Dog Pregnancy Calculator And Timeline
No one will dare to say that hybrid or cross-bred dogs as “mutts” after seeing the Border collie-Labrador mix dogs!
That’s what happens when you mix a proficient fisherman dog with an adept herder?
Well, you’ve picked the Einstein of the dog world – border collie and the friendliest as well as one of the best dogs for children of all ages…. the Labrador retriever.
You can’t go wrong. You will get twice the loyalty, twice the intelligence with the intense work ethic and a friendlier one…… The Borador
This is actually the most reliable dog you could wish for, despite sounding like an exotic holiday destination. Nowadays, some of the mix breed dogs don’t make very much sense because the parent breeds are so blatantly different from one another.
Nevertheless, the Borador is not a usual mutt but signifies perfect hybridization. Border collies and labs have many similar personalities and many unique qualities, making them a logical cross and stands for the hyped hybrid vigor.
Does it seem too good to be true?
Let’s take a look at this fluffer in more detail, her specifications, what it takes to look after her on a daily basis and whether she lives up to her reputation or not?
Border Collie Lab Mix Breed Characteristics
- Origin: USA
- Size: Large
- Dog Breed Group: Working Dog
- Purebred: No
- Lifespan: 12-15 Years
- Height: Males: 51 – 58 Cm(20- 23 Inch), Females: 48 – 55 Cm (19- 22 Inch)
- Weight: Males: 20 – 29 Kg (45-65 Lbs), Females: 18 – 27 Kg (40-60 Lbs)
- Coat Appearance: Short Or Medium Length, Straight Or Wavy, Dense
- Coat Colors: Brown, Tan/Dark Brown, Black, Chocolate Merle, Red Merle, Blue Merle, White And Brown, White And Black, White And Dark Brown/Tan, White And Black
- Temperament: Alert, Affectionate, Even-Tempered, Energetic, Loyal, Hard Working, Intelligent, Keen, Protective
- Good With Children: Yes
- Intelligence Level: High
- Good With Pets: Yes
- Hypoallergenic: No
- Grooming: Average
- Shedding: Average
- Barking: When Required
- Suitable For Apartments: Yes
- Need For Exercise: High
- Easy To Train: Yes
- Good For First Time Owners: Yes
- Health Issues: Hip Dysplasia, Lens Luxation, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Pannus, Osteochondritis Dissecans
- Litter Size: 4- 6 Puppies
- Average Price: $300- $ 500
Border Collie Lab Mix History
Borador was introduced as a designer dog over two decades ago and it was bred for the purpose of mixing the tolerance of the Labrador Retrievers as well as the intelligence of the Border collies.
This was a grand success, as both the parent breeds are working dogs. While relatively new to the scene and not a Kennel Club recognized this breed, the Borador has also proved itself as a loving and loyal companion, valuable to families, herders and people with disabilities.
Boradors has now become popular in the United States. There has been a surge in demand for this designer dog in the past decade due to the range of abilities they hold. They are also a perfect candidate for dog sports and sheepdog trials.
Recognition
- American Canine Hybrid Club – ACHC
- Worldwide Designer Canine Registry – IDCR
- Canine Registry of America, Inc. – DRA
- Designer Canine Kennel Club – DDKC
- Designer Breed Registry – DBR
Border Collie Lab Mix Coat Color And Appearance
- Brown
- Tan/Dark Brown
- Black
- Chocolate Merle
- Red Merle
- Blue Merle
- Brown and White
- Black and White
- Dark Brown/Tan and White
- White and Black
Border Collie Lab Mix Appearance
General Appearance
Boradors are well-proportionate, agile dogs that boast an intelligent and ultra-charming expression. Like most cross breed dogs, a litter of Borador puppies may vary in appearance.
Some may resemble any one of the parents while some may fall in-between. Since both parents are built athletically, you can expect them to look supple and well-built.
Facial Region
They have a fairly flat shaped skull that is slightly rounded at the top and it is well-proportioned corresponding to their bodies.
Although those inherit the Border collie will have a thinner muzzle that is more tapered at the front while that favor the Labrador parent may have a squarer muzzle.
They have deep set eyes and some inherit a striking brown eye that is set well apart with a black nose add to their clever, inquisitive look. Their medium-sized ears are set quite high, but are droopy and hang flat to the head.
They possess a strong jaw with a perfect scissor bite; however, like both parent breeds, they boast very soft mouths.
Body
Their body is nicely proportioned and well-balanced that is slightly longer than it is tall. They have strong, muscular necks and well-muscled backs.
They boast a deep, well-sprung ribcage and properly level smooth topline from withers to croup. Long and well laid back shoulder blades with upper tips quite close together.
