Are you looking for an energetic canine that can be your adventure buddy? Meet the Border Collie Australian Shepherd mix, an offspring of two working dog breeds – the Border Collie and the Australian Shepherd.
So, are Border Collie Australian Shepherd mixes good dogs? Border Aussies are wonderful companions to active people or families with older children. This mixed breed gets along well with older kids who can match their energy levels and know how to play and interact with a dog. Keep in mind, this mix may try to herd family members, small kids, and pets.
Although they make fantastic pets, the Collie Australian Shepherd mix isn’t for everyone! Read on to find if the Border Aussie is the right dog for you!
What Is a Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix?
As their name suggests, the Border Collie Australian Shepherd mix was created by crossing a purebred Border Collie with a Purebred Australian Shepherd.
While both parent breeds are recognized by the American Kennel Club, the Border Aussie is considered a designer breed.
Brief History
The Australian Shepherd and Border Collie mix likely existed naturally over the years. But designer breeders started intentionally crossing Borders and Aussies in an attempt to create a family-friendly working dog breed.
Border Collie
Hailing from the Anglo-Scottish border region, the Border Collie is a working and herding dog breed. Highly energetic and agile, Borders have an impeccable work ethic and are the most intelligent dog breed in the world (source).
Australian Shepherd
Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd isn’t from the land down under and was developed in the United States. Aussies are also a working and herding dog breed known for their active, loyal, protective, and playful natures.
Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix
When you mix these two herding dogs you get a Border Aussie – a highly intelligent, energetic, and eager to please working dog. The Australian Shepherd and the Border Collie mix should live on a ranch, farm, or in homes with large backyards where they can run and burn excess energy.
Characteristics of the Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix
As a mix of a Border Collie and the Australian Shepherd, the Border Aussie has a well-balanced and athletic body. They have medium-sized heads, narrow muzzles, floppy ears, and almond-shaped eyes that can be blue or brown in color.
Heterochromia is commonly seen in this mix and results in different colored eyes or eyes that have more than one color (source). Australian Collies with this condition often have one brown and one blue eye.
Border Aussie Highlights:
| Size | Medium-sized dog |
| Weight | 35-60 pounds |
| Height | 18-23 inches |
| Coat Type | The thick, double medium-length coat |
| Shedding | Heavy shedding |
| Energy Level | Highly energetic |
| Overall Health | Very good |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
Height
As a mix of an Australian Shepherd and s Border Collie, expect your Border Aussie to be between 18 and 23 inches tall. Males tend to be slightly larger than females.
Weight
The Aussie Collie is a medium-sized breed and they usually weigh from 35 to 60 pounds.
Coat Color
The American Kennel Club recognizes 17 different Border Collie colors and four colors for Australian Shepherds (source). This means that the Border Aussie can come in a variety of different colors and color combinations.
The most commonly seen colors in this mix are:
- Black
- White
- Red
- Brindle
- Blue merle
- Red merle
Shedding
Just like purebred Border Collies and Australian Shepherds, their offspring will have a medium-long, thick double coat. Some Border Aussies even have a bit of feathering on their legs and tail.
Like any other double-coated breed, the Aussie Collie will shed moderately all year round and blow its coat during spring and fall. Needless to say, this mix isn’t a good choice for allergy sufferers.
Temperament
A mix of two working dog breeds, the Aussie Collie is dynamite! Don’t get one if you are looking for a cuddly canine that will relax while watching Netflix with you!
Border Aussies are highly intelligent working dogs that need intense physical and mental stimulation, every single day! Otherwise, they can easily become bored and destructive, which often leads to obsessive chewing.
Alert, curious, lively, and assertive by nature, Border Aussies make great companions to active people, when given an appropriate outlet for their energy. Give them work to do, and you’ll be impressed by their effectiveness and commitment to get the job done.
Both Border Collies and Australian Shepherds are herding dog breeds, so Border Aussies inherit a strong herding instinct. Thus, this mix may try to herd small children, family members, and other pets, sometimes going so far as to nip people at their heels.
These herding instincts shouldn’t be confused with aggressive behavior! If your Border Aussie won’t have to herd sheep or cattle, start training them from a young age to curb any herding-related behaviors, like nipping (source).
