The Bordoodle, also known as the Borpoo or Borderpoo, is a mixed breed dog that is a cross between a Border Collie and a Poodle. These dogs inherit the best traits from both parent breeds, resulting in a friendly, playful, intelligent and protective family dog that makes a wonderful companion to many.
The Bordoodle is a low maintenance pup that fits well into most homes and doesn’t have very high care needs. While they do require proper training and socialization to ensure they do not develop any stubborn traits, these dogs are an adaptable breed with lots of love to give.
If you’re interested in learning more about this fun crossbreed, read on below to see whether the Border Collie Poodle Mix might be the dog for you.
History Of The Bordoodle
The Bordoodle is a relatively new breed that is result of breeding a Border Collie with a Poodle. Like many crossbreeds, the aim when breeding this dog was to cherrypick the best traits from each breed to create a hybrid dog that ticks all the boxes. One of the main reasons the Poodle is so often crossed with other breeds is down to their low-shedding coat.
The Bordoodle is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) because they are not a purebred breed. However, they are recognized by the the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), the Designer Breed Registry (DBR), the Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC), the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA) and the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).
Breed Origin
There is little information on the origins of the Bordoodle. We can guess that these pups have only began to be bred within the last 30 or so years, when crossbreeding became more popular. To understand more about these dogs, we can take a look at the parent breed origins.
The Poodle originated from the French and German border in the 15th and 16th century and was associated with the upper class. Because they are excellent water dogs, they were used to hunt water-fowl.
Later on, because of their adorable look, these pups became a very popular dog. The Miniature Poodle and the Toy Poodle were bred from the Standard Poodle by choosing the smallest pup from each litter and breeding with them. They were first seen in America in the 20th century.
The Border Collie originated in Northumberland, on the very border of England and Scotland. The breed was developed for the purpose of herding livestock, especially sheep. The name “Border Collie” came from the simple fact the breed had been developed in a place on the Anglo-Scottish border.
These dogs didn’t become popular until the 19th century. They were loved because of their herding abilities and their intelligence, which increased their popularity greatly. They are still used as herding dogs but are more often found as companion dogs now.
Characteristics Of The Bordoodle
Due to the fact that the Bordoodle is a crossbreed, it can be difficult to know the exact traits and characteristics they will possess. Some litters may take after their Border Collie parent more, while others may take after the Poodle parent more. However, we can make assumptions based on past litters.
Bordoodle puppies can cost you anywhere between $700 and $1,600. They are an expensive breed because they are highly sought after and their popularity is constantly increasing. You should always make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder.
Appearance
As we have mentioned above, it can be difficult to know the exact appearance of this mixed breed pup. Normally, they are considered a medium sized breed and will stand between 12 to 22 inches and weigh between 30 to 60 lbs.
Typically, they will take on the basic build and face structure of a Border Collie, but have the curly, soft hair that’s reminiscent of a Poodle’s coat.
Coat
The Bordoodle’s coat is normally medium to long in terms of length and is soft to the touch. It normally resembles the Poodle’s coat more closely that the Border Collie’s and will be slightly wavy.
Shedding is normally fairly minimal for this breed, taking after their Poodle parent, but you may be unlucky and get a Bordoodle that sheds more! Whether they shed or not, grooming is important for this breed. We will go into more detail about that later on.
Color
The Bordoodle can come in a range of different coat colors. Black and white is probably the most common coat color for the Bordoodle, but gray, brown, red and blue have also been seen on this dog.
Temperament
The Bordoodle is a dog that has a wonderful temperament taken from both it’s parent breeds. This dog is said to be loyal, affectionate and friendly, especially towards their family members who they will bond to very quickly. They are protective of their family too and will be wary of strangers, making a good watchdog.
The Bordoodle likes to be around their family and to join in the fun. They will not want to be left alone and prefer to be by your side no matter what you are doing! An intelligent dog, it is very important that they are kept mentally stimulated and entertained at all times. If they become bored, they will become destructive and will show signs of unwanted behaviors. This is also why training and socialization for this breed is so important.
As a historic working dog, the Bordoodle won’t mind being given a job to do. This will help to keep them occupied too, which will keep them out of mischief! That being said, they’re also happy to cuddle up with you on the couch at the end of the long day and show you lots of love and affection!
Lifespan
Like many hybrid dogs, the Bordoodle has a relatively long life expectancy. These dogs can live, on average, for between 12 and 15 years.
Known Health Issues
Unfortunately, as with any dog, the Bordoodle can be prone to some health problems. These are usually health concerns that their parent breeds are also predisposed to. We have laid out the most common issues below.
- Hip Dysplasia — this is when the thighbone doesn’t fit snugly into the hip joint. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) — this is an eye disorder that eventually causes blindness from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye.
- Epilepsy — this seizure disorder can be treated with medication.
Regular vet checkups and keeping an eye on your dog will ensure you can catch any of these issues before they become untreatable.
Remember — buy from a reputable breeder and the chances your dog will suffer any health conditions will be greatly reduced. Trusted breeders will do health checks on both parent breeds and will not crossbreed if there is a chance of passing on any severe issues to offspring.
