A crossbreed of the Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise, the Teddy Bear Dog is one of the most sought-after breeds today, and it’s easy to see why. This dog breed is one of the most adorable little pooches you’ll ever see with his soft coat, a button nose, and loving eyes. If you are looking for the perfect, lovable, furry friend, you’ll find this little cutie irresistible.
Teddy Bear Dogs easily get along with kids and other pets. But before you adopt one of these little pups, you may want to know more about their shedding habits. In this article, I’ll discuss all there’s to know about Teddy Bear Dog’s shedding, including how much they shed, when they shed, and whether they are considered hypoallergenic.
Do Teddy Bear Dogs Shed? All dogs shed to some degree, and the Teddy Bear Dog is no exception. However, they do not shed nearly as much as other breeds and are often described as hypoallergenic. Of course, the shedding levels will vary within the breed depending on ancestry and other factors.
Teddy Bear Dogs are breathtakingly cute and cuddly; it’s right there in the name. It’s their soft, fluffy coats, small stature, big eyes, and tiny ears that stand up that earned them the nickname. Teddy Bear Dogs are designer dogs, meaning they are bred with a purpose. Most Teddy Bear breeders are looking to produce a pup that doesn’t shed much.
But that’s not always the case. Shedding is often influenced by genetics, nutrition, and the environment. It’s not unheard of for Teddy Bear Dogs to shed more than expected. There’s no need to worry, though. If your pup is losing more hair than usual, you can take a few steps to keep their shedding under control. Read on to learn more.
How Much Do Teddy Bear Dogs Shed?
By now, you already know that Teddy Bear Dogs generally don’t shed a lot. But exactly how much do Teddy Bear Dogs shed? Well, it depends. As stated earlier in the article, factors such as genetics, nutrition, and environment come into play. The Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise breeds are low to moderate shedders based on their ancestry.
A Teddy bear pup may inherit a coat that’s more prone to shedding from one of the parents and vice versa. Nutrition also plays a crucial role in shedding. Certain nutrient deficiencies in your pup’s diet may contribute to more shedding. Regarding environmental factors, Teddy Bear Dogs that spend their time indoors may shed less than predominantly outdoor dogs.
Why Do Teddy Bear Dogs Shed?
Shedding is a natural part of the fur growth and fall cycle. All dogs go through it. The fur growth and fall cycle occurs in four phases: the Anagen, Catagen, Telogen, and Exogen phase.
Anagen is the growth stage of the hair and is the most visible. If your pup is healthy, fur may grow up to floor-length. The Catagen stage is the second phase of your pup’s fur growth cycle, also known as the resting stage. In the Telogen phase, fur is not only fully-grown but also dormant yet remains securely in place.
The Exogen phase is the last and final stage of your pup’s fur growth cycle. During this stage, the hair follicle shrinks, which cuts off blood supply to the shaft, causing it to detach and eventually fall out. Now the whole process can start all over again.
What classifies the Teddy bear pup as a low shedding breed is their fur growth and shedding cycle is relatively slow.
Shedding Seasons and Frequency
When do Teddy Bear Dogs shed? Teddy bear pups shed throughout the year with fur falling off minimally in individual strands. However, depending on genes, overall health, and even hormones, some Teddy Bear Dogs go through periods of excessive shedding once or twice a year when hair falls off in large clumps — usually described as ‘blowing coat.’
As a double-coated breed, seasonal changes may require your Teddy bear pup to adapt to temperature and comfort. This usually happens during spring and fall. If you notice your hand has much more fur than usual after giving your Teddy bear a petting, your pup is likely blowing coat.
Unhealthy Shedding
As we’ve seen in the previous section, changes in light and temperature as we move into a new season may trigger excessive shedding, allowing your doggy to grow fur that’s more adapted to the oncoming season. But there are times when dogs shed more than normal outside of the heavy shedding seasons. A wide range of factors may cause unhealthy shedding in dogs. Common culprits include:
- Anxiety: Teddy bears are very affectionate dogs that love being around their owners. These pups can become anxious when left alone for too long, exacerbating shedding.
- Malnutrition: Poor nutrition is one of the most common causes of unhealthy shedding in dogs. A diet lacking certain nutrients, such as proteins and Omega 3 fatty acids, can contribute to unhealthy shedding.
- Parasitic infestations such as fleas, mites, mange, etc., cause skin inflammation and itching, leading to excessive scratching. Too much scratching often leads to more shedding.
