Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix: Dog Breed Guide
The border collie Australian shepherd mix is an intelligent and energetic cross breed with serious herding instincts. This pup is activity and work-oriented, quick to pick up training, and loves to stay moving, which makes it a great addition to a family that is always on to go. However, there are some considerations you should keep in mind when deciding whether or not to adopt a border collie Australian shepherd mix.
In this dog breed guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about the border collie Australian shepherd mix, including basic facts, considerations for proper care, and recommendations about the type of owner that is most suited to adopting this unique dog.
A Quick Look at Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes
The quick facts below about border collie Australian shepherd mixes introduce you to this breed and help you to understand some basics about their appearance, temperament, and care needs.
| Weight/Height | 30 to 65 lbs./18 to 23 inches |
| Coat Type | Medium-length with feathering, or short and coarse |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Intelligent, energetic |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals |  |
| Intelligence | |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | Between 10 and 17 years |
What Is the History of the Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix?
It isn’t clear when exactly the border collie Australian shepherd mix was first created, but the parent breeds for this hybrid pup have been around for decades. The border collie was first noted as far back as 1890, with one dog named ‘Old Hemp,’ a sheep herding dog who lived in northern England, being responsible for a large part of the border collie lineage. On the other hand, Australian shepherds can trace their lineage back to around the 1800s in the Western United States, where they were bred to be effective cattle herding dogs.
With lineage on both sides that have to do with herding and working, it’s no wonder that the border collie Australian shepherd mix is an active, intelligent, energetic, and loyal pup. These days, this cross-breed is most likely seen working on farms as a herding or working dog, though they are becoming a more popular breed among active owners who love to spend time outdoors and exercising with their companion.
There is no particular breed standard for the border collie Australian shepherd mix, and this is not a dog recognized by the American Kennel Club due to the fact it isn’t purebred. When adopting or purchasing a border collie Australian shepherd mix, keep in mind that this pup may have traits that lean more towards their border collie side, more towards their Australian shepherd side or a healthy mix of both.
What Do Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Look Like?
Border collie Australian shepherd mixes come in a wide range of colors and patterns thanks to the range of appearances that their parent breeds have. Potential colors of this cross-breed include black, white, red, blue, tan, and brown, while patterns include merle, tricolor, or piebald. Additionally, the border collie Australian shepherd mix is prone to heterochromia, where each eye is a different color, and the eye colors of this pup are most likely to be brown, green, or blue.
This cross-breed is considered a medium-sized dog, and they have long legs, ears that typically stand up straight or flop over at the tips, and appear to be well-built thanks to their active natures. They have a double coat that is very weather-resistant and produce natural oils that give their coat a slight hint of waterproofness.
As puppies, this breed will weigh anywhere between 5 and 9 pounds, but they can grow to weigh between 30 and 65 pounds and stand between 18 and 23 inches tall.
What Size Is a Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix?
The border collie Australian shepherd mix is considered a medium-sized breed, and they will stand between 18 and 23 inches tall and weigh between 30 and 65 pounds. Male dogs will typically weigh more and be taller than female dogs.
What Is a Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix’s Coat Type?
The border collie Australian shepherd mix has a thicker double coat. Depending on their genetics, this coat will be medium-length and feathered or shorter and coarser with less feathering. They shed often due to their coat and require regular brushing to keep their fur’s natural oils well-distributed and prevent tangles.
What Is a Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix’s Temperament?
The border collie Australian shepherd mix is a playful, energetic, and friendly dog. They love to stay active and need a significant amount of exercise to ensure they stay happy and healthy – a couple of hours of exercise or work a day can provide them with the mental and physical stimulation that they need.
This dog is protective and loyal, and they will form strong bonds with their families. They are eager to please their owners and will love learning new tricks or more advanced commands. Obedience training is necessary for these dogs to keep them mentally thriving and ensure that their intelligence and active nature aren’t channeled into destructive and unhealthy outlets.
You can expect your border collie Australian shepherd mix to have a high herding drive, and this pup will often try to round up groups of animals or even people. This behavior can be trained out of them somewhat, but as a herding and working dog, the best thing you can do for your pup is to allow them to play outside, exercise often, and herd things to their heart’s content. After a long day of activity, you can expect this dog to cuddle up next to you in the evening in anticipation of doing it all over again the next day.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Affectionate?
Border collie Australian shepherd mixes are affectionate, loyal, and loving. They will form strong bonds with their families and enjoy spending lots of time outdoors with their people—exercising, working, or learning new tricks. This breed can also be protective of their family and stick by their loved one’s side.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Good With Kids?
Border collie Australian shepherd mixes are sometimes good with children, though you should note that this breed will likely attempt to herd small children due to their strong herding instincts. Because each dog is different in terms of their attitude and temperament, some may be willing to interact and play with children, while others prefer to exercise elsewhere and aren’t concerned with children at all.
