Teddy Bear Dog Breed

It is said that a dog is a man's best friend. We are familiar with different types of dogs, some of them have been with us for hundreds of years. Every breed of dog is admired for its characteristics or traits. Dogs of collie breed are famous for their magnificent coat, the greyhound for their speed and the German shepherds as police dogs. The latest trend, which for some time remained restricted to Hollywood celebrities is now sweeping the United States off its feet. Many individuals are paying big money to acquire a teddy bear dog for their family. This small and cute dog has managed to win many hearts. On the other hand, American Kennel Club, which is a registry of purebred dogs such as, Chihuahua dogs, Bichon Frise, greyhound dogs, bulldogs in the United States, counts this breed as a designer breed. Some people refer to them as 'mutts' to emphasize their mix breeding; however at present, dog lovers are not interested in this kind of branding. What is the reason behind this sudden popularity of teddy bear dog breed?

Facts About Teddy Bear Dog

A teddy bear dog is a cross of Shih Tzu ('The Lion Dog' in Chinese) and Bichon Frise, ('Curly Lap Dog' in French). The dogs of this breed have following characteristics:

1. These dogs are small and fluffy. Their brown or black colored coat and endearing expressions in their eyes make them simply adorable.
2. Teddy bear dogs do not shed their hair as much as other dogs and they are not prone to allergies.
3. They are breed for their appearance which resembles children's teddy bear. Their temperament and issues regarding their health are mostly ignored while buying them which is a cause of concern.
4. Their small size makes them a perfect choice for individuals living in the apartments, where the size of a dog matters a lot.
5. The teddy bear dogs needs regular exercise, a walk or romp in the park; however, these dogs tends to tire easily after expending their energy in a short period of time.
6. A tired teddy bear dog can be carried in hands after the exercise to home as it rarely weighs more than 16 pounds. However, most of adult teddy bear dogs weigh between 7-10 pounds.
7. As they belong to a cross breed it is difficult to judge their health or temperamental needs. If your teddy bear dog is a cross between purebred parents then the chances of inheriting health problems from both of them are high.
8. If your dogs pedigree is unknown or if it is a mix of more dog breeds in addition to Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise, then it's health issues may really cause problems for you.
9. These dogs suffer from the ailments that commonly affects the small dogs such as problems of eyes and ears, cold, and bloating.
10. These dogs are a bit difficult to house-train, however, proper and timely training is enough to remedy the problem.
11. The expert opinion is that for these dogs, use harness rather than the dog collars. These dogs, unlike big dogs, have small and weak trachea which may become flattened and may lead to untimely death of your pet.
12. A teddy bear dog has the life expectancy of 15 years.

If you may be buying a teddy bear dog for your children or for yourself for the company, make sure that you have time for it. Today, these dogs are in the limelight as a status symbol and for their looks. But the question is, "Will you keep it when it is old when it is not looked upon as a status symbol?" A simple question, "Am I interested enough in this dog?", answered truthfully before buying this dog can solve a lot many problems for you.

As the proud owner of an adorable member of the teddy bear dog breed, you must remember the fact that the dog trainers spend considerable amount of time in training a dog to teach new tricks. So, be patient while doing so. Do you know why dogs are such a good companion for the man? "They are sensitive and intelligent animal", is simple enough and thought provoking. While you are training and taking care of your dog, try to avoid creating emotional turmoil for your pet. Always remember that as a family member, your pet is dependent on you for all the support it can get. Your pet, of whatever sort, is not a thing to get rid of when you get tired of it or when it is not acting the way you are dictating it to.