- Allergies and skin conditions. Teddy Bear Dogs can have a wide range of allergy sensitivities, from their food to shampoos. Coming into contact with these allergens will irritate their skin and cause excessive shedding.
- Underlying medical issues. In some cases, your Teddy bear’s shedding may be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Some severe medical conditions that are known to cause dogs to lose fur in unhealthy amounts include some cancers, kidney problems, liver failure, and hyperthyroidism.
Your Teddy bear pup leaving piles of hair everywhere they go may be a sign of an underlying health issue. Your veterinary doctor can help rule out some of these conditions and devise an effective treatment plan for your pet’s excessive fur loss.
The remedy may involve diet changes, allergy medication, parasite control medication, or treatment of the underlying condition. The vet may also suggest behavioral therapy to address your pup’s anxiety.
What Type of Coat Does A Teddy Bear Dog Have?
Teddy Bear Dogs are double-coated, meaning that their coats have two layers: a fine, soft undercoat and a ‘guard hair’ topcoat. The undercoat provides insulation, keeping your puppy warm in winter and breezy in the summer. The topcoat serves as protection against the elements.
The topcoat can be straight and silky or curly and soft — and is usually very soft to the touch. The thick undercoat is usually responsible for most of the shedding. In terms of appearance, their coats come in various hues and shades. These dogs can come in virtually any color. Standard colors are all black, white, black and white, or brown and white.
How to Manage and Reduce Teddy Bear Dogs Shedding?
Despite their massive resemblance to stuffed toys, don’t forget that they are actually living, breathing creatures that need your love, affection, maintenance, and a great deal of care. Speaking of care, you need to establish a grooming routine for your Teddy bear pup to keep them clean and shiny and combat excessive shedding. Is your Teddy bear puppy shedding a little more than you expected? Here are some tips you can apply to limit the amount of fur in your home.
Teddy Bear Dog Grooming
Part of the reason that Teddy Bear Dogs don’t shed much is that the hairs falling out of the undercoat are being trapped within it. While they may reduce the mess around your home, these trapped hairs impede airflow to the skin.
They may also become covered with natural body oils, causing odors. You must regularly remove any loose and dead hairs within your pup’s undercoat. That’s where brushing comes in. In addition to keeping your Teddy bear’s coat free of dead hairs, frequently brushing your pup will also help prevent tangles and mats. We recommend brushing your Teddy bear pup 2-3 times a week.
Teddy Bear Dog Diet
Because fur, and hair in general, is 95% protein, a healthy coat is only possible with proper nutrition. The most common symptoms of malnutrition in a canine are dry skin, brittle fur, and unusual fur loss. So, if you notice abnormal shedding or any of these symptoms in your Teddy bear pup, the first thing you need to address is diet.
Ensure that your pup’s diet contains a proper balance of protein, healthy fats, and other nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids are instrumental to developing healthy skin and fur, so be sure to include foods with high levels of Omega-3, such as fish oil and flaxseeds, in your pup’s diet.
Baths, Supplements…
Bathing your pup will help with the shedding as well. Like brushing, bathing helps remove loose, falling hairs trapped within the undercoat before being deposited elsewhere. Bathe your Teddy bear pup at least once a month to keep their fur looking shiny and elegant. Bathing them more than once a month may do their skin and fur more harm than good.
As I stated in the previous section, a healthy coat is only possible with good nutrition. If changing your pup’s diet doesn’t yield any improvements, consider using dietary supplements such as Omega-3 to improve skin and fur health and limit shedding.
Are Teddy Bear Dogs Hypoallergenic?
The Teddy Bear Dogs shed, but they tend to shed so minimally that they are widely considered hypoallergenic. Therefore, these pups are ideal for people with canine allergies. Of course, if you ask any expert, they’ll tell you that no breed is truly hypoallergenic, and they are right. The irritants that trigger allergic reactions in people are found in urine, saliva, and dander (dead skin cells).
Urine, saliva, and dander all tend to attach themselves to fur and are infused into the air in our homes when the dog sheds. That’s why shedding is almost synonymous with allergies.
However, it’s still possible to come into contact with these allergens even if your little pooch doesn’t shed much. That’s why you should find ways to reduce allergens, which includes regular grooming, providing a proper diet, vacuuming, and using a HEPA air filter to trap allergens in the air. Last, but not least, limit the dog’s access o places you spend a lot of time in like your bedroom.