it is the single most common reason the breed ends up back at a shelter.
Many dogs arrive from rescue already shaved down because the mats were too tight to brush out. That is a kindness rather than a warning sign, and the coat grows back. The decision worth making early is whether you intend to keep the dog in a short practical clip, which most Quebec owners do, or maintain the long coat, which roughly doubles the brushing.
A flat face changes what the dog can do
Shih Tzus are brachycephalic, meaning the shortened skull leaves less airway than a longer-muzzled dog has. In practice they overheat easily, so summer exercise belongs in the early morning or the evening, and a humid Montreal July is genuinely risky for a dog that is pushed too hard. They are not endurance walkers and do not need to be.
The same structure means eye injuries are more common, because prominent eyes sit closer to whatever the dog walks into. Ask the rescue whether the dog has any history of corneal ulcers or breathing noise at rest, and expect a harness rather than a collar, since pressure on the throat is a bad idea on a compressed airway.
What adopting a dog in Quebec actually involves
Quebec dog rescue runs through a handful of regional shelters rather than a dense network of breed-specific groups. The Montreal SPCA is the largest, and the SPA de la Mauricie in Trois-Rivières and the SPA de l’Estrie in Sherbrooke carry most of the rest. Expect the process to run primarily in French, including listings and application forms, even where staff are bilingual. Say at first contact if you would rather work in English, and ask for the adoption contract in a language you can read before signing.
Housing is the step rescues care most about. Most Quebec households rent, often in a plex or a walk-up, and the shortage of rentals that accept animals is one of the reasons shelters cite most often for surrender. Get your landlord’s permission in writing before you apply. One piece of local context worth knowing: since 2015, animals in Quebec are not property. Article 898.1 of the Code civil du Québec describes them as sentient beings with biological needs, which is the backdrop to how rescues here write their contracts.
Looking more broadly? Browse every adoptable dog across the province on Dog Adoption Quebec.
The rescues that most often list Shih Tzus across Quebec are Montreal SPCA, Proanima, and SPA de la Mauricie. For breed-specific background, the Canadian Kennel Club is a useful reference.
Shih Tzu Adoption FAQ — Montreal
How many Shih Tzus are available for adoption in Montreal?
As of September 2026, Shih Tzus are rare in Montreal rescue — only 1 is listed right now across 1 rescue on LocalPetFinder. They tend to get adopted fast, so setting an alert is the most reliable way to find one.
Where can I adopt a Shih Tzu near me in Quebec?
LocalPetFinder gathers adoptable Shih Tzus from the Quebec organizations we track, including the Montreal SPCA, the SPA de la Mauricie in Trois-Rivières and the SPA de l’Estrie in Sherbrooke, into one list. Quebec dog inventory is small compared with its cat inventory, so this list moves and it is worth checking back or setting an alert rather than assuming nothing is available.
How much does grooming a Shih Tzu cost in Quebec?
Plan on a professional groom every six to eight weeks, indefinitely, plus brushing several times a week at home between appointments. This is the defining ongoing cost of the breed and the most common reason Shih Tzus are surrendered here. Keeping the dog in a short practical clip rather than a long show coat reduces both the home brushing and the time each appointment takes.
Do Shih Tzus shed?
Very little, which is why they are often suggested for households sensitive to dander. The trade-off is that hair which does not shed out has to be removed by brushing and cutting instead, so low shedding and low maintenance are not the same thing here. No dog is genuinely hypoallergenic, so anyone with a serious allergy should spend time with the individual dog before committing.
Are these Shih Tzus for sale in Montreal?
Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Shih Tzu here comes from a Montreal rescue or shelter, not a breeder, pet store, or classified seller. Adoption fees are typically $300 to $600, with puppies at $500 to $900 and already include vaccinations, deworming, microchip and spay or neuter when age-appropriate, versus roughly $2,000 to $5,000 or more to buy a Shih Tzu from a breeder. If you searched "shih tzu for sale montreal" or "shih tzu puppies for sale," adopting gets you a healthy, vetted dog for a fraction of the price.
Where can I buy a Shih Tzu in Montreal, and should I?
You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. A reputable Shih Tzu breeder typically charges $2,000 to $5,000 or more and often has a waitlist, while a rescue Shih Tzu costs $300 to $600, with puppies at $500 to $900 fully vetted and may be available now. Be cautious of cheap shih tzu-for-sale ads on classified sites and marketplaces, which are frequently backyard breeders or puppy-mill resellers with unvetted, sometimes sick animals and no health guarantee. If you do buy, insist on seeing where the puppies were raised and getting vet records. For most families in Montreal, adopting a rescue Shih Tzu is cheaper, faster, and gives a dog in need a home.
Are there free Shih Tzus in Montreal, or shih tzus under $500?
Adoption is the closest honest answer, and it is not free. A rescue Shih Tzu in Montreal typically costs $300 to $600, with puppies at $500 to $900, so the lower end lands under the "$500" people search for and the rest does not. What the fee buys is work already done, the vaccinations, deworming, microchip and spay or neuter, which would cost more than the fee itself if you arranged it yourself, and it is still far below breeder prices. Be wary of genuinely free shih tzu listings. An animal advertised free to a good home has usually not been vetted, and free rehoming ads are the route flippers and unregistered breeders use to move animals with no health guarantee and no recourse. Paying a rescue fee buys you a dog someone has already examined, treated, and been honest with you about.
Are there Shih Tzu puppies in Montreal, or only adults?
Both, but adults far outnumber puppies, and it is worth knowing that before you start looking. Most Shih Tzus arriving in Montreal rescue are adolescents and adults, because that is the age at which first homes tend to give up. Puppies do come through, usually as accidental litters or with a surrendered mother, and they are typically spoken for quickly. Setting an alert beats refreshing the page. It is also worth asking whether you actually want one: an adult arrives with a temperament a foster has already observed and described, where a Shih Tzu puppy is a prediction, and for this breed in particular knowing what you are getting is the more useful thing.
Where can I find a Shih Tzu near me in Montreal?
Start with the listings on this page, which pull from Montreal rescues and shelters and are refreshed regularly, so what you see is what is genuinely available rather than a stale directory. If nothing suits today, that is normal for this breed: rescue intake is intermittent rather than steady, and a breed with none listed this week often has several next month. Setting an alert beats checking back, and it is worth widening to nearby towns, since most rescues serving Montreal will adopt out across a reasonable driving distance rather than only inside one municipality.
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