Teddy bears make us feel nostalgia for the fond memories, comfort, security, and adventures in childhood. What better way to relieve those happy memories than with a teddy bear dog?
Fuzzy coat, boopable nose, kind and soulful eyes, affectionate and loyal – these adorable goofballs are a hit right now. Bred for maximum cuteness and initially as therapy pets for disabled kids, you can’t believe these darling canines are real.
They resemble the fuzzy teddy bears we snuggled with as kids – even better, they can kiss and cuddle you. Plus, they fill up a room with their vibrant personalities.
If you have your heart set on an adorable teddy bear-looking lapdog for your family, we give you a rundown on the cuddliest canines and help you decide on the perfect companion. We’ll discuss pure breeds that look like teddy bears and common designer pups who are a product of multiple breeds.
What are the factors to consider when choosing a teddy bear dog, you ask? Buying a cute lapdog strictly for looks can be a recipe for disaster. So, we look into their care, grooming, and training. And a bonus, the health issues of each breed so you know what you’re signing up for before making a choice.
Ready to snag yourself a cute teddy best friend?
Most Popular Teddy Bear Dog Breeds
Deep-set- round eyes, button noses, and delightfully fluffy or scruffy- these charming toy bear dog breeds are paws down the cutest canines.
1. Pomeranian
Top on our list is the Pomeranian, a gorgeous petite teddy bear-looking canine with a thick, fluffy coat, adorable face, curled tail, and tiny ears. The spitz-type pup is smart, loyal, and playful with a spunky personality though it tends to be nervous around other dogs and strangers.
Poms crave companionship and are moderately active, so daily walks and a bit of playtime are enough for them to stay happy and healthy. The giant fluff balls, however, require professional grooming at least once a month or more when shedding. Moreover, their fluffy undercoat is dense and requires daily brushing to prevent matting.
Although generally healthy, they are prone to allergies, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and congestive heart failure.
2. Zuchon
A mixed breed between Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise, the Zuchon is undoubtedly the most teddy-bear-looking breed. Who can resist their round, adorable faces, furry coat, and sparkling eyes?
This toy dog is fun-loving, happy, intelligent, endearing, and super affectionate. Once properly trained and socialized, the-ever-so-snuggly Zuchon makes a great lapdog and family companion.
This social butterfly is very energetic but has low exercise needs and requires only a few laps around the backyard, playtime, and, of course, cuddles.
Another good thing about a Zuchon is that it doesn’t shed many thanks to its parent Bichon Frise genes. Nonetheless, we recommend brushing their coat at least once a week and clipping their hair once every three months.
On the downside, hybrid pups can be susceptible to their parent’s health issues, so watch out for epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and liver problems.
3. Bichon Frise
Intelligent with dashing good looks and a great personality, the Bichon Frise can easily be mistaken for a stuffed toy. The happy-go-lucky pup is fun-loving, cunning, whip-smart, easy to teach new tricks, and eager to please, making them the perfect family companion and a favorite in dog shows.
The white ball of fluff has very tight, curly fur that sheds less than most breeds, so it’s a fantastic hypoallergenic option for people who sneeze and sniffle around dogs.
Their fluffy white coat won’t remain dazzling on its own so expect frequent bathing, brushing, and trips to an experienced groomer every four to six weeks.
Bichons are quite active but only need moderate exercise, so playtime with toys or hopping in the yard every day is enough to satisfy them.
Allergies, hypothyroidism, elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, and bladder infections are not uncommon for this fur baby.
4. Maltese
Behold one of the most loving pups in the dogdom: the Maltese. A family favorite- this breed brings a great dose of good cheer, a strong sense of loyalty, and an energetic and fearless personality despite its size.
The Maltese are also incredibly smart, sporty, and easy to train, which makes them a great choice for first-time dog parents. They don’t require much exercise other than walks or zoomies in the yard.
However, they can be stubborn, loud, and needy, so if you’re thinking of getting one, ensure you’ve got plenty of time on your hands for some snuggles. Also, keep a close eye on their health as they are prone to hypoglycemia, especially puppies.
