Dog breeds / Small breeds

What a Shih Tzu really costs

The Shih Tzu is inexpensive to buy and feed, but the coat is a standing bill: most owners pay a groomer every six weeks or so to keep it in a puppy trim. Prominent eyes and a short face add a steady trickle of eye-drop prescriptions, ulcer visits and possible airway surgery.

Size: Small, 9–16 lb
Life expectancy: 10–18 years
Grooming: High
Insurance risk: Average
Puppy price: $1,550–$2,500
Food a day: About 360 calories

Lifetime cost$40,700 First year $5,570Then about $2,650 a year

Where the money goes each year

A typical adult year for a Shih Tzu with mainstream food, a groomer, no insurance, in an average-cost area. That's $340 less than the median breed.

Grooming$538
Illness and injury (average)$531
Dental cleanings$425
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$404
Checkups, vaccines and tests$330
Food$187
Toys, beds and everyday supplies$180
Treats and chews$37
License$20
Typical year$2,650

Most years land between $1,870 (budget food, home grooming, lower-cost area) and $3,650 (premium food, groomer, insurance, big city). Dogs over about 8 add about $180 a year for senior checkups.

The first year

Buying a puppy front-loads the bill: the price, gear, puppy shots and spay or neuter.

Bringing a puppy home

Breeder price$2,025
Crate, bed, leash, bowls and gear$400
Spay or neuter$490
Microchip$50
Puppy or basic obedience class$149
Upfront$3,110

Running costs in year one

Food$187
Treats and chews$37
Puppy vaccines and checkups$738
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$404
Grooming$538
License$20
Illness and injury (average)$531
Year-one running costs$2,460

First-year total: $5,570. Adopting instead brings it to about $2,920.

Health costs to plan for

Insurify's 2026 quotes for a Shih Tzu ran $21–$58 a month across six insurers, near or below the $56 national dog average, though Trupanion data shows elevated eye, bladder-stone and dental claims.

Condition	How it affects Shih Tzus	Typical treatment	Cost
Brachycephalic airway syndrome	PetMD lists the Shih Tzu among flat-faced breeds that can need surgery to widen the nostrils or shorten the soft palate. Source	Airway surgery (nares resection, soft palate shortening)	$2,000–$5,000
Bladder stones (urolithiasis)	Trupanion claim data shows adult Shih Tzus are 2.5 times as likely as the average dog to have a urinary stone claim. Source	Average cost of a urolithiasis claim (Trupanion claim data)	$1,200–$1,900
Congestive heart failure (seniors)	Trupanion claim data shows senior Shih Tzus are 65% more likely than the average dog to have a congestive heart failure claim. Source	Average annual cost of congestive heart failure care (Trupanion claim data)	$600–$1,800
Dental disease and extractions	Small, crowded jaws make cleanings a recurring cost; Trupanion reports Shih Tzu puppies 2.5 times as likely as average to need an extraction. Source	Professional cleaning under anesthesia ($350–$500 routine), rising to $1,500+ with extractions	$350–$1,500
Corneal ulcers and dry eye	Trupanion data shows Shih Tzus 3 times as likely to have corneal ulcer claims and 3.5 times as likely to have dry eye (KCS) claims as the average dog. Source	Average cost per corneal ulcer or dry eye claim (Trupanion claim data); dry eye drops are lifelong	$200–$300

The yearly estimate already includes an average allowance of $531 for illness and injury. A single surgery can cost several times that, which is the case for an emergency fund or insurance.

What drives the cost of a Shih Tzu

Professional grooming every 4–8 weeks is the largest recurring cost after food; a long show coat instead requires daily brushing at home.
Eye problems are frequent and cumulative: corneal ulcers and dry eye are each claimed about three times as often as for the average dog, and dry eye medication is lifelong.
Daily face and eye cleaning plus a topknot or short head trim reduce irritation that leads to vet visits.
Heat sensitivity from the short face means air conditioning matters in summer and long outdoor outings are out.
Low exercise needs mean dog walkers and daycare are optional rather than essential.

Breeder or rescue

Reputable breeder: $1,550–$2,500
Rescue or shelter: $150–$500
Lifetime, from a breeder: $40,700
Lifetime, adopted: $38,100

Good Dog's buyer's guide range is $1,550–$2,500 (median about $2,030), one of the cheaper toy breeds to buy. Shih Tzu Rescue (shihtzurescue.org) charges an adoption fee but does not publish the amount, so the range reflects typical shelter and small-breed rescue fees.

Adopting vs buying: the full cost comparison

Similar-size breeds by yearly cost

Coton de Tulear$2,590 a year
Cockapoo$2,630 a year
Toy Poodle$2,660 a year
Cavapoo$2,670 a year
French Bulldog$2,710 a year
Lhasa Apso$2,720 a year
Compare all breeds

Common questions

How much does a Shih Tzu puppy cost?

A Shih Tzu puppy from a reputable US breeder typically costs $1,550–$2,500. Adopting one through a rescue usually costs $150–$500.

How much does a Shih Tzu cost per year?

After the first year, a Shih Tzu costs about $2,650 a year, or $221 a month, for food, vet care, preventives, grooming, supplies and average illness costs. Depending on food, grooming, insurance and where you live, a typical year ranges from about $1,870 to $3,650.

How much does a Shih Tzu cost over its lifetime?

About $40,700 over a 14-year life when bought from a breeder, or $38,100 if adopted, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Prices are averages from the sources above and the cost baselines on our methodology page, in 2026 US dollars. Your vet, groomer and city will differ. Updated October 14, 2026.