Border collie golden retriever

Is a Golden Retriever Border Collie mix the right dog for you?

A Golden Retriever Border Collie mix is typically a happy, friendly, smart dog that is easy to train and exhibits the best traits of its parent breeds.

What could be better than blending two popular dog breeds? In this case, a Golden Retriever Border Collie mix becomes a Golden Border Retriever or Coltriever.

On the one hand, you have the golden retriever, which is a smart, intelligent, playful dog, and then on the other, you have the border collie, which is also smart and hard-working.

Today, I want to share everything there is to know about the mix. We’re going to explore the dog’s size, health, training and much more.

If you’re curious to find some more information about a Golden Retriever Border Collie mix, then keep reading to find out everything you need to know.

Start with a look at the parent breeds

Golden Retrievers date back to the early 1900s where they were used to retrieve shot waterfowl during games put together for Lord Tweedmouth. The golden retriever was bred from the yellow retriever and now extinct Tweed water spaniel, which explains why this dog is so intelligent and useful in water, too!

The American Kennel Club first recognized the breed in 1925, and since the 1970s, it regularly ranks high on the popular breed list.

You can expect an adult male Golden Retriever to stand 24 inches tall and weigh about 75 pounds. Females typically are smaller.

Goldens are full of energy and love and require early training and socialization.

Border Collies are intelligent, affectionate, and loyal dogs. The Border Collie originated in Northumberland, on the border of England and Scotland and got its name from that location. The breed was developed to herd livestock, especially sheep.

Male Border Collies typically stands 22 inches tall and weigh 44 pounds. Females usually are slightly smaller

Who created the Golden Retriever Border Collie mix?

Golden Retriever Border Collie mix dogs are smart and easy to train because they will follow instructions and learn new tasks.

There is no hardcore evidence as to who first created the Coltrriever or Border Collie Golden Retriever mix. The AKC has not recognized the breed, and you’ll have a hard time finding reputable breeders who produce them.

On the plus side, you’re more likely to find these loveable dogs at shelters. If you decided to bring one home, you could be guaranteed that you’ll be getting a good dog.

Because mixed breeds typically exhibit the best traits of their parent breeds, these dogs are friendly, loving, and caring.

Temperament

This dog is entirely suitable for any family or single person, too. Youll find that they are fun, caring, and loving dogs. They are smart and easy to train because they will follow instructions and learn new tasks.

They do, however, tend to be a bit clingy and like plenty of attention from their families. If you get a Golden Retriever Border Collie mix, be prepared to spend lots of time with them or schedule a dog walker or other caregiver to interact with the dog during the day.

The dogs typically become protective of their owners and will notify you anytime there is a stranger at the door. You’ll never be dissatisfied with the Border Collie Golden Retriever mix because the dogs are loving and always willing to please their owners.

Health issues

Unfortunately, this mixed breed also picks up the health traits of its parent breeds. The dogs are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, which is a common problem for Golden Retrievers. It’s crucial to keep your dog active and to maintain a healthy weight.

The dogs also are prone to heart conditions and cancer, just like their parents’ breeds. And because Goldens can experience eye conditions such as juvenile cataracts, pigmentary uveitis, and progressive retinal atrophy, so do any mixes that involve the breed.

Training

The Golden Retriever Border Collie mix does well if you start obedience training when the dogs are young. They are smart dogs who quickly learn to follow commands.

This mix does well if you start obedience training when the dogs are young. They are smart dogs who quickly learn to follow commands.

Because the dogs are open to learning new skills, they also tend to excel at agility training.

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Grooming

The Golden Retriever Border Collie mix typically needs regular brushing and weekly ear cleaning to avoid ear infections.

This dog will shed a lot, so you need to brush your dog to prevent having hair all over the house. Avoid bathing them too often to avoid drying out their skin.

Brush their teeth daily and trim their nails every four to six weeks.

A cool dog to bring home

Overall I’d say that the Golden Retriever Border Collie mix is a cool dog to have. It’s new, it’s trendy, and this breed mix creates fun, loving, and caring family dogs.

