Dogs That Look Like Teddy Bears

This site exists because of one dog who looked like a teddy bear. When Boo’s photos took over the internet in 2010, groomers started fielding a brand-new request: “make my dog look like that.” Fifteen years later, the teddy bear look is still the most wanted aesthetic in dogs, and this is our honest guide to the breeds that deliver it.

One thing to know upfront: “teddy bear dog” is not a breed. It is a look, built from three things: a rounded face, plush fur, and button eyes. Some breeds are born with it. Some get it from a groomer. Boo got his from a haircut, and that difference matters more than you would think, so we flag it breed by breed.

The breeds

1. Pomeranian (with the Boo cut). The one that started it all. A Pomeranian’s natural look is a fox with a lion’s mane; the teddy bear comes from the short rounded trim Boo made famous. At 3 to 7 pounds they are the smallest bear on this list, big-personality dogs who genuinely believe they are in charge, good with respectful older kids, and vocal enough to announce every delivery truck in the zip code. The catch is the one this site keeps repeating: the teddy look is groomed into a double coat, clipping carries real coat-damage risk, and the maintenance is a standing appointment. Read the honest version before you book. If you want proof of the look’s staying power, Jiffpom wears it to this day.

2. Zuchon (Shih Tzu × Bichon Frise). The mix so teddy-bear-like that breeders literally market it as the “teddy bear dog.” Ten-ish pounds of round face and soft wavy coat, bred specifically to be a companion, which shows: they attach hard to their people, tend to be gentle with children, and mostly want to be wherever you are. Low-shedding but not low-effort; that soft coat mats without several brushings a week and a groom every 6 to 8 weeks.

3. Bichon Frise. The purebred plush toy. White, curly, naturally round-faced; the classic bichon haircut is already a teddy bear cut, so this is the born-with-it option in its purest form. Cheerful, sturdy little clowns, 12 to 18 pounds, famously good-natured with kids and other dogs. The trade: that powder-puff coat is one of the most grooming-intensive in the toy group, with professional trims essentially mandatory.

4. Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel × Poodle). Soft curls, floppy ears, and permanently puppy-ish proportions, one of the original designer crosses and still one of the most popular. Sizes range widely (a toy Cockapoo and a full Cocker-sized one are different lifestyles), but the temperament runs reliably affectionate and eager. The spaniel side wants exercise; this bear needs real walks, not just a couch.

5. Cavachon (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel × Bichon). The Cavalier’s soulful eyes on the Bichon’s plush coat, arguably the most button-eyed entry on this list. Soft-tempered, quiet by small-dog standards, and content at an apartment pace, which makes them a favorite first dog. Same wavy-coat homework as the Zuchon: brush often or pay for the dematting.

6. Mini Goldendoodle. A teddy bear at golden-retriever warmth settings, and the breed most responsible for the teddy bear cut spreading beyond toy dogs; groomers use the exact same name for the doodle version of the trim. Miniatures run roughly 15 to 35 pounds, friendly to a fault, and genuinely good family dogs. Budget for both the grooming AND the energy: there is a retriever in there who wants to fetch things.

7. Schnoodle (Schnauzer × Poodle). Less famous than its doodle cousins but the wavy coat and beard-y round face land squarely in bear territory, with a bonus: the schnauzer side brings a watchful, clever streak that makes them entertaining problem-solvers. Sizes span toy to giant depending on the parents, so ask what you are actually getting.

8. Coton de Tuléar. Named for its cotton-like coat, a small, cheerful white cloud from Madagascar that looks hand-sewn. Cotons are the sleeper pick on this list: sturdy, comedic, notably easygoing, and their cottony coat, while long, mats less aggressively than curly coats. Bred for centuries to do exactly one job, which is to be delightful nearby.

9. Chow Chow. The full-size teddy bear. Deep plush coat, round bear face, and the only entry that looks less like a toy bear and more like an actual bear cub, 45 to 70 pounds of it. Here the look and the personality diverge completely: Chows are dignified, independent, one-family dogs, closer to a cat’s temperament than a Goldendoodle’s, and they need an experienced, patient owner. Do not buy the stuffed-animal exterior without reading the contents label.

10. Samoyed. The polar teddy. A big, thick-coated white spitz with the famous “Sammy smile,” 35 to 65 pounds, bred to haul sleds and sleep in tents with their humans, which left them pathologically people-oriented. The bear look comes with the biggest workload on this list: that double coat sheds in weather events, and a bored Samoyed will narrate its boredom to the whole street. Glorious dogs for people ready for the project.

The honest part

Half the dogs above are born with the look; the other half get it from a standing grooming appointment every 4 to 6 weeks, forever. Before choosing a dog for its teddy bear face, know which kind you are choosing. And if the plan is to give a dog you already have the Boo treatment, read the real story of Boo’s haircut first, including the part groomers will warn you about with double-coated breeds.

The teddy bear look is wonderful. The dog under it is the actual pet. Boo was beloved for the face, but the 16 million people who stayed stayed for the dog.

Frequently Asked Questions