The Best of SW Florida (Dog Friendly)

We have compiled a list of our favorite Shih Tzu friendly places locally in SW Florida. We are also including recommendations from our puppy families for their favorite places across the state.

Low Cost Spays, Neuters, and Vaccines

Chimera Shih Tzu Recommends:

SW Florida Spay Neuter Clinic in Port Charlotte is my favorite for simple, routine spays & neuters. They are very low cost, extremely efficient, friendly, and take excellent care of the babies! My Shih Tzus come home feeling relatively good with the tiniest incisions. They aren’t heavily drugged and they aren’t in excessive discomfort – which would be understandable, considering the surgery they are waking up from, but somehow SW Florida Spay Neuter Clinic uses just enough sedation, pain control, and minimally invasive surgery techniques.

It’s convenient to get updated vaccines and heartworm test at very low cost during their spay or neuter surgery. I normally get rabies , bordatella, DHHP, and heartworm test done with the spays/neuters so the (adult) pup is all set for the next year. At current prices (Jan 2026) I can get all that done for UNDER $200. They also have very affordable umbilical hernia repair $25 and undescended testicle $60.

SW Florida Spay Neuter Clinic also has MOBILE low cost services in the following counties:

Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood is a local shelter with low cost preventative care veterinary services. They offer spays, neuters, vaccines, umbilical hernia repairs, cryptorchid (undescended testicle) removal, bloodwork, heartworm test, microchipping, as well as heartworm & flea prevention for sale.

Petco has a veterinary services with lower cost vaccines ect. I don’t find them to be incredibly low cost, but can be convenient when needed. Locations across the United States.

Pet Supermarket uses VIP Pet Care for affordable preventative care services (vaccines, parasite control, ect). Locations across Pet Supermarket locations.

In Tampa, Harmony Vet is a 501c3 nonprofit, low cost, full service veterinary care. They can handle most basic care from spay, neuter, vaccines, heartworm & flea/tick prevention, dental care, and sick visits.

Shih Tzu Veterinarians

Chimera Shih Tzu Recommends:

Dr. Shaw at Choice Veterinary Services in Punta Gorda is my top choice for breed specific or brachycephalic concerns. He is a reproductive specialist with a lot of experience with puppies. All the bully breeders (Frenchies ect) use Dr. Shaw for their reproductive services (artificial insemination, c-sections, and puppy visits) so he has lots of brachy (flat faced, like Shih Tzu) clients and experience. He is extremely knowledgeable, professional, relatively reasonably priced – not rock bottom pricing, but excellent knowledge and care. He is worth whatever he charges and he normally charges less than other clinics in the area. We bring our litters to Dr. Shaw for their 8 week visits due to his vast puppy knowledge.

Chimera Shih Tzu Recommends:

Loving Paws Animal Hospital in Port Charlotte FL has great prices as well. Their dental cleanings and mass removals are very competitively priced. They are owned by the same team as Islandside Veterinary Care & Surgery Center, offering the same services, but closer for us! Great option for dentals. We love Loving Paws!

Chimera Shih Tzu Recommends:

Dr. Dawn at Myakka River Animal Clinic in Venice is a stand alone, full service veterinary clinic. She isn’t a low cost or nonprofit service, but her prices are very reasonable and competitive. She is an amazing veterinarian that I trust with my toughest cases! She is great for spays, neuters, other surgeries, dental cleanings, and when teeth need removed. She has always been able to get me in real quick if we have a sick puppy or someone scratched an eye. Top notch care and excellent prices.

Islandside Veterinary Care & Surgery Center is a popular clinic in Cape Coral. They are too far of a drive for me for routine care, but they so have great prices listed for surgeries and procedures under anesthesia such as spay, neuter, hernia repairs, dental cleanings, and tooth extractions.