The easy-care pooch has long, silky, low-shedding fur, which comes in several different coats. It requires regular brushing and grooming every 2 to 3 weeks. You can explore various haircuts to give your dog that sweet, cuddly teddy bear look.
5. Shih Tzu
One look at its adorable face, and it’s easy to see why Shih Tzu is a living teddy bear. Petite with a long, silky, double coat, the Shih Tzu, also known as the little lion, is loyal to the core, affectionate with a spunky personality, and gets along with everyone.
This fluffy playmate is also cuddlesome and gentle, but if not trained properly, it can be snappy, noisy, timid, and overprotective.
Shi Tzus have beautiful, long locks which require regular brushing, bathing, and professional grooming every 2 to 3 weeks.
They enjoy short walks on a leash or half an hour of fun indoor games daily.
On the flip side, Shih Tzus are susceptible to allergies, ear infections, breathing difficulty, cataracts, hip dysplasia, and hypothyroidism.
6. Cavapoo
A crossbreed between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a poodle, the cavapoo is well known for its fierce intelligence, good cheer, and endearment. Moreover, it loves people, making it the ideal family furbaby.
Their curly fluffy coat is low-shedding but generally high maintenance and needs continuous grooming to prevent infections of the eyes, ears, and skin. Schedule professional grooming every six weeks to keep your puppy in tip-top shape.
Despite their small size, they require plenty of daily exercise to keep them healthy and happy. When not playing, they will happily curl up on your lap or nap beside you on the couch.
Cavapoos can be vulnerable to health issues such as diabetes, hip dysplasia, PRA, and syringomyelia.
7. Chow Chow
Considered the felines of the dogdom, chow chows are very clean, almost cat-like, loyal to boot and low-maintenance. Their independent trait means they are not socially needy, which is ideal if you don’t have too much time to spend with them. However, they can be suspicious and aggressive towards strangers.
Chows have a thick fluffy coat, so you’ll need to set aside plenty of time for grooming. Between regular grooming sessions (every six weeks), a chow’s fur must be brushed twice a week.
These pups have no special exercise requirements but will love burning off their energy with at least a 30-minute workout or walk every day. Training this strong-willed breed requires consistency and patience for them to be disciplined.
Chow chows are susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, allergies, eyelid entropion, gastric dilation, and heat stroke from their thick, fluffy coat.
8. Lhasa Apso
Chatty, playful, smart, brave, and enthusiastic! The Lhasa apsos were originally bred to be royal watchdogs, so they can be quite overprotective of their owners and wary of strangers. Also, they can be painfully stubborn, making training tricky. Lhasa Apsos are best suited for experienced dog parents.
Although they don’t shed much, they are high-maintenance and require regular grooming every one to six weeks, depending on the coat length and the canine’s activity level. A shorter, shaggier coat gives them that sweet teddy bear look, while a silky, floor-skimming coat gives them lion-like features.
They require moderate exercises like a 20-minute walk, though they excel in agility training.
Lhasa apsos are prone to health issues such as patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, eye infections like glaucoma, allergies, cherry eye, and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.
9. Bolognese
If you’re looking for a cute snuggly fur ball to hang with, then the Bolognese dog is a worthy companion. A member of the Bichon family- Bolognese pups were regarded as status symbols by the European nobility during the renaissance thanks to their charm and beauty.
Bolos are good-natured, playful, intelligent, and love to cuddle with family, but they can be somewhat shy and reserved with strangers unless well socialized.
A doppelganger of the Maltese, this breed has an all-white non-shedding soft coat which can be difficult to maintain. They’ll need regular baths and brushes a few times a week with professional grooming every 3 to 4 weeks. However, if you keep her in her full coat, you’ll need more trips to the groomer.
The bolognese is prone to a luxating patella and eye infections.
10. Samoyed
If you’re looking for a cute lap dog with a huge personality and an extra serving of loyalty shoved into a petite frame, a samoyed is a solid choice. This bundle of stunning white fluffy fur is cheerful, outgoing, strong-willed, and intelligent. Their upturned mouths, dark brown or black almond eyes, and short snouts give them an amusing expression.
