Bordoodle Breed Guide

What is a Bordoodle Dog?

The Bordoodle dog is a cross between a purebred Border Collie and a purebred Poodle, also known as a Border Collie Poodle mix! Every single Bordoodle is unique because it is impossible to guarantee the traits you’ll get in a mixed breed. But, Border Doodles are often highly intelligent, friendly, and active.

• Popularity: Growing
• Purpose: Companion
• Weight: 30-60lbs
• Height: 15-22 inches
• Temperament: Intelligent, playful, energetic
• Coat: Wavy to curly

Bordoodle History

The Bordoodle is quite a new mixed breed. They were bred as pet, or companion, dogs. Like many ‘designer dogs’ their exact origins are unclear. But we can learn a lot about these crosses from their parents’ histories.

Poodles were originally developed in Germany to work with hunters as retrieving water dogs. The curly Poodle coat served a practical purpose in those early days, protecting the dogs from cold water. In fact, the iconic Poodle haircut was first designed to protect certain areas of the body from the cold.

A member of the herding group, the Border Collie was developed in Britain as a livestock herding dog in the rugged border counties of England and Scotland. Border Collies are often referred to as one of the most intelligent dog breeds. They are keen and focused herders with a very strong work ethic!

In recent years breeders have begun crossing the Border Collie and Poodle. They hope to breed pups with the intelligence and distinctive coloration of the Border Collie, and the low shedding coat of the Poodle.

How Big Are Bordoodle Dogs?

Today’s Poodle comes in three sizes: standard, miniature, and toy. Most Borderdoodles are a mix between the Border Collie and the larger, standard Poodle.

Of course, any size Poodle can be used. If your Bordoodle has a mini or toy Poodle parent they are likely to be much smaller.

	Border Collie	Poodle (Standard)	Bordoodle
Size	Medium	Large	Medium to large
Height	18 – 22 inches	15+ inches	15 – 22 inches
Weight	30 – 55 lbs	40 – 50 lbs (female) 60 – 70 lbs (male)	30 – 60 lbs

What Do They Look Like?

The appearance of a mix breed dog is always unpredictable. They could look like either of their parent breeds, or anything in between. It will vary from dog to dog, but you can be confident they will have long fur with at least a slight wave, be medium height and a relatively slim build.

Expect your Borderdoodle’s coat to be medium length with a curly or wavy texture. A Border Collie Poodle mix will usually have brown eyes. Their coat can come in any combination of colors and patterns, including the classic black and white Border Collie markings.

Bordoodle Grooming

Border Collies can have a long or a short coat. Either way, they will have a soft dense undercoat that sheds heavily, seasonally. They also have a background level of daily shedding. Rough-coated dogs may have longer fur with feathering on the legs, chest, and underside, Whereas smooth-coated Collies have shorter hair with only a small amount of feathering.

Border Collies with either coat length require once or twice weekly brushing with a slicker brush. Daily brushing may be needed during shedding season.

A Poodle’s coat is curly and dense. It is relatively high maintenance when not clipped short. A Poodle wearing its full coat will require regular professional grooming, which is why many owners keep their coats trimmed. Poodles do not have an undercoat like the Border Collie, which means they don’t have a heavy period of seasonal shedding.

Coat Care

The exact amount of general care that your Border Doodle mix needs will depend on the traits they inherit from their parents. But, whether their coat is curly like the Poodle, or straight like the Border Collie, you’ll need to groom them regularly.

During grooming sessions, you can check their ears and teeth too. Make sure you trim their nails regularly to avoid any split or broken nails. And, if you exercise your Bordoodle outside a lot, especially in long grass, check them regularly for pests like ticks.

Shedding

Those with Poodle-like coats will shed less visibly. But this is because shedding fur is getting caught in their tight curls. This means tangles and knots will develop a lot more easily, which can be painful for your dog.

Regular grooming is vital if your dog has a Poodle-like coat. Many owners prefer taking their dog to a professional groomer regularly, and trimming their coat to make it more manageable. But it will entirely depend on the coat your dog inherits.

Are Bordoodles Hypoallergenic?

Although Poodles have a reputation for being hypoallergenic, there are no guarantees with a Border Collie Poodle mix. In fact, there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog. All dogs have allergens in their fur, skin dander, and saliva – even Poodles! Some dog breeds just shed less than others.

Poodles do not shed often. In addition, their tightly curled coat will trap any hair or dander as it’s shed, which is why Poodles need frequent grooming. However, as we know, the Border Collie sheds moderately all year round. And, their straight fur won’t catch shedding hair and dander. So, if you have allergies, be sure to spend some time with a Bordoodle before getting one.

Bordoodle Temperament

Like their appearance, your Bordoodle’s temperament can favor one parent breed over the other, or be a perfect mix. But, either way, your dog will be intelligent, like both parent breeds.

