Recently, I visited a friend who had one of the most amazing doggies I have ever met. The dog was extremely intelligent, social and playful. I’m talking about the Borador.
What exactly is a Borador? The Borador is a hybrid dog that is a result of crossbreeding America’s most popular pooch, the Labrador Retriever, with America’s most intelligent dog, the Border Collie. Boradors are everything you want in a companion dog – energetic, curious, friendly, and very smart.
Before you head out looking for a breeder who can sell you this amazing canine, however, it is important that you first learn what to expect with this dog breed. How big do they get? How much do they cost? How is their temperament? How long do they live? In this article, we are going to cover all this. To start off, let’s start by looking at how big these doggies get.
The Borador is categorized as a medium sized dog. The size of a Borador falls in between that of its parents. They are usually larger than collies, but smaller than Labs.
The weight of a Borador will typically fall between 40 to 60 pounds, while their height falls between 16 to 24 inches.
Note, however, that size ultimately depends on the parents, and therefore, don’t be surprised if you come across a Borador that doesn’t fall within this range.
Your Lab Collie Mix puppy could take the appearance of any of its parents, or a blend of the two. Most Borador puppies will inherit the Lab’s happy face, the Collie’s dark eyes, and a broad head and neck.
Most Boradors will have a sturdy body with strong legs, owing to the working dog origins of both of its parents. The Lab was bred to help hunters retrieve downed game, while the Collie was bred to be a herding dog.
Your Borador puppy will have a double coat just like its parents. Most will have short to medium length hair that resembles the Collie’s. Despite having a double coat, Boradors are low maintenance doggies that are relatively easy to groom.
Most Boradors take on the bi- or tri-colored coat of their Border Collie parent, rather than the solid colors of the Lab. This means that your Collie Lab Mix puppy will most likely be black, with markings. The white markings usually appear on the face and chest.
The Lab lives up to 12 years, while the Border Collie can live up to 15 years. The life expectancy of the Borador will fall between 12 to 15 years.
In most cases, hybrids are usually healthier than their parents, so it is not surprising to see a Lab Collie Mix living longer than 15 years.
Even though crossbreeding minimizes the health issues of the Borador, this breed is still at a slight risk of experiencing some of the health problems that ail its parents. Here are some common health problems that affect Boradors:
This is a malformation of the hip and elbow joints that is common to both Labs and Collies. If your canine buddy is affected by this condition, moving around becomes laborious and painful.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition. The only thing that can be done is pain management.
As with most medium and large sized dogs, Boradors are at increased risk of bloat, which is also referred to as gastric dilation-volvulus.
The trick to keeping this commonly fatal condition at bay is to ensure that your pooch doesn’t eat too fast, that they don’t engage in intense physical activity right after feeding, and that they don’t take too much water after feeding.
Other health conditions that you should watch out for in Boradors include exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, skin infections and allergies, collie eye anomaly, cataracts, and epilepsy. If you notice anything that could be of concern, you should see a vet.
Before bringing any new pet to your home, there’s something that you must consider – cost. So, how much does a Border Collie Lab Mix cost?
Purchasing a Border Collie Lab Mix puppy is generally cheaper compared to many other designer dog breeds. Depending on the breeder you are going to purchase your Borador pup from, you can expect to pay between $200 and $500.
It is also possible to drive the costs lower by opting to adopt a Borador puppy from a rescue center or rehoming shelter, since many of these charge little to no fees for adoption.
If you are going to buy a Border Collie Labrador Mix puppy from a breeder, it is important to make sure that you do so from a reputable breeder.
A reputable will be very forthcoming with information about the pup you are interested in, will be ready to answer all your questions, and will also ask you questions to ascertain that you are capable of providing the pooch with good care.
A good breeder will also allow you to see the parents of the Borador puppy you are interested in, allow you to meet the pup multiple times to gauge compatibility, and provide you with relevant paperwork about the pup’s health, vaccinations, and checkups.
If you notice a breeder is not forthcoming with information, is pressuring you to make the purchase, or doesn’t want you to meet the pup’s parents, it is advisable that you find another breeder.
Another thing you need to know before adopting a Borador pup is what to expect from them in terms of behavior. So, are Lab Border Collie Mixes good dogs? Here’s what you should expect…
One thing you’ll quickly notice is that Boradors are very smart. Their intelligence comes from the Border Collie side of the family.
Border Collie Lab Mixes are also very playful and friendly, which is something they get from their Lab parent. Their high intelligence and eager to please nature makes Boradors very easy to train.
Boradors are a very social dog breed. They love being part of family activities, whether that is running around at the park or snuggling on the couch.
Boradors are not aggressive, and will get along well with both kids and other pets. Their outgoing nature also makes them very friendly to strangers, which makes them suitable as companion dogs, rather than guard dogs.
Border Collie Lab Mixes love being with their family at all times and being the center of attention. This means that they are not going to take it well if you leave them alone, and will often develop separation anxiety.
Therefore, these pooches are not suitable for people who are rarely home.
Due to the working dog origins of the Border Collie and the Lab, Boradors have lots of energy. Therefore, you should be ready to give your four legged friend lots of exercise, such as taking them for long walks, swimming, and playing fetch.
If you suffer from allergies, you definitely want to know whether Boradors are hypoallergenic.
Unfortunately, Lab Border Collie mixes do shed, which makes them unsuitable for you if you’re allergic.
Border Collie Lab Mix have short hair, and therefore, they do not shed as much as a purebred Border Collie. This means they can get by without daily brushing. Brushing one or two times a week is sufficient.
Since they have a double coat, you will need a brushing tool that can get to both coats, such as the Furminator Undercoat Tool. The best part about the Furminator Undercoat Tool is that you can choose one that is designed for short haired doggies, just like your Borador.
Even with regular brushing, you’ll still come across furs and hairs all over your house, which is why you need a good vacuum.
Based on my experience, the best vacuum for cleaning after a pet is the iRobot Roomba i3+. Simply give it a voice command to get it started and it will handle the rest.
Boradors don’t require baths every now and then. You should only give your furry buddy a bath if they’ve been playing outside and made themselves dirty, or if you detect an odor. However, you’ll notice that unlike most other dogs, Boradors are very fond of water.
When bathing your dear fido, avoid using shampoos meant for humans, since these contain irritants. Instead, go for dog-appropriate shampoos, such as the Seamus Cherry Blossom Whitening Dog Shampoo. This shampoo is professionally formulated for pooches with sensitive skin.
Do Boradors Like Swimming? Yes, Boradors love swimming and generally being in water. This is a trait they get from the Lab side of the family, since Labradors were bred to be fishermen’s companions and are therefore good swimmers. Actually, you will notice that most Collie Lab mixes have webbed feet, just like Labs.
Do Border Collies Shed More Than Labs? Yes. While both the Lab and Border Collies have double coats, Border Collies have a thicker double coat, and therefore shed more than Labs. This means Border Collies need more frequent grooming compared to Labs. If your Borador takes after the Collie parent, they’ll be a heavy shedder as well.
What Is The Life Expectancy Of A Border Collie Mix? Border Collie Mixes have an average life expectancy of 13 years. Border Collies live for between 10 to 15 years, and most Border Collie Mixes will have a similar lifespan. However, depending on the other breed that has bred with the collie, the life expectancy can go higher or lower.
Pete Decker is the Lead Editor at The Goody Pet. He is a passionate wildlife educator and loves to share his experiences on pets. During his free time, you can find him cozying around his 2 adorable Labradors (Tobi & Kobi).
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