Although sammies are comfortable curling up close to their family, they require vigorous training and can handle extreme sports like agility games, skiing, sledding, and task-oriented activities.
This breed can sometimes be fussy and destructive, including plucking its fur if bored. Due to this, plus its double coat, it requires more grooming time than other breeds. Regular brushing is essential to keep their shed under control. The good thing is they have clean fur, and bathing every three months is enough.
Sams are generally robust; however, they’re prone to diabetes, hip dysplasia, skin issues, and heart problems.
11. Morkie
So tenacious. So playful. So energetic. So adorable! A quintessential lapdog, the Morkie is a mixed breed of the Maltese and Yorkshire terrier.
Their sparkling, dark eyes, pointed or floppy ears, and tiny, black gumdrop snouts give them that sweet teddy bear look. They inherit the sweetness and charm of the Maltese and the tenacity and confidence of the Yorkshire terrier.
The Morkie needs moderate stimulation, so play tug of war or fetch and take it on daily walks. Morkies with a domineering Yorkshire terrier personality will enjoy canine sports like agility or obedience.
Their coat is typically low-shedding and long but can be clipped to a short puppy cut. Morkie’s grooming needs are straightforward. If you keep their coat long, they’ll need regular upkeep; otherwise, daily brushing of their coat and weekly baths are enough. Be on the lookout for health issues such as luxating patella, liver shunt, and dental disease.
12. Cavachon
The super cute, spunky cavachon is a mix between a bichon frise and cavalier king charles spaniel. It is playful, intelligent, highly social, loyal, and affectionate. Also, it is eager to please and makes friends quickly and easily, even with strangers.
Although active, a Cavachon is a fantastic snuggle buddy and a winner for families looking for a low-maintenance pet that will get along with everyone, including other pets.
Cavachons are typically low shedders but require routine brushing, bathing, and clipping to maintain their fluffy coat, plus professional grooming appointments every two months.
High marks on easy trainability, this energetic toy dog has low exercise requirements- a game of fetch or a half-hour walk is enough.
Cavachons are prone to medical issues such as patella luxation, dental disease, eye issues, and collapsing tracheas.
13. Miniature Poodle
The Poodle is often indifferent to its petite size as a charming, adorable, and happy-go-lucky pet. The miniature Poodle has it all: playful yet soulful eyes, button noses, and a wavy, soft coat. Furthermore, this intelligent, social sweetheart can be sassy and doesn’t shy away from showing off their bag of tricks.
Thanks to their tiny size, you can scoop this pup up with one hand, making it the ideal lap dog. Their curly coat sheds less than you think, making them a hypoallergenic pick for many dog owners.
Because you can style their fur in several ways, the Poodle is famous for its eccentric show cuts. On the flip side, their shed-free coat is very curly and requires daily brushing, regular baths, and a haircut every four weeks.
Maniature Poodles are excellent in obedience training and agility and will play for hours. On the downside, they are prone to blood clotting disorders, luxating patella, and tooth decay.
14. Pomchi
From their larger-than-life personalities to their adorable faces and playful nature, there’s a lot to love about Pomchis. A hybrid of the chihuahua and Pomeranian, the Pomchi is the ideal on-the-go dog, considering they weigh less than a gallon of milk.
Despite their tiny stature, they are intelligent, active, and eager to explore and learn new tricks. You’ll find them doing zoomies in the yard, playing with their toys, or snuggling on their human companion’s lap. But in most cases, they will choose interactive games and toys over exercises.
Just like their exuberant personalities, their coats pack a bit of character. Depending on the parents, a Pomchi’s coat can be short and thin or long and fluffy. The good thing is their coat is easy to groom using a soft brush and regular brushing.
Pomchis are likely also to inherit the health issues of their parents, like patella luxation, periodontal disease, tracheal collapse, seizures, and epilepsy.
15. Westiepoo
The Westiepoo is known for being adorable, charming, loving, and intelligent. A cross breed between a west highland white terrier and a toy or miniature poodle, there’s never a dull moment with this playful and mischievous pup.
