Bordoodle (Border Collie & Poodle Mix): Info, Pictures, Traits & Care

The Bordoodle is a hybrid breed, a cross between the energetic Border Collie and the intelligent Poodle. These dogs inherit some of the best qualities from their parent breeds and are friendly, playful, and intelligent, but with this high intelligence comes independence and stubbornness, which can be a challenge during training. While they can be energetic, they don’t need a ton of exercise, making them ideal for families living in small homes or apartments.

They typically have a medium-length coat and come in a variety of colors and can vary in size, depending on the Poodle parent. They are a fairly new designer breed, and there is not much information around about their exact origins, but both the Border Collie and Poodle have been around as working dogs for centuries. They are loyal, affectionate dogs that are highly alert and make great watchdogs, although they are rarely aggressive.

If the Bordoodle sounds like the breed for you, read on for more information on this adorable family pooch.

Bordoodle Characteristics

Bordoodle Puppies

Before you bring home a Bordoodle, it’s important to know that they are highly intelligent dogs that have parent breeds with working backgrounds, and thus, they need plenty of mental stimulation. These dogs are not content with simply going for a daily walk. They need interactive play and mentally challenging games added to their exercise. This requires a great deal of time and dedication, and you’ll need to be certain that you can provide this before bringing one of these intelligent dogs home.

The Bordoodle is great for families or people living in apartments. They are also generally healthy dogs, which makes for great pets.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Bordoodle 🧠

The Bordoodle is both highly intelligent and extremely affectionate, a great combination that is ideal for novice dog owners. They are happy to play in the yard with kids for hours, perform a specific job or task, and cuddle on the sofa with their owner at the end of the day. They are friendly animals that get along with just about everyone whom they come into contact with, provided that they have the proper socialization.

These dogs are highly alert, bond strongly with their owners, and are excellent watchdogs that become protective of their human family. This is a great trait, but without socialization and training, this can quickly become problematic.

These dogs need a ton of mental stimulation and are not happy to laze around the home all day. If you’re looking for a relaxed couch potato, the Bordoodle is not it, and you should consider bringing home a different breed. While they are not as energetic as their parent breeds, they still need more exercise than most mixed breeds, and without it, they can swiftly become destructive. They also bond strongly with their owners and do not enjoy being left alone, something that you’ll need to consider carefully if you are away from home frequently.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Bordoodles are gentle with children, rarely aggressive, and highly intelligent, making them ideal family dogs. They are protective of their human family but are generally friendly and sweet with strangers. If you are an active owner who likes long walks or trail runs, these dogs are always up for it, but they are just as happy to play interactive games in the yard too, making them adaptable to almost any living environment. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better family pooch!

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Bordoodles are social dogs that generally get along great with other dogs and are fine with cats too. They do not have much of a prey drive — despite their history — and even smaller pets are usually safe. That said, they do have a history of herding, and while they may not hunt other pets, there is a strong chance that they’ll attempt to herd them!

Things to Know When Owning a Bordoodle

Now that you are more familiar with what makes the Bordoodle so unique, there are other important considerations in owning one of these dogs. While they are not too different from most other medium-sized breeds when it comes to feeding and exercise, there are unique factors to consider.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Bordoodles need a diet that is specially formulated for active, medium-sized breeds. How much you feed them will depend on their age, activity level, and size, but in general, 2 cups of high-quality kibble a day split into two meals is a good rule of thumb. These dogs will benefit from a diet high in protein, and it’s a great idea to add lean meats to their meals occasionally. Be sure to avoid foods with extra filler ingredients, such as corn, wheat, or soy, and make sure that an animal protein is the first listed ingredient.

Exercise 🐕

Bordoodles are not overly active animals, but they still need at least an hour or two of exercise every day. Remember that, in general, a bored dog is a destructive dog, and a well-exercised dog is a well-behaved dog, and the same goes for Bordoodles. They’ll need an hour a day of intensive exercise, like a jog or run, and then a gentle play in the yard or a walk is great.

