Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix

Are you wondering whether the Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix is a suitable choice for you? The best way to find out is by looking at the parent’s characteristics, history, lifespan, health, dietary and grooming needs, maintenance cost, and trainability. In a nutshell, however, the Border Aussie is an attractive double-coated pooch that is active and smart making it an ideal companion, especially for families with older children.

The Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix is a crossbreed that results from two well-known herding purebred dogs or parents – the Australian Shepherd and the Border Collie. Also known as the Border Aussie, the mix is a combination of two affectionate, active, and intelligent breeds. You can imagine what that gives you, huh?

Does the Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix look more like the Australian Shepherd or the Border Collie parent? How big can the mix get? Do they shed a lot and what is their lifespan? Is it a good family dog? Are they hypoallergenic?

We know all these questions cross your mind when planning to adopt or buy a mixed breed and today, we have all these and more researched and answered here. So, let us turn each rock and see what makes the Australian Shepherd Border Collie an incredible family pet.

History

As we all know, the history of mixed dog breeds is a bit vague as no one knows certainly when this began. However, crossbreeding has been around for more than two decades now and can be from purebreds or multiple-generation crossbreeds.

And because breeders have been breeding multi-generation mixes, you can be sure that not all designer dogs are from 50% purebreds to 50% purebreds. To find the best Aussie Collie puppy, you will need to find a scrupulous dog breeder that cares about dogs, not just profits.

Also known as Aussie Collies or Border Aussies, these designer dogs result from two parents that are known to be excellent herding dogs. Both parents are registered in the American Kennel Club under the Herding Group of dogs.

To understand the Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix well, we need to look at the parents which is next below.

Parents

I cited (I think twice) that the Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix results from hybridizing two pedigree herding dog breeds – the Australian Shepherd and the Border Collie. Both parents boast a deep history of working in ranches, farms, and herding livestock in mountains.

Let us look at each of the parents individually and see what the hybrid offspring has to offer.

The Australian Shepherd

Recognized as a breed in the early 20^th century, the Australian Shepherd is a US-developed medium-sized dog breed that was bred with herding livestock tasks in mind. In fact, the dog breed remains a working pooch at heart and has been around since the Gold Rush era in the 1840s.

Surprisingly, the Aussies did not originate from Australia despite the name which creates confusion. Actually, their birthplace has also remained a mystery due to disputes from breed fans. Most Australian Shepherds work a search & rescue dogs, Service Animals, and their trainability also makes them excellent therapy dogs.

The Australian Shepherd was officially documented by the AKC in 1993 and their traits have since then caught the eyes and hearts of many Americans. And while their energy and acumen makes them excellent family dogs, they are more suitable for active families that love exercises. Aussies have loads of energy to burn off which can be destructive if not exercised.

This dog breed stands out with its green or amber eyes that prove protectiveness with a single stare, especially towards strangers. And unless you train them from their pup stage, the Aussie can be unfriendly to outsiders and other pets. So, take him to dog parks and let him socialize.

When it comes to size, a male Australian Shepherd stands at 23 inches tall at the shoulders with a weight 50 to 60 pounds. A female Australian Shepherd, on the other hand, measure 18 to 21 inches tall at the shoulders with a weight of 45 to 55 pounds. Aussies have a life expectancy of 13 to 15 years but that is with a well-proportioned and nutritive diet.

As mentioned earlier, the Australian Shepherd was bred as a working dog which means that he has lots of energy to burn off. So, the breed is best suited for families that love working out every day through running, walking, and other outdoor activities. This also makes the Aussie not suitable for apartment dwellers.

The Aussie comes with a gorgeous medium-length coat that is available in a variety of colors including black, black tricolor, red, merle, red merle, red tricolor, and blue merle.

Australian Shepherds shed throughout the year but this increases significantly during spring. As such, routine grooming is essential to prevent the tangling of their straight or wavy coat. Brushing your Aussie once a week and bathing him only when dirty using dog-specific shampoo is enough grooming for him or her.

Just like other dog breeds out there, the Australian Shepherd is predisposed to certain health conditions and although they do not affect all Aussies, it is important to be familiar with them. They include hip & elbow dysplasia, cataracts, cancer, epilepsy, Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD), deafness, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), collie eye anomaly (CEA), distichiasis, allergies, hypothyroidism, persistent pupillary membranes (PPM), nasal solar dermatitis, drug sensitivity, and detached retina.