Whether you’re a family of five or just you and another, this will make a great addition to the family. Just be sure to start training early, and you should have a smooth ride with this dog.

Rachael Summers is a writer, pet lover, and regular coffee drinker who shares her tips and tricks online for taking the best care of your dog. She provides her advice on her site, Retrieversareus.com.

The Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix dog, also known as the Golden Border Collie, is one of the most beautiful dogs ever known to man that results from cross breeding two of the world’s most popular working dog breeds together, the Border Collie dog and the Golden Retriever dog.

The Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix dog is officially recognized by the Dog Registry of America (DRA) as being a designer dog breed, and not a pure breed in and of itself.

Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix Appearance

Size, Height & Weight

The average Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix fully grown adult dog will tend to weigh anywhere from 45 to 75 lbs and stand at around 24 to 25 inches tall, both of which make them a relatively larger than average dog in terms of size.

Coat

The coat of the Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix dog is a fairly dense one that will usually come in colors of black, dark brown, light brown, golden and white.

Their coats can either come in one solid color, or a mix between two of the aforementioned colors. It all depends on what they take from either/both parents when it comes to their coat.

Some Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix dogs will get a coat that looks somewhat like their Border Collie parents, being a rough and corded one, but the majority of these dogs will have a coat much like their Golden Retriever parents.

Golden Retriever Border Collie Mix Temperament

The Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix is truly a blessing when it comes to training them, as both of their parents are two of the sweetest, most obedient and easy going dogs out there, all characteristics they pass on to their mixed breed offspring.

One thing you have to be very wary about is that this dog, without the necessary socialization and training from a young age, is very likely of growing up to be a very shy dog.

They just can’t help it as it’s part of the sweetheart package they get from both of their parents.

So, and in order to make sure they don’t grow up and become adult dogs that are submissive and shy all the time, socialize and train them from a young age so they get used to the company of other humans and other animals without being submissive dogs.

Watchdog & Guard Dog

Even though the Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix is a fairly attentive and alert dog that’s well aware of its surroundings and can easily notice when an intruder is around or when something’s going on that isn’t really right, they’re not very good watchdogs or guard dogs that you can really rely on.

These two abilities don’t seem to be things the Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix really excels in doing, since they can be very friendly dogs with someone they just saw for the first time and haven’t met anytime before in their lives.

For a watchdog and a guard dog, this is not something you want in your dog because an intruder can easily get on their good side and cheat this dog into thinking they’re good guys.

Exercise

This dog has quite high levels of energy in them and will need to get a decent amount of physical activity every day to channel these energy levels the right way.

The favorite form of exercise this dog would love you for giving it on a daily basis, and will never get bored of, is going together for long walks.

This is the perfect time for you to further bong together as dog and owner, and they’ll love you for giving them what they need to remain happy.

In general, around 90 minutes of exercise and physical activity is usually enough to keep this dog content for the day, however some owners find themselves having to give this dog up to 180 minutes of exercise a day to keep them happy!

This is one of those situations where you’re going to have to start off slow and gradually increase the exercise time you give them as you go, up until you reach that sweet spot that you can stick to.

Border Collie Retriever Mix Living Conditions

If you’re mainly looking for a family companion dog that will make your life all that much more beautiful by being next to your side and sharing life’s most precious moments with you, this dog sure has the sweet, friendly and playful nature that perfectly fits that profile.

This dog gets along tremendously well with young children and other pets you may already have at home, which is one of the main reasons why they are seen as tremendous family dogs.

But with all this affection, friendliness and sweet heartedness comes a point you should be aware of, that this dog becomes a very miserable dog if left alone and neglected by its owners and family members for a long time.

They are happiest when among the people they love, and are saddest when away from them for a long time, as they get easily bored and start to become very anxious.

However, if you’re looking for something more along the lines of a dog that will excel at working dog tasks, then there are other options out there that will be better for you than the Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix.

One of the things we (and everyone else obviously) love about this cross breed is the fact that even though they are considered to be large sized dogs, you don’t necessarily have to have a large backyard at home for them to be able to comfortably live on your property.

