Wonder what happens when you mix two of the smartest dog breeds?
Border Collie Poodle mix is a crossbreed of Border collie and Poodle considered the smartest dog breeds. They are friendly, joyful, and intelligent dogs having low maintenance. They are popularly called Bordoodle or Border Doodle.
These dogs are well natured, happy, intelligent, loyal, and protective towards their owners. You will find yourself having a dog-human relationship unlike any other you have experienced.
Border Collie Poodle Mix Specifications
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Height | 12 – 22 inches |
| Weight | 30 – 60 pounds |
| Coat color | Black, brown, grey (these colors appear in patches mostly with white) |
| Eye color | Blue, brown, amber |
| Coat type | Thick, long or medium length. Straight or moderately curly. |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes, they typically shed less |
| Temperament | Full of energy and life. Loving, athletic, hardworking |
| Lifespan | 12 – 15 years |
Appearance
Bordoodles are medium-sized dogs, but this may vary with the size of parents. While Border Collies are medium-sized dogs, Poodles come in varied sizes and this may be a factor determining the size of your Bordoodle.
They have a typical canine appearance with a moderate snout length and floppy fluffy large ears. Their hair usually covers and hides their light and bright round eyes.
They have long silky coats inherited from Border Collie. At the first glance, the Border Collie and Poodle mix appear to have an innocent look on his face, one that will win over your heart at first sight.
Temperament
Poodle mix with Border Collie is a dog that gels very well with the household family, they are child-friendly, pet friendly, and tolerant of other humans.
They are versatile dogs that can adapt to apartment living, as well as single owners. As smart, active, and intelligent animals, they will want to be included in all family activities and routines, they hate to be left out of all the fun!
These energy-driven pooches suffer from separation anxiety and can become a destructive machine if left alone at home too long.
Vigorous training sessions will help resolve this issue which is essential to fix especially if he spends most of his time indoors.
They possess some stubborn characteristics inherited from their parents as with intelligence they are more independent making them a bit obstinate.
Still, with their intelligence, they are easier to train. Bordoodles are good playmates for children although it would help if children are sensitized as to how to go about handling the dog or puppies.
Playtimes with the dogs should be supervised by an adult for young children.
Coat – color, texture, shedding
Bordoodle coats come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, due to the assorted physical features present in both the parents.
Border Collie Poodle mixes are not dogs who shed hair excessively and can be considered Hypoallergenic. Indeed, a good brush twice a week is all that is needed to keep the hair off your furniture.
Their coats can either be curly like their Poodle parent or straight like the Border Collie. It is difficult to predict this factor and therefore it is a surprise for Border Collie Poodle mix breeders.
Various colors that are observed on the coat of this mixed breed, they include colors that appear on both parents. While it is difficult to predict the exact Collie Poodle mix coat coloring, here are colors found on both parents.
White- White is a common color present mainly on Border Collie mix breeds since the Border Collie himself is renowned for having a white hair coat with patches of other colors.
Black- A full black Border Collie and Poodle are a popular sight that attracts dog owners, the Bordoodle puppy will usually have a mixture containing black but not solid black alone.
Brown- Brown or chocolate brown is present in the Poodle breed members and does make an appearance in the Collie and Poodle mix as well. It is not regularly seen but when it does, it is a sight to savour!
Grey- Grey has a special habit of appearing almost bluish to the eye, this light grey is a color no dog owner will reject. Everyone will be envious of your canine since grey is not a color seen on dogs often.
Multi-color patches- The most common appearance of the coat hair of the Bordoodle dog breed is a mixed combination of colors and patches. This is clearly a genetic trait of the Border Collie breed that still looks good.
Brindle- Appearing also on a variety of dog breeds, they are unique dark (black/brown) markings fixed in a vertical plane on the coat. They can be present on any coat color even white.
Sable- The sable Border Collie has tan body markings characterized by black tips. It is very rare today but was a common feature in the 19th century as paintings depict this color.
Red- The red Border Collie mix (maroon almost brown) is rare but American dog associations recognize this color. When seen against the sunlight the brownish color appears to be red!
Bordoodle Care
Grooming
The good news is that Bordoodle is a crossbreed of Poodle which means they don’t shed much and brushing him once or twice a week is good enough.
Still grooming Border Collie Poodle mix dogs can be problematic due to their long hair that is often mangled if curly (a feature of the Poodle breed).
You can simplify your life by taking them to the pet salon for regular hair and nail trimming. You can take the day off and tend to your work while your beloved furry friend gets the professional treatment at the dog groomer.
