All the Information about Golden Retriever Border Collie Mix

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Did you ever wantto have a Border Collie, but found out that it requires a lot of work because of its high levels of energy? You might consider a pet that is less active but with the same enthusiasm, like the Golden Retrievers.

Or why not get their offspring, to have the best of both worlds? In today’s post, you will learn more about this mixed breed, the Golden Retriever Border Collie mix also called the Golden Collie.

Appearance

A Golden Retriever Border Collie mix, also called the “Golden Collie” looks a lot like a Border Collie, except that it may have the color of a Golden Retriever. Border Collies are known for their iconic color combinations and this is evident on the Golden Collie. You can find them in white mixed with grey, black, blue, and red although you can also see them in merle and in tricolours.

Like its parents, this dog comes with a thick undercoat. Dogs with double coats normally blow their fur once or twice a year. It’s called seasonal shedding and it’s the dog’s way of preparing its body for the upcoming season. During spring, you can expect your Golden Collie to shed intensely and gain back its long hair in the fall, to have protection for the colder months.

When measured at the withers, an adult Golden Collie stands between 18 inches to 24 inches tall. This is on par with the typical height of both the Border Collie and the Golden Retriever that are both considered as medium-sized breeds. In terms of weight, this dog can be as small as Border Collies which only weigh27 to 45 pounds, or as heavy as Golden Retrievers that can weigh as much as 80 lbs when full-grown.

Grooming

The coat texture of a Golden Retriever-Border Collie mix is a combination of long and a bit wavy hair, much like the parent breeds. This needs moderate to high amounts of grooming. To make your grooming sessions faster and less challenging, it helps to invest in an extra-long slicker brush or a self-cleaning dog brush.

Because it has long hair strands, the Golden Collie may require trimming from time to time. Trimming your dog’s hair is a way to keep him free from mats and tangles. If you haven’t tried clipping a dog’s hair before, consider bringing your pooch to a professional groomer. This can be done every eight weeks. Your pooch will also get a full bath in addition to having his hair trimmed.

Bathing a Golden Collie does not have to be done often. The frequency of baths will actually depend on your pet’s activity levels and lifestyle. If your pet likes spending time outdoors, you might find the need to bathe your pooch every three weeks. When bathing, make sure you are using shampoo especially formulated for dogs. Human shampoos, no matter how gentle they are, can be a bit harsh on the dog’s skin.

Personality

This designer dog boasts many good traits of both the parent breeds. When crossed with a Golden Retriever, the Border Collie benefits from its outward friendliness. Despite its slightly intimidating appearance, the Golden Collie is unlikely to show aggression. It’s not ideal as a guard dog though, since it’s not really overprotective of its owners.

Like a Golden Retriever, this dog may also show intelligence and gentleness. Because of its even temperament, the Golden is considered to be one of the best options for a family pet. One of the most loved traits of Golden Retrievers is their playful nature. This is the reason why they are generally good even in households with young children.

On the other hand, the Golden Collie may inherit most of the characteristics of the Border Collie. This breed is best known for its outgoing personality. Because it is smarter than most breeds, the Border Collie is an ideal candidate for agility trainings.

Grooming

Maintaining the coat of a Golden Collie involves frequent brushing using the right tool. The Golden Collie is a seasonal shedder like its parents, so it helps to groom your pet on a regular basis. This way, you will not see a lot of hair falling on floors and furniture. Once or twice a year, expect lots of hair coming from the dog as this is the Golden Collie’s way of preparing for the new season.

Bathing should only be done when needed, just like how often it should be done with Border Collies. Along with proper grooming, you may need to vacuum regularly to minimize the amount of pet hair around the house. This way, you will not suffer from allergies brought by pet dander that can be attracted on pet hair.

