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What is a Teddy Bear Dog?

By Kerry
Updated on

What is a teddy bear dog?

A teddy bear dog, as the name suggests, is a breed of dog that is incredibly cute and cuddly. While teddy bear dogs all have similar and distinct features, there is not one specific breed that is tied to the term teddy bear dog. 

Instead, there are a number of breeds that can be considered teddy bear dogs. These dogs will have soft, curly coats, button noses, and large round eyes. They look a lot like traditional teddy bears. 

The teddy bear dog category was only first introduced in the early 2000s. Instead of being bred to act as tiny accessories for celebrities; however, the teddy bear dog was bred to serve as therapy dogs for handicapped children. 

Once everyone got a glimpse of these adorable dogs, their popularity instantly skyrocketed. They are also known for their loving personalities and friendliness, loyalty, and how much they love to cuddle their owners. 

The Cavapoo might be the breed that looks most similar to a teddy bear, with their lightly curled fur and amazing personalities. However, there is a number of other breeds that are classified as a teddy bear dog, such as: 

  • Morkie
  • Pomchi
  • Lhasa Apsos
  • Schnoodle
  • Pomeranian
  • Cockapoo
  • Bichon Frise
  • Sheepadoodle
  • Maltipoo
  • Cavachon
  • Miniature Goldendoodle
  • Shorkie
  • Chow Chow
  • Zuchon
  • Shih-Poo
  • Poochon
  • Malshi

There are more breeds that would fall under the teddy bear dog category, but they are mostly crossbreeds between the above breeds.

Teddy bear dog

How much is a teddy bear dog?

As there are lots of different breeds of teddy bear dogs, the price of one will not be the same as another.

Some teddy bear dogs are much more expensive than others, and this might be an indicator for you to determine which kind of teddy bear dog you want to welcome into your family. 

Below we have found the general costs of the most common teddy bear dog breeds: 

  • Morkie – A Morkie is a cross between a Maltese and a Yorkshire Terrier, costing between $600 and $1200.
  • Pomchi – The Pomchi is a mix between a Chihuahua and a Pomeranian, costing between $500 and $1500.
  • Lhasa Apso – Lhasa Apsos are purebred dogs and therefore can be extremely expensive. You should budget between $600 and $5500 for this breed. 
  • Schnoodle – The Schnoodle is a cross between the Miniature Schnauzer and a Poodle. They can cost anywhere between $500 and $3000, with an average price tag being between $700 and $1000. 
  • Pomeranian – The teddy bear Pomeranian is a breed of the Spitz, costing between $600 and $1000. 
  • Cockapoo – Similar to Lhasa Apsos, the Cockapoo is another expensive dog with a high price tag between $1000 and $3000. 
  • Bichon Frise – In general, a Bichon Frise will cost between $700 and $2000. 
  • SheepadoodleSheepadoodles are a mix between Old English Sheepdogs and Poodles and are relatively rare compared to other teddy bear dogs. Breeders have long waitlists and they’ll cost you between $2000 and $4000. 
  • Maltipoo – A Maltipoo is a cross between the Poodle and Maltese, costing around $550 to $1000.  
  • Cavachon – The Cavachon is a mix between the Bichon Frise and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, costing between $900 to $7000 for the top breed lines and a superior pedigree.   
  • Miniature Goldendoodle – This breed is a mix between the Golden Retriever and a Miniature Poodle or Toy Poodle. The average starting price of this dog is $1500 and can reach up to $5000.
  • Shorkie – A mix between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Shih Tzu will set you back around $500 to $1000. 
  • Chow Chow – A Chow Chow is another somewhat rare dog breed and costs between $800 and $3000. 
  • Zuchon – Otherwise known as the Shichon or Tzu Frise, a Zuchon is a cross between a Shih Tzu and a Bichon Frise. You’ll expect to pay between $600 and $900 for a Zuchon.
  • Shih-Poo – The cross between a Poodle and Shih Tzu will set you back between $450 and $800.
  • Poochon – A Poochon is a cross between the Poodle and Bichon Frise, amounting to between $450 and $900. 
  • Malshi – A mix between the Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier will set you back between $600 and $1200. 

The cost of your teddy bear dog will depend on whether you use a breeder or rescue the dog, their age, and the quality of their parents.

Breeders around the world will also charge more or less for their puppies, so a breed in your area might be much more expensive than in another area. 

What is a teddy bear doodle?

The teddy bear doodle is often used to describe all Goldendoodles, but it is actually the name for a specific mix of this breed.

The Goldendoodle is a mix between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, while the teddy bear doodle is a mix between the English Golden Retriever and a Poodle. 

English Golden Retrievers have a square head and round eyes, and their coats are often cream or white-colored. The English Golden Retriever is commonly easy to train and makes excellent companions. 

The differences between the English and American Golden Retriever are few and far between.

A teddy bear doodle can also be used to describe a mix between a Golden Retriever and a Toy Poodle, making the dog much smaller and more like a teddy bear. 

What is a teacup teddy bear puppy?

A teacup puppy is a dog breed that has been mixed to be as small as possible. They are commonly bred with small dogs such as Chihuahuas to keep them tiny, even when they’ve grown into adulthood. 

Any dog bred to be smaller than the average size can be considered a teacup dog. 

A teacup teddy bear puppy is a teddy bear dog bred with a tiny breed to keep them small and adorable. They won’t get much bigger than a normal puppy over the years, although teacup breeds often come with upsetting health conditions. 

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About the author

Kerry

Kerry White is an avid dog lover and writer, knowing all there is to know about our furry friends. Kerry has been writing for PetDT for three years now, wanting to use her knowledge for good and share everything she can with new dog owners.Kerry has two dogs herself - a German shepherd called Banjo and a chocolate labrador called Buttons. Kerry knows more than anyone how adjusting to new life with a puppy can turn your life upside down, and she wants to ease some of the burdens through her articles.