Last Updated on September 20, 2023
Quick Summary: Both Border Collie and Australian Shepherd parents are medium-sized dogs. The Australian Collie mix is also a medium-sized dog that looks more like a Border Collie. Although Aussie Collie mix dogs are beautiful, many people don’t understand this breed’s mental and physical requirements. Also, even if your Australian Collie is actually doing herding work, this breed must know that this behavior is acceptable only when managing livestock (and not people). The good news is that the Australian Shepherd and Border Collie breeds are generally considered healthy. Therefore, their offspring will be healthy as well. An Australian Collie who is well cared for can live anywhere from 10 to 14 years.
Are you an outdoor enthusiast or a ranch owner looking for a companion dog? We might have the perfect mix for your needs! The Australian Collie is a blend of two highly regarded herding breeds: the Border Collie and the Australian Shepherd.
The Australian Collie inherits many of the best traits of its parent breeds, including intelligence and agility. This breed is not for everyone despite its many positive traits. The breed needs a job. If they have one, it will be a great surprise to see how they do it.
The Australian Collie isn’t for you if you are looking for a Netflix friend. The Aussie Collie demands that you get up and move! If you are an active person, love the outdoors, and live on a property that needs herding, then you might consider adding an Australian Collie to your family.
Parent Breeds of the Aussie Collie
Designer dogs can be created by crossing two purebred parents. Although this practice is frowned upon by breed “purists,” it has led to healthier dogs and infinite possibilities for adorable new breeds.
While there are many advantages to breeding designer dogs, they also have a certain degree of unpredictable behavior. The traits and appearances of their purebred parents have been developed over generations. Designer puppies can inherit different traits from each parent, making it difficult to predict how a mixed breed will behave and look.
Understanding an Australian Collie can be helped by learning about her parent breeds. Let’s dig deeper into the roots to examine the Australian Shepherd and the Border Collie.
Border Collie Overview
The Border Collie is described by the American Kennel Club as “affectionate, smart, and energetic.” This breed is classified into the “herding group” of canines and is known for their drive to work, near-endless endurance, and reputation for being the most intelligent dog breed. This breed is highly praised, but it also requires intense exercise and stimulation to keep them happy and healthy.
Border Collies span between 18 to 22 inches in height and 30 to 55 pounds, with males slightly larger. This breed has a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.
The Border Collie was born in the hills near the English-Scottish border. It was named for its ability to herd sheep in the highlands. Although recognized by the AKC in only 1995, the Border Collie has been the champion of sheep herding for more than a hundred years.
Border Collies are renowned for their ability to compete in canine sports like agility and flyball, and they have steady popularity as a companion and working dog.
The border collie, a popular purebred breed dog, is often mixed with other breeds to make designer dogs. Some of these include the Border Rottweiler Mix, the Husky Border Collie, and the GSD mixed with a Border.
Australian Shepherd Overview
Like the Border Collie, the Australian Shepherd is classified into the herding group and is described as “smart, work-oriented, and exuberant.” This breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1993. Australian Shepherds fall between 18 and 23 inches tall and weigh between 40 and 65 pounds. Their life expectancy is 12-15 years.
The origins of the Australian Shepherd are a bit of a mystery. Their origins are not in Australia. This is surprising considering their name. Breed enthusiasts have also disputed the location of their birth. They were most likely bred in the United States from Collies for sheep herding.
The breed gained traction in the 1950s and has remained a popular breed ever since. Because of their training ability, many Australian Shepherds are used as Service Animals, Search and Rescue Canines, and Therapy Dogs.
The Aussie is also a popular designer dog, being a parent breed for other designer dogs like the Aussie Pom and the Aussiedoodle mix.
The Aussie Collie Mix
The Australian Collie, also called Border-Aussie and Aussieollie, is a highly capable herding dog that thrives when given a job. This mix is a relatively new designer breed with unknown origins. However, it is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club and the Designer Dogs Kennel Club. We can predict much about the Australian Collie from their parents’ similar temperaments. Let’s have a look.
Appearance and Size
The Australian Collie is a medium-sized dog that tends to look more like a Border Collie. This breed has a narrow muzzle. It can sport either a long Border Collie tail or an Australian Shepherd-style bobtail.