They have strong, muscular Hindquarters with well-bent stifles and hocks well let down. When relaxed, their long tail hangs down and when alert or excited, follows the top line.
Border Collie Lab Mix Size And Lifespan
Height: Males: 51 – 58 cm(20- 23 inch), Females: 48 – 55 cm (19- 22 inch)
Weight: Males: 20 – 29 kg (45-65 lbs), Females: 18 – 27 kg (40-60 lbs)
Lifespan
A healthy Border Collie – Lab Mix should expect to enjoy a life expectancy of between 12 – 15 years when properly cared for and fed a good quality diet to suit their ages.
Border Collie Lab Mix Temperament
Two paws-itive(ly) amazing Temperaments! Border collie vs Labrador retriever
If you want to get to know Borador, you just need to get re-acquainted with its parent breeds.
The fun-loving, loyal, even-tempered All-American, family-favorite dog, Lab is loyal and affectionate; they are the most even-tempered and mildest dogs in the canine world.
Meanwhile, the Border Collies are intelligent, fun-loving fluffy pooches. This is the dog which has more than 1000 nouns to describe them in English vocabulary.
In general, your Border collie-Lab mix will be smart and intelligent while thrives on interacting with its owner, household members and they are great with kids and other pets.
Boradors are intelligent, ingenious, Industrious, impassioned, incandescent and incisive; they enjoy playing around with young children.
Boradors will definitely make immediate friends with other household pets you may have at home.
With ravenous curiosity and tremendous liveliness, she buzzes with graceful agility, checking out every new thing – and sure to have an opinion about everything… At home, they are light-hearted and loving family dogs who never really lose their puppyish charm.
If they are left alone too much or improperly socialized, they can get separation anxiety which can lead to scratching, chewing and digging.
These affectionate ruffers are one of those dogs that thrive on the attention. Don’t forget that their parent breeds are originally bred to be service dogs.
This mix results in having a keen watchdog potential and can smell an intruder with bad intentions from a mile away. Although they may not be aggressive they can daunt strangers with their barking.
They are highly compliant to changing situations of their owners. They are also prone to a wide array of human-like behaviors and emotions. When you own one, look forward to having plenty of fond memories with your Borador.
For first time owners
Border collie-Lab mix is the best choice for first-time owners because they are really eager learners and love nothing more than to please their owners.
These are really intelligent dogs and respond well to positive reinforcement.
We mean it… In case you don’t know, the Border collie is the breed that holds the world record for being the fastest dog to unlock a car window in 11.34 seconds. If any dog that would beat the Guinness record, then that would be a Borador.
All they want is to see their owners pleased and satisfied, in no time you would become best of buds.
Who Gets Along With Boradors?
- Family with kids
- Active as well as laidback households
- Singles, seniors and differently-abled persons
- Apartment dwellers
- Houses in farms and country homes
How To Care For Border Collie Lab Mix?
Now, if you want an independent dog that will not be much of work then the Borador is probably not the dog for you. Make grooming your dog as a part of your regular routine as this dog sheds moderately all through the year.
They have a two-layered coat, the dense Undercoat is designed to keep the dog warm and the top coat helps repel water. So you’ll want to ensure you take care of their coats as much as necessary.
This means that you need to brush their coat at least twice a week to trap loose fur before it sheds though many owners recommend to do it daily it is not really necessary.
Make sure to use a brush that can reach inside layers of the coat. Occasional Bathing can also help eliminate excessive shedding.
As these dogs enjoy time out-of-doors, their coat is likely to attract mud, grass, weeds, pick-overs and other irritants. You also need to bathe them when it is required.
As with any pet dog, you’ll also need to clean her teeth and ears regularly. Trim her toenails regularly (just don’t make it too short) and health checks regularly are other grooming that these dogs need.
Border Collie Lab Mix Food
Calorie considerations
-An active, adult dog in the (50-60 lbs) range should get around 1000-1500 calories per day.
-Sedentary Boradors need 1000-1200 calories per day
- DAILY COST: $1.00 – $2.00 (average)
- Monthly cost : $30.00 – $60.00
- Pups between 2-3 months – 3 meals every 24 hours (200g- 250g).
- 3 to 6 months old – 3 meals every 24 hour period (250-440g)
- Feed puppies 6 months to 1 year – 2 bowls of food daily (450g)
- When your dog is 15 months of age, one bowl or two smaller bowls every 24 hours is typically all that’s necessary.
