35-50 lbs
18-23"
United States
The English Borsetter Collie is an uncommon dog that is the result of breeding a Border Collie with an English Setter. Both dogs have an energetic temperament and were bred to work for a living. The English Borsetter Collie will inherit this physical energy and needs plenty of exercise and a fenced yard to prowl in. They are not recommended for apartment living because of this factor. The English Borsetter Collie is a gentle, calm dog who is ideal with children and very loving. But he may inherit the Border Collie's herding tendencies and may try herding your children and friends by nipping and barking at them, especially if the children are involved in noisy play. Luckily, this hybrid responds well to training and this habit can be overcome. These dogs can be sensitive in nature, interpreting your every command or expression. Early socialisation will help your dog gain confidence and establish appropriate behavior. Attractive, loving and very intelligent, the English Borsetter Collie is a beautiful companion dog.
The English Borsetter Collie has yet to establish its own unique history, so it is advisable to look at the parent breed history for clues to your dog’s temperament. The Border Collies is an ancient dog breed, which has been in existence since people first began using dogs to herd and guard sheep in Britain. They became valuable assets to their owners, and the best dogs were bred with each other. While the type of Collie varied depending on the area, the Border Collie's name reflects its partly Scottish heritage, while the word collie refers to sheepdog. Queen Victoria became an enthusiast of the breed around 1860, and then R.J. Lloyd Price began sheepdog trials. The Border Collie became recognised as a dog that excelled at sheep herding, responding to its owner's every command, whether it was hand signals or whistles. The Border Collie was recognised by the American Kennel Club in 1995. The English Setter is also a working dog that originated from France in 1500s, from a Spanish Pointer and the French Pointer. They were called Setting Spaniels because of the way they would crouch down after finding prey to allow the hunter to throw a net over it. In the early 1800s, they were brought to Great Britain where they were bred to be the dog we now know. A settler by the name of Sir Edward Laverack is credited to the development of the breed, and his dogs are the foundation stock for many of today’s top show animals. Today these dogs excel in hunting, tracking, retrieving, pointing, as watchdogs, and as agility champions.
The English Borsetter Collie is an attractive dog, and may display features of both its parents. They are long, lean working dogs, with a deep chest, and rounded shaped skull with a muzzle that is long and narrow. The nose has wide nostrils and can vary from black to brown. Teeth meet in a level or scissors bite. The eyes are large, round and very expressive. The English Borsetter Collie has strong straight front legs, and well-padded paws. Often the coat can feature straight silky feathering on the tail, legs, underside, chest and ears. The coat itself can vary from flat, silky and slightly wavy, to the double smooth or rough coat with the soft undercoat of the Border Collie. That is the beauty of the hybrid, each dog is unique in size, color and characteristics.
Regular brushing of the of the coat will remove any loose hair and will prevent any matting. The English Borsetter Collie may need daily brushing during the shedding season to minimise hair around the house. Bathe only as needed, about every four months unless he is dirty or has rolled in something unpleasant. Nails need clipping every month unless they wear them down, and the ears can be prone to infection so check them often and gently clean them out by wiping with a soft cloth and a special gentle pH-balanced ear cleaner to prevent problems. Use the grooming time to check for sores, rashes or infection. Get your dog used to having his teeth brushed as a puppy which will make life easier when they mature. A weekly examination and grooming will help you spot potential health issues early.
The English Borsetter Collie will either be a dynamo – full of energy and boisterous life, or they will inherit the English Setters quick, calm and quiet temperament. They may even be a bit of both, it is always hard to determine what characteristics a hybrid may inherit. One thing is for sure, it is a loyal, loving, somewhat sensitive in nature type dog. They are ideal family dogs as long as your family is an active one. Don’t expect these dogs to sit idle all day. If they don’t have enough mental and physical stimulation, you may find your nice yard cratered with holes as they dig around to try and find something to do. Or, they bark constantly and try to chase people and pets. They need daily exercise, at least two hours of action to burn off that energy. The English Borsetter Collie responds well to training, but requires calm, firm and confident owners to get the best from them due to their sensitive personality. They are highly intelligent and love attention and affection.
English Borsetter Collie is a dog that is known for its unlimited energy, stamina and working drive, so it responds best to an active family. This is not a dog that is happy to loaf around on the doorstep, they want action and if they are don’t get it they can become bored and develop problem behaviors. Highly trainable, this dog needs a good solid walk each day, plenty of games, tracking, water sports, obedience training and will happily run alongside you when you cycle. It is advisable to keep them on a leash as a scent trail may lure them away to investigate.
Written by Kathleen Egger
Published: 11/28/2017, edited: 02/24/2021
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