What is a Teddy Bear puppy, you may have wondered at one point if you’re looking for a canine companion who can adapt to almost any lifestyle, demand cuddles from you, and look adorable while doing it.
Teddy Bear dogs are a hybrid or designer cross between a Shih Tzu and a Bichon Frise, or alternatively, a Shih Tzu and a Maltese.
Depending on the specific combination of breeds, they may also go by the names Zuchon/Shichon, Maltichon, or Mal-Shi. They resemble teddy bears because of their small stature, plush, fluffy coats, and adorable round faces.
We will talk about the teddy bear puppy in this article. Please keep reading.
Appearance
Everything about these cute little dogs is reminiscent of a Teddy Bear, including their gorgeous teddy bear eyes, round face, and fluffy coat. Teddy Bear dogs are small, fluffy, and bear-like in appearance.
They give off the impression of being amiable, passive, and eager to make friends. They may inherit more characteristics from one parent and less from the other because they are a mixed breed of two or more distinct dog breeds.
The Teddy Bear dogs, which are classified as a Toy Breed, take after their parent breeds’ diminutive stature. Although sizes can vary slightly from one dog to the next, a full-grown Teddy Bear dog (adult Teddy Bear dog) typically measures 9 to 12 inches tall and weighs 6 to 14 pounds.
They look like true Teddy Bears, with their bodies covered in soft, fluffy fur, round faces with sparkling eyes, small, delicate noses, adorable hanging ears, and puffy, short tails that curl over their backs.
The hypoallergenic Teddy Bear coat is plush and soft, and it comes in a variety of lovely colors, the most popular of which are white, brown, black, grey, and yellow. Shichons and Malshis can both have different coat colors and color combinations with specific patterns and markings.
Due to the Shih Tzu’s long, straight hair and the Bichon Frise’s curly, wavy coat, the Teddy Bear Shichon can have a range of possible coat textures.
The most popular Teddy Bear colors are:
- Brown
- Brown and White Teddy Bear
- Black Brown and White Teddy Bear
- White
- Black
- Cream
- Black and White
The Teddy Bear breeds come in a few different sizes. Among them are the Toy Teddy Bear dog, the Mini Teddy Bear, and the Teacup Teddy Bear dog.
Temperament
Depending on their breeding and training, teddy bears have various personalities. The joy of having a trained Teddy puppy in your home. They are lively little dogs who are also very affectionate. They enjoy playing games and engaging in activities with their loved ones, which makes them playful. They may even develop strong attachments to them and prefer to spend as much time as possible with them.
The fact that these dogs love to cuddle more than any other breed is another admirable quality. Be prepared to spend a lot of time either being followed by or cuddling with your Teddy Bear puppy.
They get along well with strangers and other dogs thanks to their outgoing and social personalities. They even get along with animals that aren’t dogs, like cats. Just make sure your Teddy bear puppy has been socialized before you start exposing them to unfamiliar situations and people. Teddy Bear puppies may experience separation anxiety because they adore being with their loved ones.
Other traits Teddy Bear puppies possess include:
- An eagerness to please their owners
- High intelligence
- love for people, particularly for their family members. They distinguish themselves from other small breeds by not being an independent.
- Quiet or less vocal than other small dogs
Grooming
To maintain their adorable appearance, Teddy Bear puppies require routine grooming. Because teddy bears are hypoallergenic, they do not shed a lot of furs. Because of their soft, fluffy coat, they resemble teddy bears, as their name suggests. Depending on your preferences, the coat of your Teddy Bear should be either long or short-trimmed for the best grooming.
At least twice or three times a week, you should brush their coat. Otherwise, it might be hard to groom them or make them look cute because their coat might become matted and tangled with knots. Make sure to bathe your little teddy bear once a month to keep its fur shiny.
To avoid infections and other illnesses, we also suggest that they brush their teeth and clean their ears as frequently as possible. We strongly advise that you take good care of your little teddy bear.
Unkempt fur on your Teddy Bear can cause extremely painful hotspots on your puppy’s skin. This might result in skin rashes or even draw fleas.