Health

Like the parent breeds, this dog boasts a good health and long life. It is possible for them to inherit the Golden’s average lifespan, which is 10-12 years, or the Border Collie’s lifespan which is 12 to 15 years. But as with any dog, regardless if it’s a mixed breed with hybrid vigor, the dog may be subject to certain health issues such as:

Allergies – a Golden Collie’s allergy is often linked to skin problems. Skin allergies often occur because of hypersensitivity to certain food items, like dairy and poultry. The problem with allergy to foods is that they are not easy to rule out. A vet needs to undergo a food elimination diet to confirm which food items cause the dog to develop skin itching, redness, and hives.

Once confirmed, you need to avoid the certain food that’s causing the problem. Seasonal allergy is another problem that can cause unlikely effects on different areas of the body, like the ears, coat, and face. However, this is more prevalent in the ears. The typical signs to keep an eye on are waxy discharges, odor, and redness around the ear area.

Epilepsy – this neurological disease in dogs happens when the brain is suffering from abnormal impulses. Epilepsy can be confirmed if a dog’s seizure happens more than once. There are cases when a parent dog may not exhibit symptoms but still passes this condition on to its offspring.

The good news is there are already a number of medications currently available to help prevent or stop the seizures. The most common antiepileptic drug for canines is Phenobarbital, which is popular with brand names like Barbital and Luminal. It helps dogs suffering from epilepsy by stabilizing the activity of the neurons in the brain.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy – this disease of the retina is a set of inherited problems seen in most breeds and the Golden Collie is not an exception. They may obtain it either from their Golden Retriever parent or the Border Collie parent. Dogs with PRA live a normal life unless the disease has progressed to a later stage.

There is a possibility for the dog to go blind as PRA advances because it targets the retina, which is a light-sensitive tissue of the eyes. Do note that PRA cannot be cured or treated. It is something you will have to deal with forever in case your dog was diagnosed with it. However, it can be confirmed early through DNA testing.

Feeding

As with any other breed of dog, this dog thrives in a high-protein and low-carbohydrate diet. Dogs, especially the highly energetic breeds like Golden Collies, need lots of protein to survive. As with humans, they need the right amount of protein so they can have strong muscles and joints, as well as the sufficient energy to get through the day.

Most pet parents give their pets kibbles. Commercially prepared dog food is not a bad option, as long as it is made of quality ingredients. You just have to be meticulous in looking at the ingredients of the kibble, which is either dry dog food or wet dog food. You need to stay away from dog food containing artificial flavors and preservatives. Consider types of food made of quality ingredients and not just animal by-products.

Since Golden Retriever-Border Collie mixes range anywhere between 20 to 50 pounds as adults, they fall under the medium-sized bracket. Medium breeds with lots of energy benefit from a diet that is high in protein. The recommended feeding amount for a 30-pound dog, based on the quantity set by the National Research Council of the National Academies, is around 922 calories per day.

Do note that there are instances when dogs will require fewer calories than normal. Dogs are individuals that have different metabolisms so you will need to understand that some Golden Collies may eat less than others. If your dog has undergone spaying or neutering, he will need to consume less than the standard amount. The same is true for senior dogs, since they are less active than their younger counterparts.

Exercise

The Golden Collie is such a workaholic breed. It does not come as a surprise since it’s an offspring of two highly energetic breeds. Dogs with lots of energy to burn should be given a lot of opportunity to keep moving. Otherwise, they might develop a negative behavior or even suffer from anxiety out of boredom. This dog is also physically strong, making it an ideal candidate for agility training.

Energetic dogs will be fond of activities like going on long walks and running together. Just keep a pet bottle handy, so your pet stays hydrated throughout your walk or run. But if it’s impossible to go outside, perhaps due to bad weather, consider activities that can be done even indoors. Examples are games of fetch and hide and seek that can be done in your own yard.

Conclusion

The Golden Retriever-Border Collie mix is the best breed of dog for active families. It is a good choice if you are looking for an exercise buddy! Remember that this designer dog is pretty active, so you need to be committed in finding time for exercise and other physical activities. This working dog also boasts high levels of intelligence, making it a good candidate for obedience and agility trainings.

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