- Dogs weighing-20 kg = 250g to 400g
- 25 kg =450g
- 30 kg = 400g to 450g
Keep in mind; these feedings depend on your dog’s eating tendencies and depending on their activity level
Our recommendations for the Border collie- lab Mix foods
- Nutro Lite and Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food
- Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food
- Hill’s Science Diet Active Longevity Chicken Meal
- Eukanuba Adult Dry Dog Food
- Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Grain Free Recipe
Read Also: What foods can dogs eat?
Border Collie Lab Mix Diet: What Not To Feed
Border Collie Lab Mix Traning
Since the Border collie puppy and the lab puppy are both easy going and loving, the Borador mix puppies should be typical little goofballs! These puppies are pleasant, playful and puckish.
It’s highly recommended that your pet should be exposed to all kinds of noises, situations, people and other dogs as possible so as to make sure they get a friendly dog once their pup reaches adulthood.
The loyal labs and intelligent border collies are people pleasers! The loyal and industrious Borador has the ‘loyal lab’ in him, your Border collie-Labrador mix is very likely going to cling to you. So try to make the most of your dog training
Friendly and extrovert dogs, they can be easily bored and sidetracked, so keep the training more interesting. When done with patience and a good attitude, the results of training Boradors can be truly rewarding.
Here are 10 Borador commandments to develop good petiquette:
- Spend a great deal of quality time together
- Take her out often and experience outdoors
- Remember they are dog first, then species, then parent breeds, and the name!
- If your Borador is not right at your side, it won’t be right anywhere else
- Your Dog Needs Consistent rules and Boundaries to Feel Safe
- Be nice even when you think they are mischievous.
- Always teach, never test
- Understand what your Borador loves, and do more of it
- Formulate exactly what you want, from the first repetition to the last
- Quit training while you’re ahead and don’t make them exhausted
Border Collie Lab Mix Grooming And Shedding
- Coat Density: Dense
- Length: Short Or Medium Length
- Coat Texture: Straight Or Wavy
- Brushing Frequency: Twice Weekly
- Trimming/Stripping: No
- Hypoallergenic: No
- Shedding: Moderate
Boradors are natural shedders and being half collie means a long-haired double-coated breed designed to deal with winters.
So, be prepared to vacuum your home every once in a while, and brush her regularly. Make grooming your dog twice a week as a part of your regular routine, to keep her coat healthy, shiny and tangle free.
Luckily, she doesn’t shed anywhere near as much as their parent breeds.
Things can go from good to bad pretty quickly in spring and fall- so look forward to two major blowouts a year and brush her once/twice a week during other months whereas daily during the shedding seasons.
We recommend the following brushes:
- FURminator Dog Dual Brush
- Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
- Pro Slicker Brush for Dogs and Cats
Border Collie Lab Mix Health Problems
Major concerns
Hip dysplasia
You’ve probably heard of hip dysplasia, an inherited disease that causes the ball and socket joint is malformed in hip joints and may lead to lameness: it is common in Border Collies and Labradors. So Borador is also prone to hip dysplasia
Lens luxation
Lens luxation (dislocation) in which the lens is either partially or completely dislocated out of its normal position and moves either into the front or into the back of the eye.
When left untreated, it will almost cause pain and results in vision loss. Primary (hereditary) Lens Luxation is more common in border collies
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
This is an inherited group of a heterogeneous disease of the retina that leads to blindness in affected dogs. This is similar to human retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Minor concerns
Osteochondritis Dissecans
This is a developmental disorder that affects cartilage and bone development in the joints of dogs. This leads to painful lesions within the joints of shoulders, elbows, and knees.
The cause is not yet clearly understood, but inheritance, hard surfaces, high levels of nutrition (protein and fat-rich diets) and excess dietary calcium have all been associated with it.
Occasional diagnosis
Pannus: Also known as chronic superficial keratitis, this is an immune-mediated inflammatory condition of the eye characterized by inflammation of the cornea or front of the eye.
This worsens over time and the cornea becomes opaque appearing as a grayish-pink film on the eye. It usually affects both eyes
Border Collie Lab Mix Price And Breeders
You should expect to pay between $300 to $500 but can go all the way up to $800 for your Border collie & Lab Mix puppy depending on the pedigree and the breeder.
Always make sure to buy your puppy from a reputable breeder or look at local dog shelters.
Border Collie Lab Mix Breeders
Wanna buy a Borador puppy but don’t know where to begin? Get started by searching for a good breeder on national kennel or breed clubs. Start your search with breed rescue groups.
Check with a Border collie and Lab rescue groups in your state and let them know what you are looking for in the event that they know of an eligible cross available for adoption.
It’s not necessary to go to an animal shelter these days to find out what dogs they have. Most organizations have a strong online presence and in social media such as Facebook.