Dr. Chris at Englewood Animal Hospital in Englewood FL is another full service, stand alone veterinarian. Prices/affordability varies based on services provided, but he does offer FREE Office Visits – No office visit fee (which can be $100 at some veterinarians). If you only need quick vaccines, heartworm test, or flea/tick/heartworm prevention, it is pretty affordable to walk in (no appointment needed) and get those services done quick.

Opthamologist – Dr. Seyer at Visionary Vet Services in Port Charlotte & Cape Coral.

Opthamology at Blue Pearl – multiple locations. We have used Fort Myers, Sarasota, and Tampa.

Veterinarians Recommended by Our Puppy Families

  • Dogwood Animal Clinic in Port Charlotte
  • Jacaranda Animal Clinic in Venice
  • Englewood Animal Health Center in Englewood
  • Toledo Blade Animal Clinic in North Port
  • Lemonbay Animal Clinic in Englewood
  • Newport Animal Hospital, Dr. Andrew in Bonita Springs
  • Meadowcrest Animal Hospital in Crystal River
  • Perry Animal Hospital in Perry
  • Sumter County Animal Hospital on Main Street in Wildwood
  • Bright N Shine – non sedation teeth cleanings, various locations
  •  Narcoossee Oaks Animal Hospital in Orlando

GROOMERS

Groomer recommendations from our puppy families and other pet parents in our local community. As well as extended range list of groomers our puppy families love!

Recommended by our puppy families:

Other local recommended groomers:

  • Critter Cuts in North Port
  • Groomin K9s Mobile Groomer in Port Charlotte
  • Gentle Hands Grooming in Port Charlotte
  • The VIP Groomer in North Port
  • Tranquility Pet Spa in Venice
  • The Clip Joint in Englewood
  • Critter Cottage Mobile Grooming in Englewood
  • Doggie Detailing in Port Charlotte
  • Pink Pet in Englewood
  • A Klassy Grooming Salon in Port Charlotte
  • Pawsitively Perfect Dog Spa in Port Charlotte – Cage free, works one on one, helps to acclimate to grooming.
  • Whiskers & Wags Mobile Grooming in Port Charlotte
  • Called to Groom, in home 1 on 1 grooming in Englewood near Venice.
  • Doggie Detailing in Port Charlotte

TRAINERS

Trainers are such an important resource for pet owners. We often miss out on this professional support when dealing with the ups and downs and growing pains of raising or adding a dog to the family. Even before you think you need one, a trainer can help to set a solid foundation. Less stress, less stubborn pup, and deeper bond! I’m a big fan of trainers – but choose well! They are absolutely not all created equal.

Baxter & Bella Online Puppy School

If you prefer online learning at your own pace, I highly recommend Bella & Baxter’s Online Puppy School. Their lifetime membership has much to offer with ongoing, professional support from a trainer. Use our discount code CHIMERA25 for 25% off.

IN PERSON TRAINING

Great trainers will help you set a solid foundation for your puppy. Look for AKC Star Puppy Classes to start off on the right foot. When you’re ready, continue on the AKC Canine Good Citizen class & test to really fine tune those public access skills. This is an excellent foundation for Emotional Support Animals, Therapy Dogs, and Service Animals.

Venice Dog Club in Venice

VIPet Services in Port Charlotte

Bratty Paws Dog Plex in Punta Gorda

DogSports4U Academy in Venice

Petco normally has training classes available. This is fine for very basic training. They also offer FREE puppy socialization playgroups for pups under 6 months old. Not available at all stores. Check Petco.com for details and schedule.

Dog Training Club of Tampa

Dog Training Club of St Pete

SHOPPING

There are many pet friendly stores in Florida that welcome your Shih Tzu for a visit as well as some really great speciality /botique shops that cater to our little furry friends.

BringFido.com is a great site to check for pet friendly locations.

Pet Friendly Shopping – Great for socializing & training! *Always check with individual stores as policies may vary by location*.

