Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix: Energetic, Intelligent
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Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix, also called Border Aussies or Aussie Collies, the cross between two is quite an attraction. This designer dog is a mix of two purebred dogs known as great herders: the Border Collie and the Australian Shepherd. Both are dogs with excellent qualities: energetic, intelligent, and affectionate. But what about their hybrid offspring?
The Australian Shepherd and the Border Collie are classified in the breeding group. These two breeds have a rich history of being bred for herding sheep and cattle on ranches and farms. Let's start by learning more about the advantages and peculiarities of both purebred parents.
Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix History
To find this out, we need to be informed about the parent breeds of the Australian Shepherd Border Collie. Let's start.
Border Collie
The Border Collie breed found on the Anglo-Scottish border was initially known as the Scottish Sheepdog. It is the result of the mixing of Spitz-type Viking shepherds with the ancient Romans. Much of the Frontiers' ancestors can be traced back to the north of England, around the 1890s. A dog named Old Hemp is quite famous for being a very agile, well-managed, and intelligent herding dog.
The vast majority of people saw the greatness of Old Hemp and wanted to have puppies with his genes. He was the father of about 200 dogs that inherited his traits, which played a significant role in the popularity of the Border Collie breed as they were imported to the United States around the 1920s. In 1995, they were officially included in the group of AKC grazing.
This breed sits in the mid-range and has a muscular yet agile build. His height ranges between 46 and 56 cm, and his weight is between 14 and 20 kg. Females are slightly smaller and somewhat lighter. The Border Collie is mostly characterized by having a black and white double coat, of medium length with feathers. The other type of coat is shorter, coarser, and less feathered. Border Collies can have other colors: solid (except white), merle, bi-color, and tri-color.
Australian Shepherd
Nicknamed Aussies, this herding dog has gone by other names, including New Mexican Shepherd, Spanish Shepherd, and California Shepherd. To everyone's surprise, this Australian Shepherd is not Australian!
The origin of Australian Shepherds comes from somewhere between France and Spain. The Basque shepherds they worked for traveled to and lived in Australia, then moved to western America in the late 19th century.
Aussies are herding dogs that are the choice of cowboys for ranch work. They are distinguished by their agility, strength, and ability to perceive. His height ranges between 46 and 58 cm, and his weight is between 18 and 29 kg. Australian Shepherds can have a straight or wavy coat. They may have moderate to long feathers on their hind and front legs.
Hair colors include black, red, merle, and a mix of black, white, and tan (tricolor). Like Border Collies, they are also shedders, growing older each spring to shed that winter coat. Border Collies are characterized by being extremely intelligent and hardworking. Still, they're not for everyone, particularly inexperienced and unsuspecting homeowners.
Like the Borders, some Aussies can display an irresistible urge to blow up anything that moves: dogs, cats, children, and even birds—virtuously reserved from birth with people.
What is an Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix like?
Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix is more like Borders than Australian Shepherds. They have prominent ears on a mesocephalic head and eyes that can be brown, blue, and green. This hybrid has peculiar complete heterochromia (one eye is a different color than the other). Although they inherited an intense look from their parents, the Australian has impressive eyes that say a lot and with which he will soon make himself known.
Best Products for Australian Shepherd Border Collie Mix
Coat and colors
Their hair is long like the Border Collie's, but they can have the same coat texture as the Australian Shepherd. They have a double coat, dense and waterproof.
Thanks to the genetics of their parents, in terms of the color of their fur, which is varied, their offspring can also have different shades. The Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix can be black and white, gray, red, red tricolor, red merle, blue merle, and sable. As Australian Borders can inherit one or both coat colors, they may or may not have white or tan markings. They can also have patterns like spotted, brindle, and spotted.
Size
Aussies Collies fall below average for much of the dog's overall range.
This cross will reach its full size or maturity when it is between 12 and 15 months old. Males measure between 48 and 58 cm and weigh between 16 and 29 kg. Females are slightly smaller, measuring between 46 and 53 cm, and can weigh between 14 and 23 kg. It is a dog with which several factors must be considered before giving them a permanent home, size, and energy level will always be a factor when considering the type of home for which it is suitable.
Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix requires a lot of space to run around with you or on their own. That said, they are best suited to living on a farm, ranch, or home with a large yard. With this we do not want to insinuate that he could not live in a reduced space, of course, he could, but taking into account that he should be stimulated mentally and physically.
Temper
The traits of each cross are a bit ambiguous to recognize as their purebred parents are different from each other. The great thing about this Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix is that they are similar in their sheepdog identity.
A friend with excellent qualities: Gentle, lively, obedient, and loyal, Border Aussies are family-oriented dogs. They are a calm breed with a quiet temperament if you are worried about barking and howling. They don't tend to be loud unless they react to something that excites them.