Heterochromia is not uncommon for Australian Collies. This condition causes one eye to be different from the other. These common variants include brown, green, and blue. They result in a striking multi-colored gaze.
Height and Weight
Both Border Collie and Australian Shepherd parents are medium-sized dogs. Naturally, an Australian Collie will be the same, weighing between 30 to 75 pounds and 18 to 22 inches high.
The Australian Shepherd is larger than the Border Collie who has a shorter frame. The puppies of these dogs could be at either end. An Australian Collie may be the right choice for you if you don’t like small dogs but are concerned about large dogs taking up too much space.
Coat and Colors
The Australian Collie has a double-coated coat. It usually sports a medium-length topcoat with thicker undercoats for colder climates. The pup’s length comes from the Border Collie side. However, her texture tends to be similar to that of her Australian Shepherd parent. Like their Border Collie parent, this breed is a moderate-to-heavy shedder.
An Australian Collie’s coat color can vary in many combinations and patterns. These colors include red, brindle, and blue merle, as well as tan. The most popular color for this breed is the merle. It is often accompanied by multicolored or marbled eyes.
Grooming Your Aussie Collie
Grooming an Australian Collie is easy. They are clean and tidy dogs that only need to be bathed and brushed once a month. To reduce hair loss, you can brush more frequently during the shedding season. The length and thickness of the coat may affect how much you brush.
The Border Aussie can be susceptible to ear infections. This area must be cleaned and checked frequently. To maintain healthy and clean paws, the Border Aussie should have its nails clipped once or twice per month. Their teeth should be brushed once a week.
This breed is very outdoorsy and requires a regular grooming routine to ensure it doesn’t bring back any souvenirs from their adventures. It is important to ensure that ticks don’t make their home in dense coats. This routine should be started when the Aussie Collie is only a few weeks old to reduce anxiety and fear.
Temperament and Personality Traits
The Australian Collie is not a low-energy puppy. The Australian Collie is a curious, energetic, assertive, and hardworking dog. If they have the right outlet, they can make a great trainee. They are sociable and love being with family.
It is important to remember that this breed can become bored and maladjusted if it doesn’t get enough stimulation. Obsessive chewing is one of the most destructive signs. Australian Collie owners who don’t have the time and space to devote to this intelligent, athletic dog are not likely to be the best fit.
A calm and peaceful Australian Collie makes a great family dog. And yes, the Aussie Collie is a great family dog, and they love to play with other dogs.
Exercise and Living Requirements
The rigorous exercise requirements may be the most important factor to consider when you decide whether an Australian Collie is right for you. The Australian Collie thrives when their owner is active and able to keep up with them.
Don’t worry if you don’t enjoy long runs or intense hiking. An Australian Collie can be given a job to meet his needs. Herding livestock is an excellent way to get your Australian Collie moving. Canine sports and agility training can be a great alternative if you don’t own a ranch or farm. You should keep this vigorous activity going for at least an hour each day.
It’s more than just about the physical work. It’s important to keep the Australian Collie’s mind active. Otherwise, they will become bored very quickly. It may be necessary to think of creative ways to keep your dog engaged. The Border Aussie can become bored easily and tend to become destructive.
The Australian Collie enjoys chewing. This intelligent and energetic dog needs to be able to move around and exercise. We don’t recommend that they be kept in an apartment because of the restricted space. An Australian Shepherd can be adapted to an apartment environment if their owner is dedicated to keeping them active and exceeding their exercise needs.
Training and Socialization
The Australian Collie is known for its exceptional cooperation and should not be a problem while you train them. A positive, firm approach to training is the best way to raise a happy Australian Collie puppy.
Do not let the breed’s ability to learn quickly fool you. This breed is hungry for new challenges and requires daily mental stimulation. Australian Collie owners should maintain a consistent training program.
The Aussie collie, like their parents, has a natural desire to herd. They may attempt to steer people by nipping at them. To suppress this instinct, it’s important that you establish boundaries early on. Even if your Australian Collie is actually going to be doing herding work, it is important that this breed knows that this behavior is acceptable only when managing livestock and that it’s not appropriate for humans.
Please use positive reinforcement when training them. Australian Collie dogs are sensitive and will not tolerate harsh or loud voices. It will discourage your dog and make them fearful. This could also cause them to become more afraid of you, which can lead to a decrease in your training goals. This dog craves positive reinforcement and will do anything to get it!