The majority of large sized dogs do terribly in indoor apartments and require properties that have a large backyard in them so they can stay there for the majority of the day, but the Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix dog is perfectly fine living both in an indoor apartment as well as on a property with a large backyard as part of it.

You have to make sure you give them the daily amount of exercise they need outdoors though, or else forget what we said about this being a good dog indoors!

One of the things you also have to take into consideration is that this dog REALLY loves to dig, so this can be an issue if you have a backyard at home.

Not only do they love to dig, but they (for some reason) also love to get themselves inside big mud holes and play around in them, getting themselves really dirty in the process.

So the moment you’re walking them around and see a mud hole, get ready to do your job to make sure they don’t get in there before it’s too late!

And finally, if you’ve been asking yourself what weather conditions this dog does best in, they are known to do fine in all weather conditions and don’t have a specific objection or preference to one against the other.

Golden Border Collie Health

In general, the Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix will most often inherit a couple of health problems from either/both of their parents, but keep in mind that this doesn’t always have to happen.

Some Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix dogs don’t inherit any health problems at all, while others are unlucky and are plagued with many of the health problems mentioned in the list below.

• Cardiovascular disease
• Von Willebrand disease
• Skin problems
• Eye problems
• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Allergies

Veterinary visits and check ups are absolutely vital with the Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix dog because of their potential for developing health problems that didn’t seem to have the potential of developing before, so you have to keep on top of the situation at all times.

In general, the Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix dog is expected to live a lifespan lasting anywhere from a minimum of 10 years to a maximum of 15 years, even though some Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix may live a little less than that or a little more than that.

Exceptions do exist among all purebreds and cross-breed dogs alike, and this dog is no different.

Golden Retriever Collie Mix Care

When it comes to taking care of the Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix and properly grooming it, this dog’s grooming needs are fairly high-maintenance ones that might not be very suitable for new dog owners who don’t have much experience with grooming dogs.

So, if that’s the case, don’t be afraid to have a professional groomer take care of all the grooming practices that your dog should have done to them.

You’ll have plenty of time to learn all about these practices down the line

First off in this section, and as far as shedding is concerned, you can expect this dog to shed quite a decent amount of hair, given the fact that both its parents are known to be moderate to excessive shedders, especially their Golden Retriever parent.

This is why you should be brushing this dog’s coat on a regular basis with a short and gentle-on-the-skin brush in order to minimize their dead hair falling off all over your house.

Also, the Border Collie Golden Retriever Mix may be at a higher chance than other dogs of developing ear infections, which is why you should frequently clean their ears in a proper way.

If you don’t know how and haven’t done so before with any other dog, let a professional groomer take care of this for you.

As for the other usual grooming practices you’ll need to give this dog, check out the list below.

– Give them a bath only when they need one, as excessive showers will damage their coats with time.

Also use a specialized dog shampoo and not a shampoo made for human consumption.

– Have their nails trimmed every now and then when they start to grow way too long, as not only does this make them look bad, it can also greatly affect the day to day activities and movements they usually carry out with their paws and feet.

– Brush their teeth around once every day to minimize the risks of them getting affected with dental problems, and be sure to use a special toothbrush and toothpaste that have been made especially for dogs and not ones that have been made for humans.

Unique Characteristics of the Border Collie-Golden Retriever Mix

From small to big and hairless to the hairiest, all dogs are equally adorable. Once such adorable canine is the mixed breed of Border Collie and Golden Retriever.

Did You Know?

The talent of this hybrid dog is guarding, obedience, agility, and military work. It falls in the group herding and sporting, owing to the parent breeds.

Owning a dog is a big commitment. They are demanding and need full care and attention just as small babies do. They need to be trained and groomed regularly. Dogs need to be properly cared for no matter what commitments you may have or if you are the busiest with your life. You can’t stop caring for your dog. The mix of purebred Border Collie and purebred Golden Retriever is also called the Golden Border Retriever. It is recognized by the Dog Registry of America, Inc.

If you are looking for a playful and lovable, yet intelligent and alert dog, then golden border retriever is the one for you. It is generally good with small children and family, and makes an amazing pet. If you are thinking of getting a golden border retriever, make sure you are available to cater to its needs and demands. Make sure you can provide it a suitable and good environment to live in.