  • Lowes
  • Home Depot
  • Hobby Lobby
  • Tractor Supply
  • Bass Pro Shops
  • Cabellas
  • TJ Maxx
  • Home Goods
  • Ross
  • Marshall’s
  • Most Farmer’s Markets
  • Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods
  • Harbor Freight Tools
  • ACE Hardware
  • West Marine

Shop for your pup!

RESTAURANTS

Florida tends to have an abundance of pet friendly restaurants. Always call in advance to check on current policies, but many restaurants with outdoor patio seating will allow pups.

ADVENTURES / TRAVEL

Shih Tzu are the best little travel companions and love adventures!

We love taking our Shih Tzu to the beach, hiking trails, kayaking & paddleboarding, to run and play on isolated sandbars, boating, sometimes out shopping to pet friendly stores, and occasionally out to eat. Sometimes we just take them along for a pup cup! No matter where we go, our pups are always just so happy to be along for the ride. They are such good sports, no matter what we end up doing.

Places we love to adventure with our dogs:

  • Canine Club Dog Park In North Port
  • Pontoon Boat Rentals – most are pet friendly
  • Myakka State Forest in Englewood for deep wooded nature trails
  • SUP Englewood – Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals, in Englewood
  • Jetty Kayak Rentals in Nokomis at the North Jetty. Gorgeous calm waters!
  • Boca Grande Island – great boat and kayaking if you have your own. Visit sandbars and tiny uninhabited islands. Many shops are pet friendly. Public beaches are pet friendly although parking at these beaches is very limited now. Dogs are NOT allowed on State Park Beaches.
  • Browhard Dog Park – Venice Dog Park Beach in Venice.
  • San Casa Dog Park in Englewood
  • Weeki Wachee/Hernando/Crystal River Fl

Places that MAY offer Pupcups!

  • Starbucks
  • Dunkin Donuts
  • Dairy Queen
  • Shake Shack
  • Sonic
  • Chick Fil A
  • Culvers

Adventure recommendations from our puppy families across the state:

  • Beaches- we prefer on leash. There are som big dogs at the off leash ones
  • Fort Desotto
  • Flagler beach
  • Smyrna Dunes
  • Alligator Point
  • Honeymoon Island
  • State Parks- great little hikes for the dogs
  • Ravine Gardens
  • Falling Waters
  • Blue Spring
  • Lake Griffin
  • Paynes Creek Historic site
  • Bok Towers is amazing and dog friendly. You have to pay extra for dogs unless you are a member
  • Dinosaur World: We brought a stroller. This would be a great place to bring school age kids along too. I learned so much about dinosaurs and it is super dog friendly
  • Florida RV Super Show in Tampa- If you like camping it’s a one of the best. It is SO dog friendly. A stroller is a must. I have never seen so many dogs in strollers in my life.

“I did an extensive research when looking for a reputable Shih Tzu breeder. I was fortunate enough to stumble on Chimera Shih Tzu and began to follow them on Facebook. After several weeks of watching the videos and how they prepared their babies for their new families, I was sold. I sent a email, just to introduce myself and ask a few questions. Stephanie responded back the same day with the kindest email. After several lengthy emails I stopped searching and submitted an application to Chimera. From the very first inquiry email on, it has been an outstanding experience. Once my little Roscoe was born, I was able to watch him grow from birth to the day he came home. Once you become part of the “Chimera Family“ it’s a lifetime relationship including a family reunion every year. If you do your due diligence in your research, as I did, you will be as convinced as, I was, this is the absolute BEST ShihTzu breeding program anywhere.

Proud Dad of Roscoe”

— Scott Goodrich

“Stephanie & Alyssa do such an amazing job at raising their puppies and preparing them for a wonderful life. Stephanie works with you to assure that you get the perfect puppy for you. My DaVinci is almost 2 years old now and is truly a very smart, well mannered, and loving dog. He is now trained as a service dog and adds so much joy to my life. The work that the family puts into their puppies results in exceptional dogs. I highly recommend them and will get any future Shih Tzus from them.”

— Cindy Lawrence