That being said, this breed is unlikely to be aggressive to children and can learn to live with children, even young children, with proper training and enough exercise in other areas of their life.
However, it’s important to note that their strong herding instincts may cause them to occasionally nip—but not bite—children to nudge them in the “right” direction.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Good With Other Animals?
Whether or not your border collie Australian shepherd mix is good with other animals depends on the temperament of your specific dog. Border collies are not known as being the friendliest with other dogs as they can be quite assertive, which may come across as aggressive to owners or the dogs they meet. On the other hand, Australian shepherds are fairly friendly and typically get along well with other animals.
Your border collie Australian shepherd mix may be assertive at first to other animals, or they may make friends easily. Monitor any interaction they have with new animals closely and be sure that they have lots of behavioral training and socialization growing up, as this makes for the best results.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Aggressive?
Border collie Australian shepherd mixes are not known to be particularly aggressive, but they can be stubborn and assertive. The barking, nipping or nudging that this dog exhibits when trying to show their place over a new animal in the family or attempting to get things from their owner can sometimes be interpreted as aggression, but it rarely is. The border collie Australian shepherd mix is not known to attack or exhibit other aggressive traits, though they might have a strong prey drive that needs to be properly trained out of them.
Do Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Bark a Lot?
For the most part, this breed is quiet, only barking when they are very excited or when their work and herding activities call for it. The border collie Australian shepherd mix will not spend their free time yapping at anything they see outside, nor will they bark just because they like the sound of their voice.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Intelligent?
The border collie Australian shepherd mix is considered one of the most intelligent dog breeds around today. Both of the parent dogs for this cross-breed are considered highly intelligent, and the border collie Australian shepherd mix lives up to this by learning new tasks quickly, understanding commands easily, and exhibiting impressive problem-solving abilities. However, this dog may try to outsmart you and can turn destructive when they are not properly mentally and physically stimulated, which is why it is important to train your dog and keep them active.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Easy to Train?
This breed is fairly easy to train thanks to their high intelligence, eagerness to please, and love of working and staying active. Border collie Australian shepherd mixes love new challenges, and they love to learn new things. A regular training regimen can help keep this dog happy and healthy and curb any destructive behaviors this pup might develop out of border or under stimulation.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Energetic?
Border collie Australian shepherd mixes are very energetic and have a fairly high endurance. This pup will have no problem keeping up on hikes, spending all day playing outside, or completing working tasks with you on a daily basis. In fact, this dog needs a serious amount of exercise per day as a minimum to stay healthy – at least two hours of exercise a day plus time spent training and playing with their toys is enough to tire this pup out and keep them healthy.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Good Apartment Dogs?
The border collie Australian shepherd mix is not a good choice for apartment living. This breed needs lots of space to run around and be active in to stay happy and healthy, and apartment complexes rarely offer that. A better choice for this pup would be a large home with access to larger outdoor and backyard areas.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Good Watchdogs?
Border collie Australian shepherd mixes make for pretty good watchdogs, as this breed is alert, intelligent, loyal, and protective. This pup will bark at things they feel are suspicious and will waste no time alerting you if something seems off around your property or inside your home. They may even be mistrusting of your friends and relatives at first until they have met them a few times and started to trust their presence around your home.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Good Service Dogs?
Border collie Australian shepherd mixes may sometimes be good service dogs. With such high trainability and intelligence, it would seem like they are the perfect service dog candidate, but this dog may not actually be the best choice for a service companion. They are very protective and loyal to their owners, and being too protective in public can cause problems. This dog also needs lots of exercise and tasks to complete per day, and, depending on their handler’s specific conditions, this may not be possible. Whether or not this breed makes a good service dog should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
How to Care for a Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix
To properly care for your border collie Australian shepherd mix, you will need to ensure that you have lots of space and exercise area for your pup. This dog will need approximately two hours of exercise per day to stay happy, and they are at their happiest and healthiest when they have tasks to perform. Spend lots of time training your dog in order to curb any negative behaviors, stop boredom from making the destructive, and keep them happy.
You will need to brush your border collie Australian shepherd mix a few times a week to prevent their coat from becoming matted and to help release loose fur, speeding up the shedding process. This dog won’t need to be bathed often, only when they are dirty, but you may need to take them for a trim and a bath once or twice a year to keep their coat looking nice and fur out of their eyes.
Feed your border collie Australian shepherd mix a healthy diet of dry dog food supplemented with nutritional treats; how much you feed depends on your dog’s food and size. Make sure that your pup has toys to play with when you aren’t around and that you don’t leave them alone for more than 8 hours at a time, as they can develop anxiety or become destructive out of boredom.
Do You Need to Groom a Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix?
