According to “The Intelligence of Dogs” by Stanley Coren, Border Collies are the most intelligent dog breed. They are followed closely by Poodles, which take up the number 2 spot. It, therefore, should come as no surprise that the pairing of these two smart pooches is one of the most popular designer dog combinations.
A Bordoodle is a mixed-breed dog developed from a pairing between Border Collies and Poodles. Any size of Poodle may be used in this mix, but Standard and Miniature Poodles are the most commonly used due to their closeness in dimensions to the Border Collie.
There is no denying the fact that the Bordoodle is one of the smartest mixed dog breeds out there. However, that is not all they have to offer.
In the sections below, we shall take a closer look at all the quirks that make the Bordoodle special and what you should prepare for if you are interested in owning one of these doggies.
How Big Does A Bordoodle Grow?
Bordoodles are good dogs to get if you want a medium-sized dog that is unique-looking without being too flashy. As with any other mixed breed dog, the Bordoodle takes after different physical features from both the Border Collie and the Poodle parents.
Due to the differences in appearance between purebred Poodles and Border Collies, it may be a bit difficult to predict the appearance of the resulting mix. To help you out, here is a summary of some of the common physical trait possibilities for first-generation or F1 Bordoodle mixes.
Size
The size of the Bordoodle depends on the size of the Poodle used. The average height is 12 to 22 inches, and the average weight range can be anywhere from 30 to 60 lbs.
It goes without saying that Bordoodles bred from Standard Poodles will be much larger than those from Miniature or Toy Poodle varieties.
Coat Type
If the Bordoodle takes after the Poodle’s coat type, they will have a dense coat with curly, coarse fur. This gives them the advantage of being hypoallergenic and generally easier to take care of.
On the other hand, if the Bordoodle takes after the Border Collie’s coat traits, the fur will be medium-long, wavy, and soft to the touch.
Coat Colors
The possible colors that a Bordoodle can vary greatly and depend on genetics. The pooch may have a single-tone coat with colors common to Poodles. These include black, white, brown, apricot, and red.
The dog may also be two-toned like most Border Collies with their characteristic black and white coats. They can also inherit color and marking variations like merle, sable, or even brindle.
How Long Do Bordoodles Live For?
Bordoodles can live for 12 to 15 years on average. For Bordoodle mixes made using Toy Poodle varieties, the lifespan can be much longer, with some living for as much as 18 years if healthy and well taken care of.
As mixed breed pooches, Bordoodles are typically healthy. However, there are a few common health issues in this mixed dog breed you may have to keep an eye out for. Here are some of these health problems.
Epilepsy
Bordoodles are prone to developing inherited seizure disorders like epilepsy. These cause seizures throughout the mixed doggy’s life with varying triggers.
Fortunately, this epilepsy can be managed with medication and regular vet visits to help give the dog as normal a life as possible.
Allergies
Bordoodles descend from two purebred dogs that are prone to a number of allergies. Seasonal allergies to things like pollen and dust are some of the most common. It could also be allergic reactions to infestation by parasites like mites and fleas.
Obesity
Despite being very active dogs, Bordoodles are still very likely to develop obesity. This is largely due to their big appetites and the fact that some of them can be very lazy if allowed to be.
Being overweight comes with a number of health complications, including heart disease, hormonal issues, and bone and joint diseases like arthritis.
Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
Both Poodles and Border Collies are likely to develop hip and elbow dysplasia which are conditions where the two very important sockets fail to form normally. The resulting instability affects the dog’s mobility and may eventually result in complications like arthritis.
How To Take Care Of Border Collie Poodle Mixes?
A Bordoodle is a fantastic dog for first-time dog owners. This is because they are actually very easy to take care of.
You just need to take time to understand exactly what they need and then come up with a schedule and care plan that meets all these needs.
Here are 3 of the most important aspects of care you need to address to raise a happy and healthy Border Collie Poodle mix.
Dietary Requirements
Bordoodles may not be the largest dogs out there, but their appetites are pretty massive. However, it is important that you watch how much and how often you feed your Border Collie Poodle mix.
An adult Bordoodle should only have 2.5 to 3 cups of food per day.
In addition to ensuring you get the quantity right, you have to feed your Bordoodle high-quality dog food. Pet Plate easily stands out as one of the best options on the market for its use of high-quality ingredients and chemical-free recipes.
It also helps to add multivitamin supplements as well as specific joint supplements to the diet plan to cover any micronutrients or compounds inadequate or absent in their main meals.
Exercise Needs
The Bordoodle is a very active and energetic dog. However, their exercise demands are relatively low. In fact, you can get away with scheduling 45 minutes to one hour every day for exercise.
