The high energy levels and the need for mental stimulation make Border Collie Mix Dog demand different sports or games to keep himself busy. He is the type of dog that is loyal, super-smart, and doesn’t want to be left alone for a long period as he is one of a clingy type of dog that wants to be with you all the time.
If Border Collie Mix Dog is not kept busy, he will find different ways to keep himself busy and you will not like that. The problem is many of the Border Collie Mix Dog parents don’t know about this trait of his and are not ready for this type of commitment, and because of this many Border Collie Mix Dogs end up in shelters.
History of Border Collie Mix Dog
As a 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. In the 1900s, Border Collie Mix Dogs started coming to the American shores, and from there, in no time they were in America.
Border Collie Mix Dog has both beauty and brains and therefore it is no surprise that they are part of many movies including Fly and Rex in Babe and Shep in Hotel for Dogs.
Overview of Border Collie Mix Dog
Border Collie Mix Dog is one of the most energetic dogs and should be given a lot of opportunities to spend their high energy. They love to run around and also love to get attention from others. They want to do their best and get appreciation whether it is herding livestock or fetching a ball.
To get other people’s attention, they need to be comfortable around others so they don’t get shy around strangers. You can nip this issue in the bed by training them at an early age and teaching them socialization.
You must have heard that they are only famous for being good at herding but trust me this article will make you think that they are much more than that. If you give them proper obedience classes, you can teach them all kinds of tricks and with good training, you can also make them great family members.
Physical Attributes
Looks
The most beautiful thing about Border Collie Mix Dog is his eyes. His eyes are striking and sparkly commonly in brown color but also can be gray, hazel, and blue. It is also possible for Border Collie Mix Dog to have eyes of one in each color. Their ears are naturally erect and we can say they are longer than saying they are taller in size.
Size
The size of a male Border Collie Mix Dog can be described as:
Weight: 30 to 45 in pounds
Height: at least 22 inches
The size of a female Border Collie Mix Dog can be described as:
Weight: 30 to 42 in pounds
Height: at least 20 inches
Coat
The coat of Border Collie Mix Dog is normally medium but it can vary from short and silky to long and rough. Border Collie Mix Dog sheds moderately and they need brushing at least once a week to keep to coat clean and smooth. The coat color of this breed can be black mixed with or without white, red and white, merle and sable solid single color, bi-color, or tri-color.
Personality and Temperament
Multi-faced
Border Collie Mix Dog 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.
Workaholic
This breed wants to feel like they have a job and if they don’t have something to do and keep themselves busy, they may get chaotic. Another personality trait of Border Collie Mix Dog is that they bark and howl a lot but you don’t need to worry, this trait of theirs can be fixed by training them.
Sensitive
We know how sensitive a Border Collie Mix Dog 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 Mix Dog is not for you.
Training
As Border Collie Mix Dog 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 create boundaries.
You can teach him basic obedience training in a few weeks. As he is a very intelligent, smart, and eager-to-learn dog, you can teach him good behavior, manners, tricks, and even search and rescue tasks. All they need from you is your time and consistency, and they will learn almost anything.
Some of the things that will help in keeping your Border Collie Mix Dog are suggested here:
i. Fetch
ii. Ball
iii. Dock Diving
iv. Herding
v. Obedience training
vi. Tricks teaching
vii. Agility Training
Another thing that you need to keep in mind is that make sure you don’t tire him out. Border Collie Mix Dog 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
If you want a dog that doesn’t need much grooming, Border Collie Mix Dog is for you. This is a low-maintenance breed but that doesn’t mean they are no maintenance, they just make it easier for you to groom them.
Border Collie Mix Dog 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.
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.
In the winter, the double coat of Border Collie Mix Dog 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.
Border Collie Mix Dogs don’t need trimming of nails much as their nails file down naturally. Despite that, their ears and eyes need special care and regular cleaning as it can lead to many infections.
Health
Generally, a Border Collie Mix Dog is a very healthy dog and is not prone to many health issues but as we know that 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 Dog.
As every dog can become the victim of different health problems, here are some of the health issues that Border Collie Mix Dogs may suffer from.
i. 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.
ii. Collie Eye Anomaly
Collie Eye Anomaly is a disease that can cause temporary vision loss or even can cause permanent blindness.
iii. Trapped Neutrophil
Border Collie Mix Dog has a weak immune system and trapped neutrophil is an inherited health issue that attacks on his immune system and makes them prone to many allergies and infections.
iv. Arthritis
As they like to spend most of their time playing, they are most likely to get arthritis in their senior years but if they don’t have hip dysplasia, they will have less chance of suffering from this illness.
v. Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is one of the most common hormonal diseases in dogs. It generally affects middle-aged dogs and it may be more common in spayed females and neutered males. A wide variety of breeds may be affected.
The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate the body’s metabolic rate.
Hyperthyroidism: If thyroid hormone levels are increased, the body’s metabolism is elevated.
Hypothyroidism: If thyroid hormone levels are decreased, the metabolism slows down.
Conclusion
If you want to adopt a Border Collie Mix Dog, you must be calm and happy to spend most of your time with Border Collie Mix Dog. They don’t bark or howl much and are good with other dogs and pets.
The shedding condition of this dog is seasonal so you don’t need to worry much. One of the traits of Border Collie Mix Dog is that he doesn’t drool much. If you are looking for a dog that will keep you entertained, then Border Collie Mix Dog should be your go-to breed.