Basic Nutrition
The activity of an Australian Collie should be considered to determine their appropriate nutrition. The Australian Collie breed is energetic and burns many calories daily. They may need more food than other comparable-sized dogs.
Due to her high activity level, she isn’t susceptible to obesity and doesn’t need to be closely watched for it like other breeds. Many dog food brands will include a feeding guide on their products. This can help you decide what is best for your Australian Collie.
2-3 cups of high-quality, non-grain dry food per day are sufficient. These guidelines are only guidelines. Every Australian Collie will have different needs. It is essential to speak with a vet to ensure that you provide your collie with the right amount of nutrition and calories.
Health and Lifespan
Here’s some good news! The Aussie and Border Collie breeds are both considered healthy in general. This means that their offspring will be healthy as well. An Australian Collie who is well cared for has an average lifespan of about 10 to 14 years.
There are some health issues that you should be aware of, however. In an Australian Collie, these conditions are hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, collie eye anomaly, thyroid disease, and cataracts. Sometimes, Australian Shepherds are born blind, deaf, or both. Any potential Australian Collie owner needs to be aware of this.
While most of this is genetic, it’s important to understand the signs and symptoms so that your pup doesn’t suffer from chronic pain. This diligence, along with regular checkups, preventive healthcare, and keeping up-to-date with vaccinations, will ensure that your pup has a long, healthy life.
Finding Your Aussie Collie
When looking for an Australian Collie, it is helpful to speak to your local Australian Shepherd or Border Collie clubs, which can direct you toward reputable breeders.
However, it is possible to search the internet for breeders specializing in the Australian Collie mix. Before you contact anyone, do your research. It is important to find a trustworthy, reliable breeder who operates ethically and in the best interests of their dogs.
You can request to see the health certificates of the parent dogs and even meet the puppy and their parents when you choose a breeder. These requests should not be denied by a legitimate breeder.
You can also read reviews about the breeder to ensure that you buy from a trusted breeder. Don’t buy from puppy farms. These facilities are illegal in many states because of inhumane practices. Many dogs raised in these facilities are not healthy.
Finally, consider adopting before you shop! Although Australian Collie mix dogs are beautiful, many people don’t understand the mental and physical requirements of this breed. It is not uncommon for Australian Collie mix dogs to end up at animal shelters.
Online rescue sites make it much easier to find an Australian Collie mix than to adopt a puppy dog. Please consider adopting!
Australian Collie Puppies and Prices
The average litter size of an Australian Collie ranges between 5 to 7 puppies. The cost of these puppies will vary depending on their pedigree, where they were born, and the color of the pup’s coat. An Australian Collie can fetch anywhere from a few hundred to a thousand.
The most sought-after color is the signature Merle markings. Puppies with this distinctive coat will be more costly than puppies from breeders located in areas where it is highly popular.
Adoption is always worth considering, and the price drop alone might be worth looking into an Australian Collie rescue. Most rescue organizations only ask for a donation fee to cover some of the medical costs of your pup, which is a fraction of what breeders charge.
The Border Aussie as Family Pets
Australian Collies are a great breed, but is the Aussie Collie the right choice for you? Let’s look at what we have learned:
- They are eager to please you and easy to train.
- This is a very intelligent breed that requires high levels of mental stimulation.
- The Breed descends from working dogs and thrives when given a job.
- This breed is also great for herding or canine sports.
- If not exercised properly, this breed will most likely exhibit destructive behaviors.
- This mix is a wonderfully loving and affectionate family dog that does exceptionally well with children.
- The breed should not be left alone for long periods of time due to their propensity for separation anxiety.
- Their high activity requirements make them better suited for an active family.
- Although the Aussie Collie can adapt to apartment living with exercise, they prefer a backyard.
- This mix is not recommended for first-time dog owners.
- The Aussie Collie is the ideal companion for joggers, outdoor adventurers, farmers, and ranchers.
Conclusion
The Australian Collie is a beautiful, loving, athletic, and friendly dog. This Australian Collie is an amazing family dog and a true star. They will bring joy and energy to your home.
If you are willing to meet the mental and physical needs of this wonderful breed, they may be your next perfect companion!