Pet Friendly
When properly trained and socialized from a young age, Border Aussies get along with other pets. As mentioned previously, this mix may try to herd and corral smaller pets which is something to consider if you already have a cat or a smaller dog at home.
Child Friendly
Due to their energetic nature and strong herding instinct, we don’t recommend Border Aussies to homes with young children. They are best suited for adult-only homes or families with older children who can’t be accidentally knocked down or injured in the heat of play.
Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix Care
Like any other dog, the Border Collie Australian Shepherd mix needs a dedicated owner who’ll understand their unique needs and care for them properly. When caring for this designer breed pay attention to:
Health Risks
Both Border Collies and Australian Shepherds are generally healthy dogs, which means that their offspring will be healthy too. However, like any other dog, the Aussie Collie is prone to certain health problems seen in its parent breeds.
The most common health issues in Border Aussies are:
- Collie eye anomaly
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Epilepsy
- Progressive retinal atrophy
An Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
Grooming and Maintenance
Be prepared for a lot of brushing and grooming if you decide to get a Border Aussie! These dogs have thick double coats that have to be brushed at least twice a week and more often during the shedding season.
Border Aussies blow their coats in spring and fall, so expect to see a ton of loose hair flying all over your home. The good news is that they don’t need frequent baths! Once every two to three months or as necessary will be enough to keep their coats clean.
This mix is at a higher risk of developing ear infections, so check their ears weekly for waxy buildup and clean them as necessary. Don’t forget to trim their nails once a month and brush their teeth every day, or at least three times a week.
Food or Diet
An ideal diet for the Border Aussie should be formulated for a medium-sized dog with high energy. Working Australian Borders should eat food specially formulated for working dogs, as it has higher levels of protein and fat these dogs need to stay energized throughout the day.
Due to their high energy levels, Border Aussies aren’t generally prone to weight gain. Nevertheless, stick to a regular feeding schedule and feed your mix with the highest quality food you can afford.
Training and Exercise
The Border Aussie is probably one of the most energetic dog breeds you’ll come across and their intense exercise needs are something you need to consider before bringing this dog home. As a working and herding dog breed, this mix needs at least two hours of intense exercise every day.
Taking the Aussie Border for a walk or a hike won’t do! This mix needs to run or jog in an open field or do agility. They also excel at games like flyball, fetch, Frisbee, and tug-of-war that helps them release pent-up energy and keep them mentally stimulated.
The good news is that the Australian Border is a very cooperative and highly trainable mix. They learn commands after just a few repetitions and love learning, which makes training a breeze even if you are a novice owner.
However, don’t stop training once your mix learns all the basic commands. Use a positive reinforcement training approach and design a consistent ongoing training plan that will keep your Border Aussie mentally stimulated and challenged daily.
Housing
We do not recommend Border Aussies to apartment dwellers, due to their activity levels and the fact they’ll become bored and destructive when under-exercised. These dogs thrive on ranches, farms, or homes with fenced backyards.
However, if you are committed to keeping your dog mentally stimulated and exercised an Australian Border can adapt to living in an apartment.
Where to Get a Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix?
There are only two ways you can welcome a Border Collie Australian Shepherd into your home. Either adopt or shop!
Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix Breeders
Border Collies and Australian Shepherds are popular pets and family dogs, so you shouldn’t have trouble locating a reputable Border Aussie breeder in your area. Make sure to research the breeder to ensure that they are ethical and have the dogs’ best interest at heart.
Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix Price
The Border Collie Australian Shepherd mix puppies on average cost from $600 to $1000. The exact price will depend on several factors including the breeder, location, lineage, and coat color.
Adoption
Although designer dogs, many Aussie Collies end up in shelters and rescue organizations because their previous owners underestimated the amount of exercise and care this mix needs. Consider adoption if you think you can provide a loving forever home for this mix.
Contact your local shelter and rescue organizations to see if they have any Australian Borders for adoption. You can also reach out to Border Collie and Australian Shepherd breed-specific rescue groups as they often take care of their mixes too.
Conclusion
The highly energetic and intelligent Border Collie Australian Shepherd mix makes a wonderful companion to outdoorsy people and active families with older children. These fantastic pooches need lots of exercises and mental stimulation to stay happy and on their best behavior.
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