Daisy Dog Care

The Daisy Dog is a unique amalgamation of several small-sized, low-shedding breeds. This hybrid was created in the 1960s--and though the breeders who first developed the Daisy Dog refuse to acknowledge the parent breeds, DDs are believed to be mixes of the Toy or Mini Poodle, the Bichon Frise, and the Shih Tzu, among others. Regardless, Daisy Dogs are sweet, well-mannered companion dogs that are beloved by owners everywhere. And one of this cross-breed's best attributes is that Daisy Dog care and maintenance doesn't take too much work.

Below you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Daisy Dog: puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more are all covered here. For answers to your questions about owning this precious little crossbreed, read on!

These dogs are active and energetic--but they're also pretty small, so overall Daisy Dog exercise requirements aren't too extensive. As busy little animals, DDs will fulfill a lot of their daily activity needs just running around being their playful selves, but a good walk or two and a nice romp in the yard will be great too.

The typical adult Daisy Dog, depending on its age and overall activity level, will need about 45 minutes of proper exercise per day, which you can accomplish with a couple of short walks and a brief period of play. You can start exercising your DD at 10 weeks of age by taking it on very short (5-minute) walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

A few precautions to consider when exercising your Daisy Dog: first, puppies younger than eight months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running, or navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And all DDs, regardless of age, will need to be leashed when in public. While they don't have a strong prey drive, these dogs are curious and social, and are liable to run off in search of new friends or environments if given the chance; a leash will help you control your DD when you're out and about. And finally (and perhaps most important): DDs form strong attachments to their owners and will quickly suffer separation anxiety if left alone, so they'll respond much better to activities in which one or more of their human family members also participates. (Putting your DD out in the yard to exercise alone, in other words, probably won't do any good; the dog will likely spend the whole time barking and scratching at the door to be let back in!) Exercises you perform together are best.

Safeguards aside, it's good to exercise your Daisy Dog every single day. These dogs have loving, good-natured temperaments, and a lack of activity will make them disobedient, fussy, and frustrated; they'll also become obese quite easily. Consistent exercise will be good for the dog's peace of mind--and for your own sanity as well! Here are a few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 20-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: Can be played indoors or out; use the dog's favorite toy
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor, rainy-day activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, DDs will enjoy the company of other dogs
• Blowing Bubbles: Your DD will love "attacking" the bubbles you blow

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Daisy Dog access to one or more balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you establish a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs don't need much care. Daisy Dog shedding is minimal, and drooling isn't an issue.

Daisy Dogs have thick, soft, medium-length coats that shed very little. While not completely non-shedding--no breed is--the amount of shed hair and skin dander is very low for these dogs, which makes them hypoallergenic and thus good for allergy sufferers. Very little hair cleanup will be necessary for DD owners, but weekly brushing is required to avoid tangles and mats.

And a Daisy Dog practically never drools. If your DD is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is recommended.

These dogs have dietary needs that are typical of small breeds--but DDs have uncommonly high tendencies for obesity, so owners will need to monitor feeding portions and make sure their DDs get plenty of exercise. Like all breeds, Daisy Dog food will need to contain plenty of animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means the best food for Daisy Dogs is the premium dry kind. This high-quality dry food, while more expensive and difficult to obtain, contains balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients your DD will need to maintain its health in the long term. Cheap, generic food is not recommended for these dogs, as it contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that are not healthy for the dog, and will probably shorten its lifespan if eaten consistently.

Blue Buffalo, Royal Canin, and Taste of the Wild are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium dry food.

The typical adult DD, depending on its age, size, and activity level, will need about 1½ cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. DD puppies, again depending on age, will need a bit less: about one cup per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months of age. For further details on feeding your Daisy Dog from puppyhood through maturity, refer to this feeding chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a bit more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

More than most breeds, with the Daisy Dog it's important to stick with the above-listed portions. These dogs will quickly become obese if overfed (and under-exercised)--and a fat Daisy Dog will have major joint problems, breathing and digestive issues, and probably won't live as long. You can help control your DD's weight by maintaining consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time, thereby allowing it to eat anytime it wants. It's better to put your DD's bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up a few minutes after the dog begins eating.

If you're worried your Daisy Dog is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Reduce the dog's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.