Daisy Dog: Breed Guide, Info, Pictures, Care

Daisy Dog: Breed Guide, Info, Pictures, Care

Height:	10-12 inches
Weight:	10-20 pounds
Lifespan:	13-16 years
Colors:	White, silver, black, brown, red, grey
Suitable for:	Retirees, apartment dwellers, individuals who work from home or are home often, families with lots of attention to give
Temperament:	Happy, Outgoing, Intelligent, Loving, Obedient, Energetic

The Daisy Dog is a mix between three parent breeds: the Shih Tzu, the Bichon Frise, and the Poodle. This small pup is full of love and affection, and they are generally happy dogs that bring joy to those around them.

Although no dog is fully hypoallergenic, the presence of Poodle in this pup’s parent breeds does make them less of an issue for those with allergies, as they don’t spread their dander around as easily as dogs that shed. You read that correctly! These dogs don’t shed, so you can put the vacuum away.

This breed is highly sociable and generally doesn’t bark much, so while Daisies can adapt well to apartment life, they won’t be great guard dogs — they’ll probably end up befriending anyone who comes into your house, whether you welcome them in or not!

There’s a lot to learn about this hybrid dog breed, so keep reading to learn everything you need to know to decide if this is the dog for you.

What is a Daisy Dog?

The sweet little Daisy Dog is a mini-mix of all our favorite pint-sized pooches. It brings the intelligent Poodle together with the curious Bichon Frise and the outgoing Shih Tzu for a fun family dog that loves to play, enjoys meeting new faces and seldom barks – which makes him a great choice for apartments dwellers.

The Daisy Dog brings the fun character traits of the Poodle, the Bichon Frise and the Shih Tzu together in one dog!

Origin

The Daisy Dog is a mixed breed dog that likely dates back to the 1980s when Designer Dogs first became popular. Breeding two different purebred dogs could be tailored to produce puppies that side-stepped the health issues often present in their parent breeds and could result in a smaller, gentler or even hypoallergenic version of a popular breed.

Pedigree

The Daisy Dog is the proverbial “dog’s breakfast” when it comes to lineage and with three breeds contributing she isn’t eligible to join the American Kennel Club (AKC) roster of pure-breds. His parent breeds however are all members in good standing; the Poodle joined AKCs “non-sporting” group in 1887 while the Bichon Frise was also named to the “non-sporting” group in 1972 and the Shih Tzu joined the “toy” group in 1969.

How easy are Daisy Dog to train?

Daisy Dogs are intelligent and exceptionally eager to please their owners, and these two traits make for a highly trainable and obedient dog. Your pup will pick up commands with ease and making them stick will be very easy with some routine and even moderate consistency.

Like we mentioned earlier, these dogs are sensitive, so it’s best to use treats and verbal praise to get your pooch to understand and internalize commands.

Diet and Nutrition

The Daisy Dog is a small breed with a relatively low-energy level, so you should choose a high-quality commercial dog food that is formulated for your pup’s build and activity level.

Choosing a food that is high in protein and lower in fats and carbs is important for Daisy Dogs. Remember, this breed is prone to joint issues, so avoiding weight gain and obesity — which is a common problem for small dogs — is essential for your pup’s joints and overall health. You should also be careful not to overfeed your furry friend too many treats during your positive reinforcement training for the same reasons.

Expect to feed your Daisy Dog one to two cups of dry dog food each day spread out through the day, or consult your vet for best feeding practices for your specific dog.

How would you describe the temperament of Daisy Dog?

The super friendly Daisy Dog loves to play, gets along well with kids and other animals and seldom barks – meaning he isn’t watchdog material. He has a keen to please personality and enjoys human companionship, interactive playtime and snuggling on a lap. This pooch doesn’t do well when left on his own for long periods so having a family member at home or a regular visit by a dog walker will be key to keeping him mentally healthy and out of mischief.

How Big do Daisy Dog Get?

Depending on which breed more heavily influences your Daisy Dog, you can expect him to weigh in the range of 10 to 30 pounds once he reaches adulthood.

How healthy are Daisy Dog?

Due to their rarity, not much is known about the health of these dogs. Typically, mixed breeds are quite healthy. However, these dogs have been bred together for some time, which can cause health conditions to become prominent within the breed.

Due to their small size, we expect that patellar luxation can become a problem. This condition occurs when the kneecap, also called the patella, slides out of place. Usually, the kneecap sits in a small groove on the femur and moves as the dog walks. Sometimes, injury can shove the kneecap loose, or genetics can cause the groove and kneecap not to fit together properly.

Usually, this condition needs to be fixed with surgery. Sometimes, medication is enough to minimize the problem.

Due to their large eyes, eye problems of all sorts may also occur. Their eyes are more prone to lacerations and similar injuries, as they stick out a bit farther than most dog’s eyes. These dogs may be more likely to have discharge from their eyes, which will require cleaning. If you notice that your dog’s eye is beginning to look red, water more than usual, or produce a strange discharge, it is important to take them to a vet.

Some of these dogs are brachycephalic, though not nearly as bad as some other breeds. They may have difficulty breathing, which will be most prominent during periods of exercise and extreme temperatures.

Basically, their short snouts make it difficult for them to breathe properly. They still have all the soft tissue in their face that other dogs have, but it is a bit squished due to the smaller amount of space. This makes their breathing channel smaller and causes breathing problems.