Daily Life
Now we know all about the traits and characteristics of the Bordoodle and how they can change depending on which parent breed they take after more, it is time to take a look at what living with one of these dogs on a day to day basis is really like. We will cover their food and diet, their exercise needs and their grooming requirements.
Food And Diet
The amount that you feed your Bordoodle will depend on their age, their weight and their activity level. You should also check the back of the food packet to see how much of a certain food you should be feeding them based on these factors.
Try to find a food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It is often recommended that you feed them a kibble formulated for medium dog breeds with medium energy.
It is very important that you don’t overfeed your Bordoodle as they can be prone to gaining weight. This can be detrimental to their skeletal development and cause many health issues. Never let your Bordoodle free-feed and stick to a strict feeding routine.
Best Dog Food For The Bordoodle
We recommend this adult dry dog food from Blue Buffalo for the Bordoodle. Made with high-quality protein, this food helps your dog build and maintain healthy muscles. It also helps meet the energy needs of a Bordoodle, while providing them with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to promote a shiny coat and healthy skin.
This blend of dog food supports immune system health too, keeping your pup healthy throughout their life. It doesn’t contain any artificial flavors or preservatives either, which is always a bonus.
Exercise
The Bordoodle has medium exercise needs and will be happy with around 45 minutes worth of exercise a day, split into two walks. However, thanks to their intelligence, this breed also needs to be kept mentally exercised and so obedience training, tricks and dog sports are all a great idea for the Bordoodle. This will ensure they stay active but also not bored, which could lead to destructive behaviors.
Family Compatibility
The Bordoodle can make a wonderful family dog. They will particularly benefit from an active household where there is a lot going on, where they can join in and keep occupied at all times. The Bordoodle gets on very well with children and can make a fantastic playmate to them. They are also great with other family pets, although some socialization may need to take place first.
Bordoodles are an adaptable dog who can live anywhere. They do need adequate exercise every day, although mental exercise and stimulation is more important. You should be able to dedicate time to them every day for brain games and playtime, otherwise they may feel left out and frustrated which can lead to negative behaviors!
The Bordoodle doesn’t really like to be left alone, which means they are not the dog for those who are out for hours at a time. You will also need to spend a bit of time training this dog when you first bring them home, especially so they don’t develop a stubborn nature.
As long as this dog is included in family and given lots of love and attention, they will be happy!
Training
The Bordoodle is intelligent and therefore training is relatively easy. However, it is very important that you start training from a young age and continue training throughout your Bordoodles life, because they can begin to show signs of stubbornness if they are not told right from wrong! This can then lead to unwanted behavior.
Like all dogs, the Bordoodle responds best to positive reinforcement techniques and reward based training. This includes verbal praise and treats. You should never get angry or frustrated with your dog when training. They may not understand what is happening and this will cause them to not want to learn. You should ignore negative behavior and praise positive behavior so they learn which is more desirable.
Socializing
The Bordoodle is a relatively social breed, but they can be wary of strangers. Because of this, just like training, socialization should take place from a young age and may need to be continued throughout their life so they learn that not everything is a threat.
Introduce your Bordoodle to new sights, sounds, places, smells, people and animals in a calm and controlled way until they understand how to behave around others. They will then grow up to a well rounded and sociable dog.
Grooming
The Bordoodle is generally a low shedding dog, thanks to their Poodle parent. However, they will need to be brushed at least two to three times a week to keep their coat in top condition, especially to prevent matting and tangling.
You won’t need to bathe your Bordoodle very often — only when they are really smelly! You should clip their toenails as and when is needed. You should also brush their teeth two to three times a week — daily if possible — to help prevent dental decay and disease.
Bordoodle FAQ’s
How much does a Bordoodle cost?
A Bordoodle puppy can set you back between $700 and $1,600. They can be expensive because they are a hybrid dog and are quickly gaining popularity. The price will depend on the breeder but you should always make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder who can give you health clearances for both parent breeds.
If this is out of your price range, you can always check your local shelter. There may be a Bordoodle waiting for their forever home!
Is a purebred dog better than a crossbreed dog?
There has been a rise in crossbreeding in recent years. This is because there is a desire to breed dogs with certain characteristics and to get rid of unwanted characteristics within dog breeds. With crossbreeding you can get designer breeds, although some worry that they are more susceptible to health problems.
In fact, in a recent study, there was no indication that mixed dogs were more prone to health issues that purebred dogs. The most important thing to look for in your dog is the breeder. They should be a reputable breeder and both the breed parents should be healthy.
Summary
The Bordoodle is the result of crossing two very popular breeds — the Poodle and the Border Collie. The Bordoodle is a loving, affectionate and loyal breed that can make a wonderful family pet and companion to many. These dogs get on well with children and other animals and, although they can be aloof with strangers and make good watchdogs, this can be helped with training and socialization. Their care needs a low and all they need is lots of attention and mental stimulation to stay happy. Do you think the adorable Bordoodle could be for you?