If you are in search of an intelligent and active dog, then Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix should be your go-to choice. This breed is famous as the Border Heeler or Border Cattle which combines the traits of both herding parents, resulting in a loyal, friendly, and goofy companion.
Genetic Background
Border Collie
Border Collie Mix Dog breed originated from the borders of England and Scotland and Collie means Sheepdog in Scottish language, the name Border Collie came into being.
A dog born in 1893, was named “Father of the Border Collie” and had skillful yet quiet herding abilities which led him to breed 200 Border Collie puppies, and from here 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 Border Collie Cattle Dog 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 is an embodiment of energy, it can be a little challenging to keep up with him.
He can help you on farms as he has abilities to 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
Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix may inherit the physical traits from both of his parents, exhibiting a well-defined muscular body in 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 slightly curved.
Coat and Colors
The coat of a Border Collie Cattle Dog 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 a Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix comes with markings of white color on the chest, legs are face are:
• Black
• Brown
• Red
Size
The size of a Border Collie Cattle Dog 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
Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix surely brings a lot of laughter as they are very loving and affectionate, with this they are also non-aggressive and tolerating. With their multi-faced personality, they are also high-maintenance and it can be challenging and requires a lot of physical and mental exercises.
Active Dog
Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix is a highly active dog who just loves to run all around and play with his owner, and that is why he needs physical and mental stimulation to keep him busy. If you don’t provide him with something to keep him engaged, he’s gonna start destructive behavior that you won’t surely like.
Sensitive
We know how sensitive a Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix is, they want to create a strong bond with their owner and want to 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, then Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix is not for you.
Protective
Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix is very protective of his territory and he 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 Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix, there is nothing that could break it, he will follow you to the end of the world.
Smart but Stubborn
Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix is a very intelligent and smart 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 pieces of training such as treats.
He is a very willful dog who is eager to learn things. Remember not to punish him, this will only encourage him to show his stubbornness.
Training and Exercise
Early Socialization
One thing you need to keep in mind after adopting a dog is to train him at an early age. If you wait for the right time, you will not be able to train him at all and he will start behaving badly.
One of the first things that you need to teach him is early socialization. You can begin the training by slowly making him experience different people and environments. This helps in making your dog an all-rounder. By this, 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
As the Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix is a willful dog who loves his owner, it is easy to train him. You can use this opportunity to train him by giving him different commands, starting slowly by giving short commands such as sit, roll, or high five.
You can also boost his intelligence level by hiding dog food in different parts of the house and making him find them.
Living Condition
If you want to adopt a Border Collie Cattle Dog 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. He needs an environment where regular physical exercises and mental stimulation are provided to him.
He is the type of dog that is just 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 a full-time job 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 Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix is from a herding group, his herding instincts start developing between the age of 6 and 8 weeks. You need to properly train him keep his behavior in check and busy him with other activities.
Some of the activities that will help in keeping your Border Collie Cattle Dog 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. Border Collie Cattle Dog 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.
It is necessary for your dog to spend his energy but resting is also important for him or it can cause some serious health issues like joint pain and can disturb his psychological well-being.
Grooming and Hygiene Care
The coat of the Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix is double-coated with the outer coat being short and straight and the undercoat dense. This is a dog that doesn’t shed much only twice a year, during fall and spring because of changes in weather.
Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix has a double coat so they need brushing at least once a week. Your four-legged dog suffers from heavy shedding during the change of seasons, this occurs twice, in spring and fall.
In the winter, the double coat of Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix helps in keeping 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 the double coat also keeps 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.
Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix doesn’t need trimming of nails much as his nails file down naturally. Despite that, his ears and eyes need special care and regular cleaning as it can lead to many infections.
Health and Diet
Generally, a Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix is a very healthy dog and is not prone to many health issues but as we know he likes to play and run a lot and it 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 of the health issues that Border Collie Cattle Dog Mix may suffer from.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a health problem that almost every breed suffers from and in this, 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 is involved in the Australian Cattle Dog but it can be found in very early puppies. It is recommended not to breed dogs who are deaf.
There is also color-linked deafness that is caused by white-coat genes which cause the puppies to be born with white-coat hairs generating a roaming pattern that results in deafness, according to research.
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 the night vision of a dog and makes it difficult for him to see at night, and then slowly the dog also can’t see in 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 of your dog because all types of dogs need different kinds and amounts of food.
For your mixed dog, it is recommended to consume 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dog food twice a day. Make sure you measure the food before giving him and don’t leave the food in the bowl all day.
You can check if he is overweight or not 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 a Border Collie Cattle Dog 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.