Without sufficient exercise, these intelligent dogs can quickly become bored and frustrated and will likely destructively release these frustrations, most likely on your sofa! They’ll love going on hikes or running beside you while you jog or cycle, and they make great exercise companions. Playing interactive games is also a great way to exercise them and create a strong bond with your pooch. You should aim to play games such as fetch or frisbee at least three to four times a week with your pooch.

Training 🎾

For the most part, Bordoodles are easy dogs to train because they are eager to please and highly intelligent. They are great dogs for novice dog owners because they take to training quickly and easily and generally love the process. It’s important to note that these dogs can be sensitive, so reward-based methods are best.

Any harsh training methods are not recommended for Bordoodles and will not help to establish trust or a strong bond. Rewarding good behavior and ignoring bad behavior has proved highly successful for intelligent dog breeds, and the Bordoodle has two of the most intelligent parent breeds in the world!

It’s worth noting that there can be a downside to the high intelligence of your Bordoodle, as this can cause them to be stubborn and independent at times. With patience, dedication, and the correct techniques, however, training your Bordoodle should be rewarding, fun, and easy.

Grooming ✂️

Bordoodles usually have medium-length, thick coats that need daily grooming to prevent matting and knotting. This will also help remove any dead hair and keep their coats healthy and shiny by spreading the natural oils. You’ll also need to check their ears regularly for infection and keep their ear canals clean and dry, as their floppy ears are prone to infection.

Other than that, you’ll need to keep their toenails trimmed and brush their teeth occasionally to prevent dental disease.

Health and Conditions ❤️ 🏥

Like most mixed breeds, Bordoodles benefit from hybrid vigor, suffer from relatively few health issues, and are a healthy and robust breed overall. That said, they can suffer from the issues that affect Border Collies and Poodles, so you’ll need to keep an eye out.

Male vs. Female

Deciding between a male and a female can be a difficult decision for first-time dog owners, but it’s important to note that much of your dog’s personality and temperament comes from their upbringing and genetics rather than their sex. Whether you should choose a male or female depends on several factors, including any dogs that you already own, personal preference, and whether you intend to breed.

In general, males tend to be slightly bigger and heavier than females and more attentive and affectionate overall. Females can be more independent and reserved and may only seek out attention when they feel the need, whereas males are always ready and willing! Males mature a bit later than females, and this makes training them moderately more challenging.

These are all generalizations, though, and with spaying and neutering, there are few differences between males and females to be concerned about.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Bordoodle

1. 1. They Are Highly Intelligent

Both Border Collies and Poodles are rated among the top five most intelligent breeds in the world, so you can be sure your Bordoodle will inherit these smarts too. According to Stanley Coren’s intelligence rankings — the gold standard to rate a dog breed’s intelligence — the Border Collie took the top spot, following commands in under five repetitions 95% of the time, and the Poodle came in third.

2. 2. They Are Experts in the Field

Border Collies were originally bred as herding dogs and excel at the task so much, they are one of the most well-known herding breeds in the world. Although it may be surprising to some, Poodles were developed as hunting dogs originally, and their thick, curly coat protected them from cold water when retrieving waterfowl. They are still in use as hunting dogs today, although far less so. With these parent breeds, you can be sure your Bordoodle will excel in both hunting and herding too.

3. 3. They Have Loads of Stamina

While Bordoodles are not overly active animals compared to some purebreds, their parent breeds are both highly active animals, and this energy and stamina are sure to be passed down. Both Poodles and Border Collies were used out in the field for hours at a time and possess incredible stamina that your Bordoodle will surely inherit some of.

Final Thoughts

The Bordoodle is a wonderful family dog, as they are not overly energetic but are always ready and willing for a walk or play session. They make great watchdogs but are rarely aggressive, making them great for families with small children. With their intelligent parent breeds, you can be sure your Bordoodle will be smart too, and this, combined with their eager-to-please attitude, typically makes them easy to train. They are also healthy dogs overall that suffer from few genetic health problems, but they do require daily brushing to keep their coats knot-free.

If you are looking for an affectionate family dog that is intelligent and easy to train, the Bordoodle is a wonderful choice!

See Also: 

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• Doberman Dalmatian Mix: Pictures, Temperament & Traits

Featured Image Credit: Andrew Barton Johns, Shutterstock