Border collie Australian shepherd mixes have a thick double-coat that is either medium-length with feathering or slightly shorter and coarser, with very little feathering. Both versions of this coat will need brushing two to three times a week to prevent matting, help with shedding, and keep your dog comfortable. Your border collie Australian shepherd mix won’t need baths too often, as they have natural oils in their coat to help keep them clean and happy, so only give baths when they really need them. Occasionally, you might need to take your pup to a groomer for a trim to keep their hair out of their eyes and ensure their underbelly is free of loose hair.
Do Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Shed?
Border collie Australian shepherd mixes tend to shed quite a bit thanks to their double-coat and the length of their hair. You can cut down on shedding around your home by using a de-shedding brush as you brush your dog regularly and by taking them to the groomer’s occasionally for a full trim and bath.
What Should a Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix Eat?
Your border collie Australian shepherd mix will likely need around 200 calories more per day than the average dog, thanks to their active and energetic nature. This pup will benefit from a diet of high-quality dry dog food occasionally supplemented by nutritional treats.
An average of 3 to 4 cups of food per day (split into two meals) is normal, but how many cups of food per day you feed your dog depends on the food you have, your dog’s specific needs, and their size. Consult with a veterinarian for the best feeding recommendations and advice.
What Health Problems Do Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Have?
Like most other dog breeds, the border collie Australian shepherd mix is prone to certain health conditions, and some of these conditions are inherited from their parent breeds. Health problems you might see in your pup include eye disorders, hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, deafness, skin cancer, sun sensitivity, and arthritis.
Taking your dog for annual vet visits and seeking out care whenever they show concerning symptoms is the best thing you can do to catch health problems ahead of time and provide your pup with the best care possible.
How Long Do Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Live?
The border collie Australian shepherd mix will have a life span that ranges between 10 and 17 years, though the exact age that your dog lives to depends on any health issues that occur and the care that you take of your pup. Healthier, happier pups tend to live longer, and regular veterinary visits can help catch health issues before they become more serious.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Expensive?
While they aren’t the most expensive cross-breed dog out there, a border collie Australian shepherd puppy will still cost you between $600 and $1,000, depending on your location and the breeder. You should also keep in mind that this pup is likely to be more expensive around rural areas where they are more in demand for working on farms.
How to Find a Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix Breeder?
If you want to purchase a border collie Australian shepherd mix, you will likely need to find a reputable breeder and join a waitlist for a puppy; internet searches are the best methods for this. Because this cross-breed dog is often in high demand, don’t be surprised that you have to wait to purchase one – good breeders will not overbreed their dogs.
Always check certifications and licenses when communicating with breeders and verify the conditions that the breeding dogs and their puppies are living in to ensure you avoid puppy mills or irresponsible breeding practices.
Can You Adopt a Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix?
Because the border collie Australian shepherd mix is considered a ‘designer’ dog breed, they are unlikely to turn up in shelters for adoption. However, there are some local and national organizations out there that are dedicated to rescuing and rehoming this pup. Perform an internet search and ask around other dog-owning friends to narrow down where you might be able to adopt this breed instead of purchasing a puppy from a breeder.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Purebred?
The border collie Australian shepherd mix is just that – a mix. This dog is known as a cross-breed and sometimes called a ‘designer’ dog, which means that they aren’t purebred, though the parents of this dog likely are.
Can You Show Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes?
Because the border collie Australian shepherd mix isn’t a purebred dog and isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club, they are ineligible to be shown at official AKC events. However, certain organizations are dedicated to shows for cross-breed dogs and developing breed standards for certain mixed breeds; you can look for these organizations both nationally and locally to see if there is anywhere to show your border collie Australian shepherd mix.
Are Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mixes Good for New Dog Owners?
Border collie Australian shepherd mixes are not a recommended breed for first-time dog owners. This pup requires a lot of effort and maintenance between regular exercise activities, training, and curbing behavioral issues that first-time dog owners may not be suited for. Plus, the border collie Australian shepherd mix can and will try to outsmart its owner, which means that having experience with dogs and proper training and care techniques will serve you well.
Is a Border Collie Australian Shepherd Mix the Right Dog for Me?
Review the bullet points below in order to get the facts about whether or not the border collie Australian shepherd mix is the right breed for you and your lifestyle.
The border collie Australian shepherd mix is the right dog for you if:
- You live in a large home and have plenty of access to the outdoors for recreational activities or a large backyard your dog can play in.
- You are an experienced dog owner and are prepared to train your dog with proper obedience techniques.
- You want an active, energetic, loyal pup to work with you outdoors or keep you company throughout your daily activities.
- You need an intelligent dog with herding instincts that can be easily trained.
The border collie Australian shepherd mix is not the right dog for you if:
- You live in an apartment, a small home, or other space that doesn’t have plenty of room indoors and outdoors for this pup to exercise.
- You are a new dog owner and inexperienced with the handling skills it takes to train and keep this dog healthy.
- You want a companion dog that is happy cuddling up on the couch and doesn’t need much exercise.
- You have other small animals or small children that may play roughly with your dog or would be susceptible to being herded by your dog – this takes training and plenty of exercise to avoid.