The cute bundle of fur is very social and outgoing, even with other dogs and strangers. They also have a high prey drive, meaning your sweet pup might be tempted to chase squirrels, cats, and other small animals.
Exercising a Westiepoo doesn’t have to be a chore. If anything, they have a playful streak. Take them for a 30 to 40-minute walk or fun games such as fetch, frisbee, tag of war, or agility training.
This lapdog has low-shed luscious curly locks that are surprisingly easy to groom. Their curly fur can get mated if not brushed regularly. You must trim the hairs, especially around the eyes and ears, to avoid infections and bathe your Westiepoo every four to six weeks.
Common health issues with the Westiepoo are cardiac disease, cataracts, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and skin problems.
16. Cairnoodle
Also known as Cairnpoo or Poocan, the Cairnoodle is a mix between the cairn terrier and Poodle. Regarding personality, the Cairnoodle is more than his pretty look. This teddy bear dog is loving, devoted, bold, and high-spirited.
Once well-trained and socialized, Cairnoodles make great family pets and easily get along with the kids and other pets. They are tiny and delicate, so teach your kids how to handle them without hurting them.
They have a wispy, curly, and short coat that requires moderate grooming. The good news is their fur is low-shedding, so regular brushing and bathing will keep it clean and healthy.
This breed is slightly active, so a couple of short walks daily or a variety of fun toys will help provide it with the mental and physical stimulation it needs. Moreover, it enjoys performing for amusement, so you can explore training it to do funny tricks.
Cairnoodle owners should watch out for health issues such as hypothyroidism, epilepsy, bloat, hip dysplasia, osteopathy, Krabbe’s disease, and Cushing’s disease.
FAQs
What is a teddy bear dog?
A teddy bear dog is a canine that resembles a cute and cuddly stuffed toy. They get their name from their charming teddy bear features like petite frame, bright round eyes, fluffy fur, and a boopable muzzle.
Teddy bear dogs are not actual breeds but poodle combos between breeds such as the Maltese, Shih Tzu, Bichon Frise, and schnauzers.
Should I adopt from a rescue or buy from a breeder?
Although costly, It is best to buy your teddy bear pup from a licensed and responsible breeder. They have the best expertise concerning your dog’s background, temperaments, parents, nutrition, and medical history.
They can help you decide which is the ideal canine for your home and guide you on how to care for your new furry friend. Ensure the pooch has been screened for common health issues.
But if you choose to adopt it, request a comprehensive DNA health test to gain insight and avoid potential health issues.
What is the life expectancy of teddy bear dogs?
Like any other dog, teddy bear pups are in for the long haul and can live for about 15 to 18 years. The life expectancy of a teddy bear pup can exceed 18 years with a nourishing, balanced diet, loving environment, and daily exercise. Bichon average at 15 while Shih Tzu pups live up to 18 years.
Usually, smaller canine breeds tend to live longer than larger breeds.
What is the cost of a teddy bear dog?
The cost of a teddy bear dog varies from $500 to $6000, depending on the specific breed you want. The price also depends on the dog’s age, gender, history, and the breeder selling the pup.
Are teddy bear dogs hypoallergenic?
Maybe. It depends on the breed and the traits they inherit from their parents. Although most teddy bear pups are hypoallergenic, keep in mind there’s no 100% hypoallergenic canine breed. You can only find breeds less allergenic and barely shed, like the Shih Tzu, Poodle, and Bichon Frise.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a snuggly furry companion, there are plenty of toy bear pups to choose from, depending on your lifestyle, home and family. Our guide gives detailed information on each breed to help you make a perfect choice. These designer breeds are smart, cute, and sweet-tempered – a perfect addition to any home.
But looking aside, you need to remember that each breed requires specific grooming, training, and exercise every day during their lifetime. You also need to know about their temperaments and consider getting reliable pet insurance for potential health issues from mom and dad. It’s crucial to consider all these before owning a teddy bear dog.
Further Reading:
- Are Bears Related to Dogs? Here’s Every Fact You Need To Know