25-42 lbs
16-22"
United States
The Border Sheepdog is a mix between the Border Collie and the Shetland Sheepdog. Because this breed is so new, there isn’t a lot of information on its history. However, we do have a lot of great information about his parent breeds. The Border Collie is a small to medium sized dog that is very athletic and intelligent, typically ranging in a wide variety of colors. The Shetland Sheepdog is right in the same ball park of the Border Collie when it comes to agility and speed, especially when it comes to agility activities. This breed is small and athletic, with long flowing fur and bright eyes. Because the Border Sheepdog has not been around for very long, the appearance and personality will vary greatly depending on which parent breed’s genes are more dominant. In general, the Border Sheepdog will have an attractive blend of both parent’s attributes; with long fur, tall ears, and multiple varieties of coat colors and markings. Because both the Border Collie and the Sheltie are high energy working dogs, the Border Sheepdog is more often than not a dog that requires a lot of exercise and tends to do better with a more suburban type lifestyle.
While we don’t know a lot about the Border Sheepdog’s origin story, we do have a lot of information about how his parent breeds got started. The Border Collie is without a doubt one of the most intelligent herding dogs alive. They were created somewhere between Scotland and England in the 1800’s and were bred with the intention of herding flocks. This breed excelled at its job and had the ability to think independently, caring for the flocks out in the hill country. The Border Collie was admitted to the American Kennel Club in the year 1995 and have ever since been able to be in shows. There are two different lines of the breed: one for showing and one for working. These dogs are incredibly smart, easy to train, but not for the faint of heart. The Shetland Sheepdog from the Shetland Islands has unknown origin but has theories suggesting the Sheltie may actually be a blend of many different breeds such as the Pomeranian, large Collie, and Nordic breeds. One of the most fitting nicknames for this breed is the “Fairy Dog”, which is perfect due to their smaller size, playful nature, and wispy beautiful fur. The Shelties vary in size, sometimes even in the same litter due to the fact that there are so many different parent breeds included in their background. The American Kennel Club recognized this breed in the year 1911 and the Sheltie has risen in popularity ever since. From the beginning, the Shetland Sheepdog was often bred with Collies in order to get a breed that was a more consistent size and look. When combining the Border Collie and the Shetland Sheepdog, you may end up with a wide variety of sizes, colors, and personalities for the Border Sheepdog.
The Border Sheepdog’s appearance can be difficult to determine based on how many different varieties his parent breeds can come in. The typical Border Sheepdog may have tall ears that are fringed in hair, a long and soft coat that can come in a variety of different colors, and can range in size from quite small to medium. Their eyes are either light or dark brown and full of life and intelligence. Border Collies are known for their intimidating stare that causes herds to move, so be aware that your Border Sheepdog may also stare you or other things down in order to force its will upon them. There is also the rare possibility of blue eyes occurring in the Border Sheepdog, however if that happens, one or both ears may be deaf. The Border Sheepdog does best in mild climates due to his double coat and tends to shed often.
The Border Sheepdog is a relatively low maintenance breed. Because of his undercoat, he tends to shed moderately throughout the year with a rather larger shed twice a year. The best way to keep his long, soft fur in top condition is to brush it thoroughly at least twice a week with an undercoat rake, a slicker brush, and a pin brush. Bathing only needs to happen occasionally or when your dog gets especially dirty. Besides brushing and bathing, be sure to trim your Border Sheepdog’s nails every few weeks or when you can hear them clicking against the floor.
By combining the personalities of the Border Collie and the Sheltie, you may perhaps have the most dynamite combination in history. This is because both breeds are extremely intelligent, very athletic, and are not designed at all for just lazing around the house. While extremely easy to train with patience, it is of the utmost importance that a Border Sheepdog owner knows what they are getting into and is determined enough to handle it. This dog will not be able to just be left outside to his own devices and will most certainly not be able to handle being trapped inside the house all day. In order to properly train this hybrid dog and keep him happy and content, you will need to spend a lot of time training and spending quality time with him. Both the Border Collie and the Sheltie are very attached to their owners and are eager to please. They do well with older children and animals, however, be prepared to experience herding instincts directed to others if your Border Sheepdog is not trained properly. This is a natural instinct that will need to be curbed. Because both parent breeds are meant to be guard dogs as well, suspicion of strangers may happen initially and then recede once the dog gets more comfortable. Lastly, the Sheltie is known to bark often, so more suburban areas are best for your Border Sheepdog if he takes after that specific side of the gene pool. While the Border Sheepdog will be a handful, if proper training and socialization takes place young, you will have an amazing herding, show, or companion dog that is perfect for the athletic individual.
Because the Border Sheepdog has extremely active and intelligent parent breeds, he is going to need a lot of physical and mental stimulation throughout the day. This includes activities such as intense training, jogging, biking, hiking, long walks, and playing a lot of fetch in the yard. Thankfully, because this breed has a double-coated fur, he will do just fine getting his exercise outside during the winter months. Be sure that you get your Border Sheepdog plenty of exercise so that he will not become destructive. High energy dogs that don’t have a way to release their energy in a productive way tend to destroy things that you value. However, if you can spend 1 to 2 hours a day giving your Border Sheepdog good mental and physical stimulation, he will be perfectly content and happy. On top of this, due to the Border Collie’s herding instincts, without proper training, your Border Sheepdog may end up herding young children, other animals, or adults that do not have authority over him. Be sure to train for a significant amount of time each day in order to curb these behaviors properly.
Written by Darlene Stott
Published: 10/06/2017, edited: 02/24/2021
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