Judy Taylor
The Borador is a mix of the popular Labrador and the clever Border Collie. Find out who the mixed-breed dog is suitable for and what distinguishes it.
What is a Borador?
The Borador is a mixed breed dog that results from the crossbreeding of a Border Collie and a Labrador Retriever. He is one of the medium-sized four-legged friends whose body radiates harmony and athleticism. The Border Lab owes its active nature – another name – to its sheepdog and retriever genes.
Since both dog breeds have been working as workhorses in the past, the Borador is also eager to learn and wants to please his humans. As with many designer dogs, its history is not well documented. It is believed that it originated in the United States in the last ten to fifteen years.
Currently, it is not a recognized dog breed, but a hybrid dog breed. Against this background, no breed standard has yet been established. The characteristics of the Boradors are sometimes very different from each other. With the adoption of a Borador puppy, his family opts for a lovable “wish bag” full of surprises.
The Border Collie
The clever sportsman: The Border Collie was bred to drive a herd and is accordingly intelligent, fearless, and persistent. In the past, herding dogs focused on work performance.
Today, the medium-sized dog breed hardly goes about its original job. On the other hand, the collie achieves top performances in the dog sport agility and finds a home with dynamic people.
The Labrador
The best buddy: A loyal friend and good-mood dog move in with a Labrador. So it’s no wonder that “Labbi fever” has broken out in Germany for years. The American dog breed confidently secures first place among the most popular dog breeds.
He used to be a reliable retriever for hunters on the Canadian coast. His absolute favorite pastimes are retrieving and swimming.
The Borador: Size and Coat
The size and coat of a Border Lab depend on which genes (Labrador or Collie) dominate the offspring.
Height and weight
A Borador should be around 50 to 57 cm tall. Most mixed breed dogs are slimmer than Labrador Retrievers and weigh between 18 and 26 kg.
Coat color
The possible coat colors of a Borador can hardly be narrowed down. The variety of colors of both dog breeds is quite large. However, one coat color is particularly common in a Border Lab: black and white.
The fur is either short or somewhat hard like that of a Labrador. Dense, medium-length fur is also possible. Both fur variants offer the Borador good protection against the cold thanks to the thick undercoat.
The Borador: Temperament
The nature and temperament of Borador scores with many positive properties:
- intelligent
- eager to learn
- obedience
- approachable
- friendly
- people-related
- active
- affectionate
With the Labrador Retrievers and Border Collies, there are differences within their own breed. Some come from the so-called show line. Puppies from this breed are more suitable for beginners and families. Dogs that come out of the working line, on the other hand, are more demanding and persistent and want to pursue their original activity.
Tip: In a fully grown Borador, a strong herding instinct or hunting instinct can come to the fore. So that family life and walks in nature run harmoniously, his family steers his temperament in the right direction from the start.
The Borador: Diseases and Life Expectancy
A Borador is potentially susceptible to the following diseases:
- Elbow and hip dysplasia
- Patellar luxation
- Eye problems
- Epilepsy
- Gastric torsion
- Water rod
In the case of the Border Collie, and MDR1 genetic test should be carried out before mating. Otherwise, there is a risk that the offspring will be hypersensitive to certain medications such as wormer cures.
It is important to look for a breeder with the greatest care. Responsible breeding includes not breeding parent animals with inheritable diseases.
Borador: Life Expectancy
Despite a certain risk of illness, a Borador is a robust four-legged friend. Life expectancy for a medium-sized dog is quite high, around 14 to 15 years.
Borador: Care
Regardless of whether it is short or long – both types of fur are likely to require more care. Medium-length Collie fur must be brushed and combed regularly to avoid matting. If the coat is shorter, a brush or a grooming glove can be used to remove the loose undercoat. Plus: Border Labs tend to shed a lot. This is especially true during the change of coat.
Since both parents have lop ears, Borador keepers regularly check the eavesdroppers. An inspection is particularly important after splashing around in a body of water – otherwise, unpleasant ear infections can result.
How Much Exercise Does a Borador Need?
When it comes to the cross between a herding dog and a retriever, this is hardly surprising: Border Labs are absolute sports enthusiasts! As a result, hybrid dogs are not suitable for comfortable people.
You need several hours of exercise every day, firstly to get enough exercise and, secondly, to gain lots of impressions while going for a walk. In addition, dog owners plan other activities such as:
- Jog
- Bikejoring or canicross
- Agility
- Dog Frisbee
- Rally obedience
- Swim
Utilization and resting phases
Beware of too much ambition: jogging in the morning, agility in the evening, and learning new tricks in between? That is clearly too much of a good thing. In this case, there is a risk that the mixed-breed dog will not calm down and experience stress every day.
Border Labs dog owners pay attention to a balance between activity and relaxation so that their four-legged friend does not display nervous and hyperactive behavior.
Is a Borador Right for Me?
A Borador is an enterprising and energetic four-legged friend. It is therefore perfect for active people who enjoy dog sports and always want to have them with them on excursions.
Since both parents show themselves to be cooperative in dealing with people, no long-term dog experience is required. However, it is an advantage to acquire a good knowledge of hunting and herding prior to adoption.
As a playful and child-loving dog, it fits perfectly into a family. His positive characteristics also make him a great candidate for training as an assistance dog or therapy dog. Their high willingness to work and his good nose is helpful in finding objects or missing people.
A house with a garden is advantageous for the active dog, but it is not a must. With activities in the fresh air lasting several hours, the Borador can also come to terms with living in an apartment.
However, he will not guard his place of residence with body and soul. A Border Lab can sound the alarm, but the friendly four-legged friend is not one of the best watchdogs.
Buy Borador: Price
The mixed-breed dog is not yet widespread in this country. Prices vary depending on the origin and the breeder. The price for a Borador can be less than $ 1,200, but puppies are also sold for $ 1,700.
