Zuchon

A sweet, loving breed, the Zuchon is a mix between the Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise. The goal was to breed an affectionate companion that has the best traits of each breed. The resulting Zuchon dog, also known as the teddy bear dog because of its appearance, makes a wonderful pet and, with the right training, an amazing service animal.

The Shih Tzu is an ancient breed, dating back 1,000 years and thought to have originated in Tibet. It was bred to be a docile companion dog.

Bichons are of French and Spanish descent. The Spanish originally used them as sailing and herding dogs. However, the French ultimately bred them to be noble lapdogs. In later years, they were sometimes used in the circus for their ability to walk on their hind legs and perform other tricks. Many of these dogs also enjoy dressing up and being the life of the party.

3 Pros and Cons of Ownership

Size and Weight

A full-grown Zuchon should be compact and sturdy. The male and female are similar in height and weight.

Common Health Issues

There are a few health issues to which the Zuchon is prone. Like the Shih Tzu, it may develop brachycephalic airway syndrome. Like the Bichon side of the family tree, it may be prone to atopic dermatitis. Other health concerns for the breed include:

• Cushing’s disease
• Patellar luxation
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca

Temperament

One trait breeders aim for in a Zuchon is personality. These dogs are happy and exuberant, always thrilled to see you, and they never meet a stranger. You can help maintain this winning disposition by socializing the pup around strangers and pets. At home, your Zuchon pup will get along well with everyone who lives there, although it may develop a favorite person, but it will coexist peacefully with other dogs and cats.

Best Dog Food

As a small breed, Zuchon dogs need to be watched carefully to avoid obesity. It is much easier to help it maintain a healthy weight than to lose weight. Even though it doesn’t need much food, breaking its meal into two servings each day gives it something to look forward to and helps discourage it from eating too quickly.

Cushing’s is an unfortunate condition in Zuchons, and it usually originates from a pituitary or adrenal gland tumor. There is no evidence that food additives cause Cushing’s disease, but providing a balanced, high-quality diet is always recommended for your dog’s overall health.

Maintenance And Grooming

The Zuchon, as a breed, has a hypoallergenic coat. It comes in a range of colors, including black, red, fawn, white, and cream. The color can be solid or particolored, and the fur may be silky or curly.

The Zuchon is a non-shedding breed, but that doesn’t mean its coat is maintenance-free. Regular grooming is necessary, not only to keep his coat looking nice, but also to prevent mats that can become painful if left. Going over your pup with a comb each day takes only a few minutes and eliminates the need for marathon sessions later on.

Along with regular coat maintenance, use a cotton ball dampened with ear cleaning solution once a week and trim his nails at least once a month. Depending on how the hair on his face grows, he may benefit from having the area around his eyes trimmed to make it easier to see and keep him more comfortable. Dental issues will increase with age, so brushing its teeth a few times a week is recommended to avoid problems later on.

Training

A Zuchon’s eagerness to please makes it easy to train. It is never too late to train your full-grown dog, but starting as soon as you bring your puppy home helps it quickly integrate into the household. In addition to basic commands, training your puppy not to jump on people or on furniture is much quicker when the dog is young.

Crate training makes housebreaking much easier, and most pups take quickly to their crate. Having an area where you can put your pup and know that it is safe gives you peace of mind when it is young and you cannot keep your eye on the dog constantly.

Exercise

While active and playful, the Zuchon doesn’t need much exercise to stay healthy and happy. In fact, a few indoor play sessions each day provide the enrichment it needs. It is, however, a good idea to get it outside for even a short walk a few times each day to stretch its legs and get some fresh air. Keep in mind its size when walking the dog, or it may have trouble keeping up if your outing is too long.

Puppies

The average litter size for Zuchons is four to five puppies. Breeders can cross a Shih Tzu and a Bichon Frise or two Zuchons to produce the breed.

Children

The breed’s buoyant personality and love of people make it a good match for families with children; however, the children, puppies, and even full-grown dogs must be closely supervised. Zuchons are small and cannot tolerate rough handling. Their love of people may prevent them from retreating when overwhelmed, so it is up to the adults to manage and supervise play.

Similar Dogs

There are other choices of toy dogs with similar temperaments and personalities. The obvious choice is one of the two breeds that breeders use to make up the Zuchon: the Shih Tzu or the Bichon Frise. There are other choices too, of course:

• Lhasa Apso– Friendly, affectionate, and long-lived. The breed does have a tendency to bark, making it an excellent watchdog.
• Maltese– Happy and generally healthy, the breed is also hypoallergenic.
• Pomeranian– Smart and low exercise needs. Not the best choice for families with children.