The Border Collie is a beauty-with-brains dog whereas Golden Retriever has a reputation of being lovable, playful, and a loyal dog. Now you must have gotten an idea what your Golden Border Retriever is going to be like. This wonderful hybrid inherits many positive traits from both the parents. It is classified as the herding and sporting type. Herding dogs have a strange ability of reacting to whistles and commands, which is why they are trained in herding. This herding type is inherited from Border Collie parent, which are herders by instinct. Hence, the offspring also exhibits same qualities. The sporting breeds help in hunting birds and other games. This particular type has been inherited from Golden Retriever parent, which explains the energetic and playful nature of the offspring. Read on to find out more about your pet.

Border Collie Golden Retriever

Characteristics of Border Collie and Golden Retriever Mix

Golden Border Retrievers are medium-sized dogs, and have the appearance as that of the parents.

They are usually suitable for all climate-types.

They have a good built and usually grow up to 24-25 inches in height and weight up to 45-75 pounds.

The eyes are almond-shaped and deep.

The ears are flappy, and muzzle is medium in size and a bit built-up on the lips.

The coat is rough, dense, and water-resistant from outside and soft from inside.

The tail is slightly long and turned to the back.

They come in different color combinations of black, white, brown, and golden depending upon the parents.

Temperament

These dogs have the dominant features of its Border Collie parent. They are agile, intelligent, and energetic.

They are always alert and attentive to their surroundings, and will inform the family of any possible threat approaching.

They have a high stamina and endurance. Therefore, they will need a lot of exercise and playful activities.

They are friendly to all the people around them.

They are affectionate, patient, lovable, and loyal, which makes them an excellent pet and family dogs.

They are good and playful with children and other pets, the quality inherited from Golden Retriever parent.

Make sure you don’t leave them alone for a longer time. They may get bored, anxious, and lonely.

Training and Activities

Golden Border Retrievers are easy to train. Improper training may lead your dog to show behavioral problems like digging, licking, and chewing.

They have the dominant qualities of Border Collies. They have immense stamina and require enough physical activities, especially daily walks and hard exercises.

They like to play fetch-the-ball and other playing things like Frisbee.

Having acquired energetic and playful traits from Golden Retrievers, it is advisable to take them for long walks, running, or jogging daily so that your dog remains healthy. If they won’t get enough exercise, they may become obese causing further health problems.

They enjoy swimming in ponds and lakes, and getting dirty in mud. You might even find them coming home dirty enough from their walks. They love to dig around. So, make sure you have ample space in your garden for them to play around and they don’t go overboard with digging.

Grooming

Having a dog in the house means extra work; keeping the house and furniture clean at all times, washing and maintaining hygiene, and bathing the dog regularly too.

The parents of this mixed breed shed their coat regularly and profusely, especially Golden Retrievers, which do so to a greater extent. So naturally, you can expect your mixed breed to also shed enough.

Brush your pooch’s coat regularly with a solid bristle brush to control excessive shedding.

Clean your dog’s ears on a regular basis to keep ear infections at bay.

Take your dog to vet for regular grooming.

Common Health Problems

Golden border retrievers can inherit some health problems from their parent breeds, although it also depends on how healthy the parents are.

The common health issues noticed in parents are epilepsy, hip dysplasia, heart problems, cancer, deafness, eye defects, skin allergies, and Von Willebrand disease.

The best way to avoid all these problems are by closely examining your dog and keeping a track of its behavior, and also by keeping a check on what food is being fed.

Make sure you regularly visit the vet to keep your dog free from health issues.

And most important – better health care makes a dog healthy.

Sounds such a happy, friendly, and playful dog isn’t it? Golden border retrievers make amazing canine pals and excellent pets. They can brighten up your life within seconds and bring an instant smile to your face. Take proper care of it and this little (Okay, not so little!) pooch will shower you with immense love and happiness. You must give great consideration before choosing your dog, as it’s going to be with you and your family for at least next 10-12 years.

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