Health
Compared to other small-breed dogs and their purebred parents, teddy bear dogs are healthier. This is because their mixed-breed heritage gives them access to a wider variety of genes rather than being limited to a small gene pool where genetic issues are concentrated rather than spread out.
Teddy Bear dogs rarely experience brachiocephalic problems, despite the fact that their parent breeds are brachycephalic. However, if the Shih Tzu parent had a particularly short snout, the mixed breed offspring might inherit this physical characteristic.
Selecting your Teddy Bear puppy should involve looking for one with a longer snout and nostrils that are not turned downward.
A first-generation Teddy Bear dog is preferable to one that was bred by Teddy Bear parents.
This is so that any genetic problems will be concentrated in the offspring and to achieve the “perfect” teddy bear look, multiple Teddy Bear dogs will be back bred.
The small size of these dogs makes it possible for them to sustain broken bones, dislocations, or joint damage if handled roughly or during excessive play. Always watch out that any nearby kids don’t try to pick them up and instead play with them very gently.
Training
Highly intelligent and eager to please their owners, teddy bear dogs. They are therefore the best dogs to train because of this. Your Teddy Bear puppy will pick up their training eagerly and easily from an early age.
Teddy Bear puppies can be a little bit of a nuisance if you don’t train them because they will learn to be destructive. Without the right training, these dogs may become ill and even underweight because they are also prone to separation anxiety.
Give your Teddy Bear dog their own teddy bear if they experience separation anxiety. Due to its size and cuddliness, a Calmeroos puppy can act as a calming presence for your dog.
Remind yourself that positive reinforcement is the secret to success when training your Teddy Bear dog. They have tender hearts and won’t accept severe punishment. But it is a pleasure to compliment them because they are so simple to train.
Training should be limited to quick, 15-minute sessions a few times a day for this breed to achieve the best results. They can be kept entertained and happy with treats, toys, and cheers.
Exercise Level
The Teddy Bear is not an active dog, like other small breeds. They don’t require a lot of exercises to be in shape or healthy. Obviously, Teddy Bear dogs require some sort of exercise. Your puppy might require daily exercise or several hours of playtime to be content.
Be ready to spend the majority of your time being kissed and cuddled by your Teddy Bear puppy because they also need to spend time with you. Your puppy Teddy Bear should never be ignored. We warrant your investment with those adorable puppy kisses and eyes!
History
Around the year 2000, the Shih Tzu and the Bichon Frise were purposefully crossed in the United States to create the designer breed Teddy Bear. In order to produce Teddy Bear Puppies that combined the adaptability of the Bichon Frise with the size of the Shih Tzu, Teddy Bear Dog Breeders looked to cross these two breeds.
Shichons, also known as Teddy Bears, gained popularity due to their hypoallergenic coats and amiable demeanor around all kinds of families. Breeders began to notice this trend.
While the precise origins of the Teddy Bear breed are unknown, we can learn more about the designer hybrid breed by studying the history of the Shih Tzu, Maltese, and Bichon Frise breeds.
One of the parent breeds of the Teddy Bear, the Shih Tzu, is thought to be among the oldest dog breeds and a favorite of emperors. Since the sixth century, Chinese art has included cultural representations of the Shih Tzu dog breed. Given that they were raised to serve emperors and live in palaces, the parent breed of the Teddy Bear is reputed to have a royal attitude.
The Maltese breed belongs to the elite group of canines. The Maltese have long been portrayed as a dog of aristocracy and nobility in artwork, ceramics, and literature. Maltese puppies are among the most well-behaved small pets, being obedient and active while also being happy and playful.
The Bichon Frise breed has been depicted in royal family portraits from both France and Spain dating back hundreds of years. Traveling sailors are thought to have brought the Bichon Frise from Tenerife to Europe in the 16th century.
The Bichon puppies quickly won the hearts of the court ladies with their affectionate sweetness and cuddly good looks after their arrival, and they quickly became court favorites.