The pooch will get in more exercise during the day, following you around everywhere and entertaining themselves.
Grooming Needs
It is also very important to come up with a good grooming schedule for your Bordoodle. This will include fortnightly nail clipping, regular cleaning of their eyes and faces, as well as dental hygiene practices.
For dental hygiene, you could train your dog to be comfortable with having its teeth brushed. You can also work with convenient dental water additives for dogs that are also very effective at keeping the Bordoodle’s mouth clean and their breath fresh.
Do Bordoodles Bark A Lot? Temperaments Of Border Collie Poodle Mixes
As with physical traits, Bordoodles take after features from both the purebred Poodle and Border Collie parents when it comes to their personality traits.
The best part is that they typically take after the really good traits which makes Bordoodles much easier to live with than either parent dog breed. Here are some of these awesome traits that you have to look forward to.
Intelligent
The intelligence of Bordoodles should come as no surprise given the fact that they are developed from the top two smartest dog breeds. Their intelligence makes Bordoodles not only easy to train but also to live with in general.
Independent
Bordoodles take after their Poodle parent’s independence, especially if Standard Poodles were used to make the mix. This means that you can very easily leave your Bordoodle alone for work or as you run errands. Just make sure to leave them plenty of toys to keep them sufficiently engaged before you return.
Even-Tempered
Bordoodles are not in any way aggressive and are in fact some of the most gentle and even-tempered dogs out there. This makes them particularly awesome for family setups where the dog will be expected to coexist with children or other pets.
Friendly
Bordoodles are a bit more social and friendlier than their standoffish Poodle parents. However, these mixed doggies may still need early socialization to ensure that they are comfortable even around strangers.
Occasionally Stubborn
The one personality flaw you may have to deal with when living with a Bordoodle is their occasional stubbornness and associated tantrums. This usually happens when the dog is frustrated due to a lack of physical and mental engagement.
Fortunately, this can easily be fixed and prevented with regular exercise and bonding time as well as obedience training.
How Do You Groom A Bordoodle? Grooming Tips For Border Collie Poodle Mixes
A Bordoodle dog’s coat grooming needs depend entirely on the type of coat that they inherit from either their Poodle or Border Collie parents.
If the Bordoodle takes after the Poodle’s dense and curly coat, they will shed minimally and may be considered hypoallergenic. This makes their grooming needs less and your life easier in terms of cleaning up after the pooch.
On the other hand, if the Bordoodle takes after the long, wavy coat of the Border Collie, they will shed moderately to heavily.
Whatever coat type your Bordoodle has, you still need to regularly wash and brush their coats to keep them beautiful and healthy. Here are a few coat grooming tips that may come in handy.
Brush Your Bordoodle Regularly
If your Bordoodle sheds minimally, you can brush its coat about three times a week. For Border Collie Poodles that shed more, you may even have to brush their coats every day of the week to get rid of loose fur and prevent tangling.
We recommend you try the FURminator Undercoat Tool regardless of your Bordoodle’s coat type. This grooming tool is not only effective on all coat types but is also designed to be easy to clean with its quick-release button to get rid of collected fur.
Wash Your Bordoodle Every 4 To 6 Weeks
You can wash your Bordoodle every month or 2 depending on whether or not they get smelly or they have skin issues. The most important thing for you to do is to ensure that you work with a high-quality shampoo and conditioner.
The Mighty Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo And Conditioner is perfect for the job. It is designed to be gentle on the Bordoodle’s skin and fur while effectively getting rid of debris and odors. The oatmeal’s soothing effects also come in handy for Bordoodles with irritated skin.
Related Questions
How Much Do Bordoodles Cost? Bordoodles cost between $700 and $1,500. This makes them relatively affordable especially compared to other mixed dogs that use Poodles. The reason for this fair pricing is the fact that Bordoodles are relatively easy to come by. However, the prices can be thousands of dollars higher than this range, especially if Poodles from special bloodlines are used to make the mixed doggy.
Are Bordoodles Good With Cats? Bordoodles typically get along very well with cats and other pets whether larger or smaller. This is due to their natural even-tempered temperament and their gentle nature. The fact that Bordoodles’ high intelligence also makes it easy to train them to get along with other animals in the home or in public spaces where they may interact with other pets.
How Big Do Mini Bordoodles Get? Mini Bordoodles can grow as big as 11 to 14 inches in height and 12 to 20 lbs in weight. This variation of Bordoodle is developed by breeding between a Border Collie and a Miniature Poodle. Due to the Miniature Poo’s smaller size, a female Border Collie is usually selected to carry the puppies to minimize the chances of pregnancy or delivery complications