The Border Collie

Bred in the Anglo-Scottish border territory, the Border Collie is yet another sheep herding and working dog breed. This breed stands out as a highly intelligent and terrifically athletic and energetic, traits that make them successful during dog sports and sheep-dog trials. In fact, Border Collies still do what they were originally bred for to date in many parts of the world.

The Border Collie has been in the American Kennel Club’s Herding Group since 1995 and is ranked 35 out of 195. This highly intelligent, loyal, and alert dog breed makes an outstanding family dog and watchdog and although stubborn, it is highly trainable if introduced in early stages. As you can guess, he has that stare in his eyes and ability to control than most dog breeds.

And while the Border Collie seems sweet (and it is!), there are very high probabilities that he can outsmart you every now and then due to his high intellect. So, if you are looking for a canine friend that challenges you, the Border Collie is a smart choice. He is also extremely energetic which means that he needs PLENTY of exercises to make use of their high energy. If you are busy or do not like working out and love cuddling in your house or apartment, please keep off.

When it comes to size, a male Border Collie stands 19 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder with a weight of 35 lbs. to 45 lbs. A female Border Collie measures 18 to 21 inches tall at the shoulders with a weight of 30 lbs. to 40 lbs. The dog breed thrives well on a nutritious and balanced diet and has an awesome lifespan of 10 to 17 years!

The Border Collie comes with two coat varieties, including smooth and rough which are both durable with a soft undercoat and coarser outer coat. He also comes in a range of colors such as red, gold, sable merle, liver, chocolate, red merle, brindle, lilac, blue merle, blue, black, and any tricolor.

In terms of health, Border Collies are generally hale and hearty. But like other dog breeds, they are susceptible to certain health conditions which you should be aware of. It does not mean that your canine friend will contract these illnesses, but as they say ‘info is power’. So, knowing this does not hurt.

When it comes to care, the Border Collie dog breed is highly adaptable and has substantial grooming needs to maintain his attractiveness. Brushing his weather-resistant coat weekly to prevent tangling and distributing coat oils evenly is enough. Border Collies shed seasonally which means frequent brushing is only during the shedding season. Bath him when necessary.

Some of the conditions that Border Collies are susceptible to include hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), collie eye anomaly, Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD), epilepsy, and allergies.

That covers the things you need to know about the Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix’s parents. So, how is does the Border Aussie look like? I guess we are about to find out.

Breed Characteristics

When adopting or buying a mix breed puppy, traits is one of the factors that you should look into so you can know if it is an excellent addition to your home. And in this case, we are evaluating the Border Aussie or Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix.

Being honest, no one really knows what a mix breed pup will be like since their purebred parents possess different characteristics. Lucky for us, the Border Aussie parents have lots of traits in similar which make the outcome rather predictable especially in appearance which tend to favor the Border Collie. But as we say, do not be too certain.

In a nutshell, the Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix is a pooch that provides esprit de corps and needs lots of passion and you will have the same in response. Both the Border Aussie parents boast a gentle nature and are friendly and always excited to please their owners. In addition, they need lots of exercise that the owner MUST be able to keep up with.

What you need to know is that, the mix might inherit traits from any of the parents or even both. For instance, the breed has a common thing called heterochromia, where one eye is different from the other. But generally, your Border Aussie will be quiet and gentle. All you need to make sure is that your canine friend is not idle as that could result to destructive activities such as barking.

This dog breed has the ability to perceive what you want to say before you say it and if properly trained from puppyhood, a simple gesture or whistle will alert and command them. Sometimes, however, the Border Aussie can spend quality time sketching an escape plan. The point is, make sure he is always engaged. 

Images – Male, Female, Puppy

Size, Height, and Weight

Both the Australian Shepherd and Border Collie are well-built with a majestic and bold physique that shows they have nothing to fear. These Border Aussie parents are under the medium category of the overall dogs range.

Averagely, therefore, the breed’s offspring is medium sized standing at 19 to 23 inches tall at the shoulders for males and 18 to 21 inches tall at the shoulders for females. In terms of weight, the Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix males weigh 35 lbs. to 6 lbs. and 30 lbs. to 50 lbs. for females. 

Lifespan

Both the Border Collie Australian Shepherd mix parents have an incredible lifespan of 10 – 17 years and 13 – 15 years respectively. This means that the offspring, in this case the Border Aussie also has a sweet lifespan that goes up to approx. 13 years.

But just like any other dog breed, this life expectancy of the Border Aussie can only be thrived with many things, a proper, balanced, and nutritious diet being at the top of the list. Other factors such as health, grooming, training, and exercise follow after the mix’s dietary needs are met.