At home, a tip would be to brush slightly wet hairs. Use a brush that is meant for slightly thicker hair since the area around the neck and chest is known to have thicker and longer hair.
Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush could be a great choice for them.
Annual trimming to avoid hair overgrowth is essential and is normally done during the summer season.
Health
Although being an all-round healthy dog, this dog is prone to diseases that are common to their parents. It is therefore important to have your dog checked regularly by the vet.
The Border Collie mix is prone to the following conditions:
- Epilepsy
- Hip Dysplasia
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Allergies
Prevention is better than cure and you will want to prevent any of these diseases or delay them for as long as you can.
Exercise
Being a medium-sized dog, the Bordoodle does have a high drive for energy-consuming activities.
Long walks and even hikes are a few ways to keep him fit and satisfied, this means he will be keeping you fit as well! This is great for all the healthy people out there that already have fitness routines in place.
Be sure to give them a generous 45 to 60-minute walk every day. This is essential for keeping the bones and muscles perfectly functioning.
A change of scenery occasionally is acceptable as they may get bored of the backyard.
Since the parent Border Collie is a sheepdog (dog used for herding livestock) he will need a high activity that gives him an adrenaline rush!
If you are an active person who enjoys the natural scenes of the outdoors, walking, jogging, or hiking the Poodle Border Collie mix is a suitable match for you.
A healthy dog is one that is exercised and whose mind is kept busy and active.
Kept indoors and alone without any stimulation or exercise the Bordoodle may develop bad habits such as chewing furniture, scratching, barking for no reasons, and other disturbing behavior.
After exercise and between playtime, make sure your Border Collie Poodle mix is getting their beauty sleep!
Food and Diet
As with all pets, this Collie Mix breed needs a diet that is carefully balanced, with the recommended nutrients to keep your dog happy and healthy and promote optimum growth.
Going with a good quality dry food is recommended. Avoid products that are cheap and that might have harmful additives and hidden ingredients that will compromise the health of your young Border Collie Poodle mix puppy.
Be aware that your dog should be fed food appropriate for his age. This includes puppy food, adults, or senior. At each stage of his life, he should be given a different diet and food that will compensate for the nutrients, minerals, and carbohydrates (for energy) required.
Make sure that your dog is not overeating or getting too many snacks as this could lead to it being overweight and increased health problems. This is where exercise is crucial for his well-being.
Pros and Cons of Border Collie Poodle Mix
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Energetic and active people | You have very small children (babies and toddlers) in the house |
| People who mostly stay at home | Other small pets are present in your household |
| Fitness people who live to exercise | If you are not home very often |
| Suitable for Full households | Not a fitness fan! |
| Suitable for single owners | Very small house with no garden |
About their Lineage
Let us have a close look at the parents of Border doodle to understand which traits can be inherited and how you may see your Borderdoodle grow based on which genes are more dominant.
Border Collie
Border Collies originates from Scotland and were raised to help farmers by rounding up livestock such as cattle and sheep. Their acrobatic skills make them the perfect companion for out on a farm setting or in a decent-sized home with a garden.
They are known for their keen eyes and being the smartest dogs.
Border Collie specifications
Height: 18-22 inches
Weight: 30-55 lbs.
Coat color: Tan, brown, black, sable, blue merle
Eye color: Blue, brown, yellow
Coat type: Long haired. Straight. Smooth hair
Temperament: loving, energetic, active,
Lifespan: 10-17 years
Poodle
Famous in America for their curly fluffy tufts of hair that are an honour to own.
Ancient Egyptians were the first civilization to introduce and depict the Poodle, after which it was used in France as a hunting companion for capturing ducks.
The Poodle comes in three distinct sizes; standard, toy, and miniature. A docile yet sometimes mouthy dog breed, it is every American family’s dream to own a healthy Poodle.
Their hair is the highlight as it is cut and shaped to emphasize the natural beauty of this purebred dog.
Poodles are considered to be second most intelligent dog after Border Collie.
Height: 9-24 inches
Weight: 6-70 lbs.
Coat color: White, black, brown, apricot (rare)
Eye color: Amber, brown, black
Coat type: Long/short. Curly
Temperament: Intelligent, loyal, loving, protective
Lifespan: 11-15 years
Concluding, a fun-loving healthy family will thoroughly enjoy the presence of the Border Collie Poodle Mix.
This specially designed dog breed Bordoodle will be a motivation to keeping your fitness as a priority as you will always have him as a workout buddy!