Fluffy, tiny, and true to their name, the Teddy Bear dog breed is a hybrid of two purebred breeds, the Shih Tzu and the Bichon Frise. Though neither of these parent dogs look like the classic teddy bear toy, when combined to make a designer dog, their offspring perfectly captures the beloved stuffed animal.
In this blog, you’ll learn about this unusual yet adorable designer doggy, and why a Teddy Bear puppy will make a great companion dog for you and your family!
TOY SIZED
Teddy Bears are smaller than small-sized dogs. They’re toy sized! Even though the Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise are categorically “small” and not toy sized, when these purebreds are mated, the resulting litter of puppies is naturally “toy” sized. Toy sized Teddy Bears also result when both parents are Teddy Bear hybrids themselves.
With their petite stature, soft and cuddly coats, and their cute round faces, they are truly teddy bears in appearance. Teddy Bears rarely stand taller than 12 inches, and most of these dogs are only 9 inches tall and weigh less than 10 lbs. Like many small dog breeds, the Teddy Bear typically lives a long, healthy life and is expected to live a good 12 – 14 years.
Thanks to this breed’s moderate energy levels, your Teddy Bear will easily stay active and playful, whether you bring him outside for frequent walks and games or mostly play with him indoors. Either way, the Teddy Bear’s tiny size makes it easy for them to burn a lot of energy even when indoors in smaller homes. This naturally ensures that the Teddy Bear dog doesn’t become overweight or unhealthy.
APPEARANCE
You really have to see this charming, heart-melting puppy in person to fathom its cuteness! But we’ll try our best to describe how Teddy Bears look. In addition to being toy sized and jaw-droppingly petite, the Teddy Bear has a round teddy bear face, a fluffy teddy bear coat of soft, hypoallergenic fur, and cute button ears. These dogs just look like they were made to be squeezed and loved. One of the fun aspects of this mixed dog breed is that each Teddy Bear puppy will be unique from the rest of the litter. This is because the genetic distribution of Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise DNA can greatly vary.
The most popular Teddy Bear colors are:
- Brown
- Brown and White
- Black, Brown, and White
- White
- Black
- Cream
- Black and White
No matter what particular color combo your Teddy Bear comes in, he’s sure to be soft to the touch and happiest in your lap. Teddy Bears are a true companion dog breed who love staying by their owners side from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night.
TEMPERAMENT
Not only do Teddy Bear dogs resemble teddy bear stuffed animals, but their personality and temperament is just as cuddly and kind. Teddy Bears are loyal, affectionate, and sweet dogs. They can be perky and spunky during playtime, and sensitive and clingy during movie marathons on the couch. Teddy Bears bond deeply with their owners and are happiest and most content when they’re with their favorite person.
Thanks to their Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise parents, Teddy Bears inherit the best personality traits of each of these lovable purebred dog breeds. Most notably, these dogs are calm-tempered and rarely nervous, anxious, or jumpy. This is a great quality for all of you puppy parents who want or need to bring your Teddy Bears with you when you leave home. Teddy Bears are quite comfortable in roomy pet carrying cases, especially those that are soft-cloth and purse-like. In a lot of ways, your Teddy Bear could serve as an emotional support animal whether you need one or not!
Teddy Bears make great family dogs because they’re calm, patient, and love being touched, petted, and held. This is great for families with children, especially small children, as Teddy Bear dogs generally go with the flow and never mind when children touch, pat, and snuggle them. In fact, Teddy Bears respond well to the boisterous, playful nature of children and will quickly join in the fun.
TRAINABILITY
The Teddy Bear designer dog breed is eager to please which means it’s easy to train. This breed is considered obedient and does well with treat-based positive reinforcement training. Thanks to its intelligent Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise parents, Teddy Bears are quite smart. We’re talking smart enough to learn circus tricks! But we don’t recommend over-training your Teddy. Teddy Bears learn best during short, 5 minute training sessions. You can give your Teddy Bear two 5-minute training sessions in a day, twice a week. And it will take your dog less than a month to learn twirls, flips, and other complex, acrobatic, and performative tricks.
On the whole, Teddy Bears are highly trainable. For them, learning is an act of love. They live to please their owners and favorite people. Just be sure to offer tons of hugs and kisses as reward for your Teddy Bear’s obedience!
Are you ready to take home a Teddy Bear puppy? Come into our Overland Park store and the Petland Kansas City pet counselors will introduce you to our latest arrivals!