Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix should be your go-to choice if you are searching for an intelligent and active dog. This breed is famous as the Border Heeler or Border Cattle, which combines the traits of both herding parents and results in a loyal, friendly, and goofy companion.
Genetic Background
Border Collie
The Border Collie Mix Dog breed originated from the borders of England and Scotland. Collie means Sheepdog in the Scottish language, so the name Border Collie came into being.
A dog born in 1893 was named “Father of the Border Collie”. His skillful yet quiet herding abilities led him to breed 200 Border Collie puppies, from which many Border Collie Mix Dogs are descended.
Australian Cattle
The history of Cattle dogs goes back to the 19th century when many people in Australia were looking for a breed that could help in herding and rounding up livestock. The need for herding breeds was also in the United States, so Australian Cattle dogs were transformed through the Pacific Ocean, and soon, they were commonly found in American farms.
Overview of Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix
This is of a kind crossbreed that inherits the herding instincts from both of his parents, Border Collie and Cattle Dog, as both are from a herding group of dogs. This is your all-in-one kind of dog, as he is both a house dog and a working dog. As he embodies energy, keeping up with him can be challenging.
He can help you on farms as he can protect your livestock. You can teach him different types of tricks as he is very intelligent, and with this, he can also help in search and rescue missions. He has an impression that captures the hearts of dog lovers with his striking beauty and unimaginable abilities.
Appearance and Attributes
Looks
Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix may inherit the physical traits from both of his parents. He exhibits a well-defined muscular body of medium size. The eyes of Border Cattle Mix are striking in blue or brown, or a combination of both. The ears are pointed and erect, and the tail is slightly curved.
Coat and Colors
The coat of an Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix is dense and thick, either straight or rough with markings of blue or red color after his Cattle parent genes.
The colors in which the coat of an Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix comes with markings of white color on the chest, legs, and face are:
• Black
• Brown
• Red
Size
The size of an Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix can be expressed as below:
Male
Height: 20 to 25 inches
Weight: 30 to 45 pounds
Female
Height: 18 to 23 inches
Weight: 25 to 40 pounds
Temperament and Personality
Multi-faced
Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix surely brings a lot of laughter as they are very loving and affectionate. They are also non-aggressive and tolerant. With their multi-faced personality, they are also high-maintenance, and it can be challenging and require a lot of physical and mental exercises.
Active Dog
Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix is a highly active dog who loves to run all around and play with his owner. He needs physical and mental stimulation to keep him busy. If you don’t provide him with something to keep him engaged, he’ll start destructive behavior you won’t like.
Sensitive
We know how sensitive an Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix is. They want to create a strong bond with their owner and please them. If you don’t give them enough attention, they may get anxious or suffer from separation anxiety. If you want a relaxed dog, the Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix is not for you.
Protective
Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix is very protective of his territory and will defend it with all his might. He may act unfriendly towards strangers but by this, don’t get the wrong idea, he is very loving and loyal towards his people.
Once you create a special bond with your Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix, nothing can break it; he will follow you to the end of the world.
Smart but Stubborn
Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix is a very intelligent breed. He picks up things quickly, which makes it easier for you to train him. Sometimes, he shows his stubborn side and may refuse to act out your commands, but you can overcome this by using positive reinforcements during his training, such as treats.
He is a very willful dog who is eager to learn. Remember not to punish him; this will only encourage him to show his stubbornness.
Training and Exercise
Early Socialization
One thing you need to remember after adopting a dog is to train him at an early age. You must wait for the right time to be able to train him, and he will start behaving badly.
One of the first things you need to teach him is early socialization. You can begin the training by slowly making him experience different people and environments. This helps make your dog an all-rounder. He will not be shy around different people and will be comfortable with them.
Also, take him on a walk with a leash to make him meet the neighbors and get to know them.
Easy to Train
The Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix is a willful dog who loves his owner, so it is easy to train him. You can use this opportunity to train him by giving him different commands, starting slowly with short commands such as sit, roll, or high five.
You can also boost his intelligence by hiding dog food in different parts of the house and making him find them.