They consider themselves great companions, yet they often try to herd their family members, both children and adults. They will run in an arc around you before falling to the ground. This behavior develops what they have been bred to do or brings out the strength of their herding instinct. It is good and bad in this breed. They are partly considered a recommended breed for homes where there are children, as the Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix is very playful and friendly.
Before bringing a pet into your home, you should prepare and not rely entirely on its personality. Some of those created to work may be reluctant to interact.
Training
They are considered versatile since they can herd, bite or be excessively protective of their family, being owners of great curiosity. Therefore, training and socialization are essential for the Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix. Early exposure and discipline will help ensure a calm home with children and other pets. The training of your Border Collie should be in the hands of one with a lot of experience. If you have experience handling working or herding line dogs, take this opportunity to train and bond with your pet.
Don't stress about their training, as both the Border Collie and the Australian Shepherd are highly intelligent breeds, as are their crosses. Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix is easy to train and loves to please. Repeating instructions several times will not be a cause for concern at all, because Australian Borders learn quickly. They can only learn effectively with hand signals and voice commands.
Whoever owns a Border Collie must face daily challenges, tricks and puzzles, and various games. In addition to exploring new activities and places for your dog, you can also play fetch, agility, flyball, and other dog sports. They are perfect as a starting point to keep your pet happy and healthy. As the faithful heir to his Border Collie parent, the Aussie Border Collie Mix is reactive and sensitive. You should avoid yelling, scolding, or hitting them, as they can quickly feel hurt or offended. Be kind but firm.
If your Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix does something that is not acceptable, setting limits is enough. Teach them that they are misbehaving or that it is only used during work, not in vain they are too bright, and they will understand immediately.
This breed is exceptional; the treatment for a designer dog like the Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix is high maintenance, especially in exercise. As far as their care is concerned, several aspects must be managed: physical and mental stimulation, grooming, feeding, and preventing health problems.
How to take care of an Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix?
His cleanliness is decisive, although he should be bathed only once every six weeks or when necessary. Brushing his coat should not be excessive, but often, brush 4-5 times with a soft brush to remove loose hair. This will also help prevent caking and distribute the oil throughout your hair. Cutting their nails should only be done once or twice a month to prevent them from being too long, which is uncomfortable for all dogs. Brush your pet's teeth once a week, which will also depend on their diet.
Feeding
It is very important to be very clear about the amount of food to provide the puppy; this varies depending on his age, size, and activity level. Sometimes even health conditions become a factor.
It is a feast for these pets if they are pampered with croquettes, twice a day is ideally indicated, and dry croquettes are a good diet. They would also enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables as treats. However, they would need grass-grade dog food if this cross is made to work. It has to be higher in protein to maintain strength and energy.
Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix needs about 1,400 calories a day. This is more than 300 a day compared to feeding this breed as a pet. It may be appropriate to feed a working dog wet food due to the added protein. Note that they have more fat. Therefore, dry croquettes are more recommended for food.
The happy owner of a Border Collie must prepare himself physically and mentally to meet the demands of his agile pet. Be prepared to set aside at least 90 minutes a day for your dog's exercise. This should be more than just the usual walks and runs, like hiking. The ideal area to share this activity with your dog is open, where there is space.
Once you've trained your mixed-breed dog to approach you during exercise or training, you can relax as humans won't be able to keep up with you.
Healthcare of the Australian Shepherd Border Collie
Usually, the Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix tends to be healthy; even so, they are not exempt from inheriting some health problems from their parents.
One of the common diseases that Frontiers can transmit to this mix is Collie Ocular Anomaly (CEA). It is a hereditary eye disease that can also affect other sheepdogs. This is because the eyes do not develop properly and can lead to blindness.
Deafness is also common in the Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix. This disease, which includes blindness, is mainly related to the merle gene. It usually appears when the dog is about four years old and cannot be cured.
And there are joint problems or hip dysplasia. It is also common in Australians and Borders and often results in painful arthritis and lameness. Although it cannot be cured, hydrotherapy and pain relievers work as medicine.
The pace and quality of life you provide to your Aussie Collie will ensure that he can live between 12 and 15 years. Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix's average lifespan is 13 years.
Conclusions
Arguably the ideal in every way. Loyal, highly intelligent, easy to train, and obedient, it's no wonder this mixed breed is gaining popularity among families.
You just have to be aware that you will find a confident, curious, and energetic dog. You must be very creative to avoid letting the routine bore this dog, or he will end up chewing at home. They require large amounts of exercise, mental stimulation, and an energetic owner willing to keep up with them.
Ideal for owners with experience in handling working or breeding dogs, excellent for reaching large homes, where space gives them confidence and freedom. They must be able to travel safely on their own to avoid energy buildup. Don't let the fear of challenging your Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix overtake you. They were born to be adventurers and to find a great friend like you.
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