Dietary Needs/Feeding

The Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix is stress-free when it comes to feeding as it can eat most types of dog foods, including wet or dry dog foods.

We have seen above that the offspring (Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix) are bred from working dogs. As such, the mix breed requires adequate high-quality protein and calories in their daily diet to ensure they have enough energy for their daily activities and live healthy lives.

The Border Aussie’s diet should also include other important nutrients such as minerals and vitamins, carbohydrates, and dietary fats – all fed in the right proportions. This nutrients help in healthy digestion, immune system, and promote a healthy skin and shiny coat in your pooch.

When it comes to feeding, there is no single or simple answer to the amount of food you should put on your Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix’s feeding bowl. You should look at your dog’s activity levels, age, and weight and feed accordingly.

If your Border Aussie weighs on the lower end, feed him or her approx. 1 ½ cups per day, and if weighty, 2 ½ cups are enough for him or her.

Health

The Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix, like all other dog breeds, is predisposed to certain health conditions despite being bred from extremely healthy purebred dog breeds. These are problems that they can inherit from their parents, with CEA or collie eye anomaly and deafness being the most common.

The Aussie Border can inherit CEA from their Border Collie parent, a genetic eye disease that results from eyes not developing properly and can cause blindness. The condition is common in all sheepdogs. Deafness is common in both parents of the Border Aussie and is mostly linked to the merle gene. Both conditions are related to the gene. Deafness occurs around the dog’s 4^th birthday and it has no cure.

Another health conditions that Border Aussies are susceptible to include hip dysplasia which leads to excruciating arthritis and lameness. It can, however, be managed with pain killers and hydrotherapy.

Grooming

Does Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix shed a lot?

No, the Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix is an average shedder. And you should know that although the Australian Shepherd is hypoallergenic, the Border Collie is not. This question is common, especially among people who are allergic to dogs among other concerns.

When it comes to grooming, the Border Aussie’s medium-long coarse coat needs to be brushed twice weekly and 4 times during heavy shedding periods. The mix is also fairly clean which means they only need occasional baths after playing and rolling in places that made them extremely dirty.

Make sure you also clip their nails and regular ear check-ups to prevent ear infections.

Training

Since their parents possess a personality that seeks to please their owners, training the Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix is quite easy. First, the mix is highly intelligent and given their herding instincts, we can say that they grasp commands fast which has no difference when training them.

And because they can try to outwit you, you need to be cautious, gentle, persistent, and patient. Let your Border Aussie understand what you need during exercise and use reward-based training for better results. Also, take him or her to dog parks and socialize them from a pup stage and encourage them for each achievement made. For exercise, no comprise so pull up your socks!

Warning: Do not punish them during training. The Aussie parent can be stubborn at times and introducing punishment makes things much worse for you and him or her. Be gentle on him.

Cost

How much does it cost to have one and to maintain them?

An Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix or Border Collie costs approx. $1,000 when he or she is 7 to 8 weeks old and it is only at that time that you can take him or her home.

While some dogs are easy to maintain, that might be slightly different with the Border Aussie. That is because being bred from working dogs; they may need special diets that are specifically meant for their type of breed. That special formula dog food must be costly.

Add that to vet visits in case of emergencies on any of the health conditions mentioned above and you must dig deeper into your pocket. And if you cannot find time to train your pup, you will have to hire a pro dog trainer which is very expensive.

We are not discouraging you, just giving you a heads-up.

Where to Buy or Adopt?

We always advise our readers to conduct in-depth research before spending their hard-earned money on buying or adopting any puppy, and the Border Aussie is not an exemption. Why is the dealer selling the puppy? If it is a breeder, how reputable is he or she?

Say you want to go to their home and see the conditions they live in or how they are cared for. Ask the breeder or the person you are adopting from for health information about the Border Aussie. Are there any certifications with signatures from an accredited vet about the pup’s parents? If none of this info is available, run for the hills and consider that a red flag.

Remember, an irresponsibly bred Aussie Border is the last thing you need at home.

Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix puppies

If you have plans to adopt or buy a Border Collie dog breed for a family dog, in our expert opinion we would recommend a puppy or puppies. Why may you ask? We found the mix to be highly intelligent and trainable, but the Border Collie can be stubborn.

Furthermore, the parents are extremely energetic but friendly and love to please the owner. Training them from the pup stage will create a strong, unbreakable bond, and obedience together with socialism will be easy to nurture and cultivate.