Living Condition
If you want to adopt an Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix, you should be aware that they need an environment where they can be themselves. You can’t force them to just sit when it is in their nature to play and goof around. They need an environment where they are provided with regular physical exercises and mental stimulation.
He is the type of dog in love with their owner; once a special bond is created, they can’t survive in an environment where enough attention is not given to them.
They are not for people who have full-time jobs and are not home for long periods because they get separation anxiety, which triggers destructive behavior because when they are bored, they start destroying things.
Canine Sports
As an Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix from a herding group, his herding instincts start developing between the ages of 6 and 8 weeks. You need to properly train him, keep his behavior in check, and keep him busy with other activities.
Some of the activities that will help in keeping your Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix busy are suggested here:
i. Fetch
ii. Ball
iii. Dock Diving
iv. Herding
v. Obedience training
vi. Tricks teaching
vii. Agility Training
Limited Play Time
Another thing that you need to keep in mind is that make sure you don’t tire him out. Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix is known for his high energy and playful nature but if you take over play with your dog, it makes him crave it more and all he wants to do will be play, play, and play.
Your dog must spend energy, but resting is also important for him. Not sleeping can cause serious health issues, like joint pain, and disturb his psychological well-being.
Grooming and Hygiene Care
The Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix’s coat is double-coated, with the outer coat being short and straight and the undercoat dense. Because of weather changes, this dog doesn’t shed much, only twice a year, during fall and spring.
Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix has a double coat, so it needs brushing at least once a week. Your four-legged dog suffers from heavy shedding during the change of seasons, which occurs twice, in spring and fall.
In the winter, the double coat of Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix helps keep him warm. Among many, it is a common misconception that pets with double coats need trimming in the summer as the coat is for winter, but the truth is that double coats also keep them cool in the summer.
Regular brushing helps keep your pet friend’s hair smooth and silky, removes loose hair and shedding to a minimum, and checks the skin for fleas or mites. They should be professionally trimmed to get rid of the excessive hairs on the paws.
The Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix doesn’t need nail trimming much, as his nails file down naturally. Despite that, his ears and eyes need special care and regular cleaning, as they can lead to many infections.
Health and Diet
Generally, an Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix is a very healthy dog and is not prone to many health issues. However, as we know, he likes to play and run a lot, which can affect his joints. This is why joint illness is the main health condition among Border Collie Mix Dogs.
As every dog can become the victim of different health problems, here are some health issues that the Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix may suffer from.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a health problem that almost every breed suffers from. In this condition, the ball of the hip socket doesn’t fit into the joint correctly.
Collie Eye Anomaly
Collie Eye Anomaly is a disease that can cause temporary vision loss or even can cause permanent blindness.
Deafness
This genetic disease affects the Australian Cattle Dog, but it can be found in very early puppies. It is recommended not to breed deaf dogs.
Research also shows that color-linked deafness is caused by white-coat genes. These genes cause puppies to be born with white-coat hairs, which generate a roaming pattern that results in deafness.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
PRA is a genetic eye health disorder in which the retina of an eye is gradually disoriented. In the beginning, it affects a dog’s night vision and makes it difficult for him to see at night, and then slowly, the dog also can’t see during the day and loses his vision permanently.
Dietary Requirements
The recommended dog food amount depends upon various factors, such as size, age, health conditions, and metabolism, because all types of dogs need different kinds and amounts of food.
For your mixed dog, it is recommended that he consume 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dog food twice a day. Make sure you measure the food before giving it to him, and don’t leave it in the bowl all day.
You can check if he is overweight by touching his belly; if you can feel the ribs without pressing too hard but can’t see his ribs, then he is not overweight and is the normal amount of healthy. He needs less food and more exercise if you can’t feel his ribs.
Final Words
If you want to adopt an Australian Cattle Dog Border Collie Mix, you must be calm and happy to spend most of your time with your dog. They don’t bark or howl much and are good with other dogs and pets.
Their herding instincts may cause them to attempt herding children, a trait they share with other herding breeds like Border Collies. Thus, early training may be necessary to handle nipping tendencies. Training methods based on positive reinforcement work well for controlling this behavior.
