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 was limited to Hollywood celebrities is now sweeping the United States off its feet. Many individuals are paying as high as $1750 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 the teddy bear dog 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. But what is the reason behind this sudden popularity of the teddy bear dog breed?

Teddy Bear Dog Breed Information

A teddy bear dog is a cross of Shih Tzu, which means 'The Lion Dog' in Chinese and Bichon Frise, which means a 'Curly Lap Dog' in French. The teddy bear dog breeds have following characteristics:

1. These dogs are small and fluffy.
2. Their brown or black colored coat and endearing expressions in their eyes make them simply adorable.
3. The dogs of teddy bear breed do not shed their hair as much as the other dogs do and they are not prone to allergies.
4. The dog breeders breed them for their appearance which resembles children's teddy bear. Their temperament and issues regarding their health are ignored.
5. Their small size makes them a perfect choice for individuals living in the apartments, where the size of a dog can be a issue.
6. 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.
7. You can carry your tired teddy bear from exercise to home as it weighs not more than 16 pounds. However, most of adult teddy bear dogs weigh between 7-10 pounds.
8. Their hybrid nature makes it difficult to judge their health or temperament needs.
9. If your teddy bear dog is a cross between purebred parents, then the chances of inheriting health problems from both of them are high.
10. 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.
11. These dogs suffer from the ailments that commonly affects the small dogs such as problems of eyes and ears, cold, and bloating.
12. These dogs are a bit difficult to house-train, however, proper and timely dog training is enough to remedy the problem.
13. These dogs, unlike big dogs, have small and weak trachea which may become flattened and may lead to untimely death of your pet. The expert opinion is that for these dogs, use harness rather than dog collar to avoid this problem from arising.
14. A teddy bear dog has the life expectancy of 15 years. If you have a pet dog in your family, then you have to care for it as if it is a family member.

You may be buying a teddy bear dog for your children or for yourself but, your responsibility does not end with it. Today, the teddy bear dogs are in the lime light as a status symbol and for their looks. But will you keep after they are old and no more wanted or not looked upon as a status symbol? A simple question, " Am I interested enough in pet dogs to buy a teddy bear dog?", answered truthfully before buying the 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 learn new tricks. So, be patient while teaching tricks to your dog. Do you know why dogs are such a good companion for the man? Answer, "They are sensitive and intelligent animal", is simple enough and thought provoking. Whilst you are training and taking care of your dog, try to avoid creating emotional turmoil for your pet. As a family member, it is now dependent on you for support.