In general, Border Collie Poodle mix dogs are also loving, playful, and energetic. So, they usually do well in active families with children. Let’s take a closer look at the variety your puppy could inherit.

Poodles have been a favorite companion animal for many years. Even though they originally started as a hunting breed! Poodles are active, proud, and intelligent dogs. This is true no matter their size. Despite their smaller size, Miniature Poodles are just as energetic as Standard Poodles.

The Border Collie breed started life as a working dog. Many modern Border Collies are still working, herding dogs. They are extremely high energy. So, their intensity level may be more than an experienced owner can handle.

Natural Instincts

Working Poodles would hunt and retriever ducks. Working Border Collies would herd sheep alongside their owners. There are some important instincts that come with these original roles.

Hunting breeds, like the Poodle, often have a chase instinct when they see smaller animals. To minimise this, practice a strong recall. You can also walk your Bordoodle on a leash, and exercise him in enclosed areas when he’s outside off the leash.

Herding breeds, like Border Collies, may herd small animals or young kids that run around a lot. They may nip at heels, which can be uncomfortable for small animals and children. These instincts are something to consider before getting a Bordoodle.

Bordoodle Socialization

Socialization is extremely important for any dog. Particularly one with the chance of strong hunting or herding instincts like the Bordoodle.

When your puppy is young, expose it to as many different new things and places as possible. Make sure all of these experiences are positive. This will help your pup grow into a happy and friendly adult.

Training and Exercise

Because they’re so smart, Bordoodles are also highly trainable. Training your pup is a great way to keep them entertained, since intelligent dogs can get bored more easily. And, positive reward training will increase the strong bond between you and your Border Doodle.

Both Border Collies and Poodles are athletic and intelligent. So, they need lots of exercise and activities to keep them happy. This pretty much guarantees that your Bordoodle will be the same.

If you don’t have sheep to herd, activities like agility trials are a must. This mix will love being outdoors with you. Whether it’s during an intense play session, or on a hike together!

Bordoodle Health and Care

Most purebred dogs have some inherited health conditions and the Border Collie and Poodle are no exception. Mixed breeds may be healthier, thanks to their larger gene pool. But, they can still be prone to the same issues as their parents. Bordoodle health risks to be aware of:

Brain:	Epilepsy, seizures
Eyes:	Collie eye anomaly
Joints:	Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia
Brain:	Early onset deafness, exercise induced collapse, Addison’s disease, sebaceous adenitis, bloat, von Willebrand’s disease

What is the Bordoodle Life Expectancy?

The Bordoodle’s life expectancy will usually fall somewhere between its parent breeds. According to a study into dog lifespans, Border Collies live an average of 12.25 years, and Standard Poodles live an average of 12 years. So, you can expect the average Bordoodle to live around this long too.

Rescuing a Bordoodle

If you’re willing to adopt an adult dog, Bordoodle rescue can be a great option. To find a Border Collie Poodle mix rescue dog, check with local breed-specific rescue groups for both the Border Collie and Poodle parents.

Many of these rescues will take in mixes, as long as they have one of those parent breeds. Rescue dogs are often cheaper than puppies, and may have some basic training. But, be aware that some older dogs may have behavioral issues.

Finding a Bordoodle Puppy

Since both the Border Collie and Standard Poodle parent breeds can be prone to a lot of health issues, you should only consider reputable Bordoodle breeders. Look for local, small scale breeders who welcome potential clients into their homes and kennel facilities. They should be happy to let you see the living conditions of your puppy, meet the parents and littermates, and see all genetic health test results.

Look for Bordoodle puppies that are a healthy weight with no protruding belly. Their eyes, nose, and rear end should be free from discharge. A healthy coat and blemish-free skin is a must. As well as a good temperament. The mom’s temperament should also be friendly, with no signs of aggression.

A good breeder will show you proof of genetic health testing from organizations such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and the Canine Eye Registry Foundation. They may also have test results from private and veterinary school DNA testing laboratories.

Where to Avoid

Since mixes are so popular, there are risks when searching for a Bordoodle puppy. Particularly if you see puppies advertised on the internet, or in retail pet shops.

There’s a chance these puppies may come from puppy mills. These are large breeding operations that only focus on profit, rather than the health and care of their puppies. Puppy mills generally will not invest in genetic health testing like responsible breeders. So, there can be a higher risk that puppies will inherit common health issues.

The Cost

As demand for Bordoodle puppies grows, it’s likely that puppies will be more expensive. Waiting lists for puppies may also be longer. Bordoodle puppies from reputable breeders will often cost somewhere between $900 to as much as $3500.

Price will depend on demand, the quality of the parents, certain desirable traits (like coat type and color), and location. Remember, puppies from puppy mills will often be cheaper upfront. So, search for reputable breeders that can guarantee the health of their puppies.