Due to their difficulty breathing, these dogs may be more prone to problems while under anesthesia. Anything that affects breathing will be more severe with the Daisy Dog. This is most extreme and worrisome in hot temperatures, so these pets must be kept cool. They can’t be left outside in higher temperatures. However, other health problems that affect breathing can become worse faster due to their inherent difficulty breathing.

On top of these more serious disorders, these dogs may also be affected by hip dysplasia, bladder stones, allergies, and epilepsy at a slightly higher rate than other breeds. This is based on the characteristics of the breed and their possible ancestry. Since they are so rare, though, there have been no specific health studies done on these dogs.

How active are Daisy Dog?

Daisy Dogs are low energy and therefore require little exercise to stay healthy and happy. A brisk, thirty-minute walk once a day should be plenty for your pup, but note that their energy can adapt a bit to your lifestyle. If you go on slightly longer or more frequent walks, this breed will happily join you.

Be careful not to under exercise your pup, as this can lead to the aforementioned issues of weight gain and joint issues later in life. As much as your dog will love exercise, they’ll be very happy relaxing on your lap or by your side. Don’t take this willingness to lounge as a sign that your dog doesn’t need to get out for walks. Not providing the right amount of exercise is not only unhealthy but can lead to destructive behavior as well.

Given their intelligence, mental exercise is also important to keep your pup alert, sharp, and properly stimulated. You can easily introduce treat puzzles or toys that will make your dog think to keep them engaged.

How long will Daisy Dog live?

The average life span of a Daisy Dog is 13 to 16 years.

Recognized Clubs

With all his backgrounds, its clear the Daisy Dog (AKA Shichon Poo) isn’t a purebred and therefore isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) however he is a member of the Dog Registry of America, Inc.(DRA).

Coat

Grooming your Daisy Dog will involve brushing with a wire brush one to two times a week. Because of the lack of shedding and presence of medium-length hair, brushing regularly will prevent matting and tangling.

Because Daisy Dogs don’t shed, you’ll need to take your pooch to the groomer for haircuts. Once a month is a good time frame, but make sure that your dog’s hair never becomes an annoyance or hindrance for them. Hair can easily grow over their eyes, and this means a haircut is overdue.

Regular bathing about once a month will keep your pup’s coat clean, and weekly or bi-weekly ear cleaning and teeth cleaning will prevent ear infections and gum and tooth issues that can be common in small dogs.

Puppies

Daisy Dog pups are extra tiny when born and although socialization is important, handle with care as this little dog can be prone to joint issues later in life. Training and exercise should be done slowly with an eye toward not over-exerting his tiny limbs. They love their toys and will become fast friends with anything you give them at this age.

Male vs. Female

There is no significant difference between the sexes of this breed. Males may be slightly larger than females, but this is typically not noticeable. The temperament is identical. Neither sex is more likely to have health or behavioral problems.

For this reason, the sex that you choose is largely determined by your preferences.

Related Questions

What’s the Price of Daisy Dog Puppies?

Daisy Dogs are fairly popular, but you may find it difficult to find a breeder that raises them, given that they are descendants of three breeds. If you do find a reputable breeder you can expect to pay anywhere between $500 and $1000 for a Daisy Dog puppy. This number can be significantly higher due to availability and pedigree.

While the Daisy Dog is a combination of three different parent breeds, you may also find mixes between only two of these. If you want a true Daisy Dog, make sure to ask your breeder for documentation showing your pup’s ancestry, and always be wary of breeders who don’t have this available; this can be a sign of an irresponsible or inexperienced breeder that may sell you a different mix that looks similar to a Daisy Dog as a puppy.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Daisy Dogs are as welcoming to other animals as they are to humans, and this includes other pets you may already have as well as dogs they meet on walks or at dog parks. They are non-aggressive and non-dominant, so the biggest worry you should have when your Daisy Dog is social is how the other animal will respond to them.

Daisy Dog’s have a low prey drive, so it’s unlikely they will be found trying to chase squirrels, rabbits, or other animals they may encounter in your yard or on walks.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Daisy Dogs don’t do well in isolation, so the bigger the family the better! They will play with, relax with, and happily spend time with any member of your family, your friends, their family, or their family’s family!

These pups are also mildly energetic, so they’re able to adapt pretty well to many different kinds of people throughout the day. They’ll happily snooze next to you while you work, enjoy some lap time while you watch TV, or play with your kids outside. They are great with children — just make sure your kids know how to handle and respect your Daisy Dog so both parties avoid getting hurt.

Socialization is important for all dog breeds to establish good behaviors and acceptance around people, and while Daisy Dogs are no exception, they will likely have the ability to interact well with humans built-in from puppyhood.

Final Thoughts

The Daisy Dog is a bit of a confusing breed. It is both old and new. The original breed was developed in the late 1950s. However, it never caught on nor was recognized by a kennel club. Today, the breed is still being bred by the same kennel. You can purchase puppies from the same line of dogs that were around back then.

However, other breeders are trying to recreate the Daisy Dog. These usually breed together dogs like the Poodle and Maltese, which leaves you with a mixed breed that is somewhat similar to the original Daisy Dog. There are a few differences, however.

The original Daisy Dog tends to be people-oriented. They’re lap dogs, through and through. On the other hand, the remade Daisy Dogs tend to be more varied, as they are hybrids. You never know exactly what you’re going to get with them. Some of them are quite similar to the Daisy Dog, while others aren’t at all.

In the end, Daisy Dogs of both types tend to be rather good companion animals. Socialization at an early age is important, as it is for most dogs. Their people-oriented nature and teddy bear looks make them attractive to those looking for a lap dog.