Love large cuddly energetic dog breeds? The Border Collie Great Pyrenees Mix dog is the one for you.
Border Collie Great Pyrenees Mix as the name suggests is an offspring of Intelligent and agile border collie and gentle giants Great Pyrenees. They are becoming popular in the USA as an intelligent guard dog that also serves as a loyal companion.
Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix Specifications
Height: 22 – 32 inches
Weight: 45 – 120 pounds
Coat Colors: White, cream, black, grey, red (the coat appears as a bi-color/tri-color with patches)
Eye color: Brown, black
Coat type: Double-coat. Long/short. Coarse/smooth
Temperament: Strong willed, confident, energetic, alert
Lifespan: 10 – 13 years
Appearance
Being a mix between the Great Pyrenees and the beloved Border Collie, they possess attractive looks and are harmless giants.
Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix can grow to a height of 22 inches to 32 inches weighing anywhere between 45 to 120 pounds depending on which parent genes are more dominant.
At the first look, the Border Collie Pyrenees mix has a sturdy frame that can hold their hefty weight.
The limbs are specialized for activity, medium-sized, and well-formed. Each limb has a rounded, well-padded paw that is arched. The head and muzzle are proportional to each other.
The eyes are either almond or oval-shaped depending on the traits inherited from the parents. The ears are medium-sized and can be raised, half-looped, or floppy. This is usually an indication of his mood.
Their coats are thick that is adaptable to withstand chilling winters and cold climates.
They have a double-coat. The outer coat can be long or short, but dense. Coat colors resemble the Border Collie, while coat quality resembles that of the Great Pyrenees.
Personality / Temperament of the Collie Pyrenees
This dog breed is a large dog since one of the parents is the Great Pyrenees. They are also intelligent dogs with the traits of Border Collie.
Since they have excellent hearing and border collie traits, they are alert even when you are not. They are watchful, defensive, loyal, sensitive, and devoted to their family. That said, they are great with kids.
They are a bit wary of strangers and will turn to ‘Barking’. The barking does not stop there since he will bark at anything moving at night. Chasing non-canine animals will be his favorite past-time.
Perhaps this is a trait originating from both parents. Socializing can help reduce this trait. It would be difficult to eliminate it completely.
Due to their size, energy, and guarding tendencies, they are not advised for people living in apartments. A yard is required for them to get enough exercise and fresh air.
They tolerate cold climate very well, as both parents of this cross-breed dog originate from colder climates.
Warmer to hot weather can cause them some discomfort. It is not advised to get this dog breed if you live in a tropical climate country.
Both dog breeds are high spirited breeds. The Great Pyrenees contributes higher energy to barking and howling. Apart from this, he donates his curious mindset that leads to wandering behavior. This is where having a large garden helps meeting this desire.
The Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix do not do well if left alone. When he is bored and lonely, he could develop separation anxiety leading to destructive behavior.
Coat colors and characteristics
His coat is will be thicker than any dog you have ever seen. It is a double coat; this means a topcoat and an undercoat layer are present. It can be long or short, coarse, or smooth depending on traits inherited.
Colors you will find him in are: white, cream, grey, black, and red. These colors do not come alone and a triple or double color combination is common.
He usually sports a patched coat pattern. This means other colors appear as patches on a typical white coat background. His face will also have spots. Overall, he has a lovable hair coat that is a pleasure to touch.
Care
Grooming
Sadly, there is no shortcut to grooming this large fluffy beast! Most of the year you can go brushing two or three times a week.
But when his inner coat blows out before summer and winter, you would require daily brushing. The thick coat and large size of the dog may make this difficult task even for experienced dog owners.
It is a natural process embedded in their genes and it is best to let it happen naturally.
Bathing every 6 to 8 weeks would be recommended for them.
Hygiene
This dog breed is not the cleanest. You will have to withstand his high tendency to drool brought about by the Great Pyrenees! If you prefer a cleaner dog that does not drool, we advise getting a different dog breed.
Nails will need to be cut according to how fast they grow. Long nails can disrupt their activity and make your pet pooch feel uncomfortable. If he stops being active because of his nails, they could be injuring him.
This dog has dense hair covering his head. As his owner you should look inside his ears for dirt and pests.
Training
A Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix puppy is not for the faint hearted. Such a large dog might appear intimidating if he is not friendly. This might stop guests from visiting you!
To prevent ill-behavior, socialize him immediately with other dogs and older children. This will help to bring out the mellow temperament of the Great Pyrenees.
If you do not train him from puppyhood, he can develop unruly behavior. The last thing you will want is a large dog that is hyperactive and rude. Strict but positive training is mandatory, no two ways about this.
Use treats and cuddles as an incentive to learn new tricks and tactics. He is capable of learning due to inherited intelligence from both parent breeds. Once he understands how to get the tasty treats, he will become the perfect student!
Do not fall for those puppy-dog eyes, train him now before his stubborn nature sets in. As he becomes older, this stubborn character of the Great Pyrenees will become more evident and troublesome.
Exercise
All dogs require a certain amount of exercise, it keeps the weight off and builds muscle. Especially for puppies, it promotes growth and healthy organs.
Since this large dog has high energy, he will need an outlet to display this enthusiasm. Imagine the agility of a Collie and the strength of a Great Pyrenees. A combination is what you have.
This excessive energy can put pressure on the owner to keep up with his energy levels and exercise requirements. This is a problem if you are tired at the end of the day. You will be ready to sleep and he will be ready to play all night long!
Before you adopt this designer mix dog, be prepared for setting up time and energy to meet his exercise requirements. If you are not sure of this, we would recommend avoiding this mix.
An hour-long daily walk, hike along with playtime should keep him stimulated, both mentally and physically.
Health
All dogs develop health problems at some stage of their life. Genetics and age play a role in their health.
Some breeds are more vulnerable to some health conditions more than others. The Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix is prone to the following conditions.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – Since this mixed breed dog is large, it is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. This medical condition is caused due to improper fitting of the ball in the joints which can be aggravated due to the size of the dog.
This eventually leads to loss of mobility. It is recommended that you seek a vet’s advice on proper treatment.
Deafness – Hearing problems are largely genetic; however, it will not reduce the lifespan and health of your dog. If you really want to get a hearing aid, there are some vets that can custom-make a fitting hearing device. This will restore your beloved pooches’ sense of hearing.
Collie eye anomaly (CEA) – Common in the Collie dog breed, your Collie Pyrenees dog is also at risk. Affecting the eye, it can be mild or serious. A serious case of CEA can make your dog blind.
The worst part is that there is no treatment for this condition, therefore it is advisable to test your Collie before breeding.
Where to get your Border Collie Great Pyrenees puppy from?
If you have what it takes to make a Collie Great Pyrenees mix happy you must know this. The best choice is to adopt from a shelter. Getting your puppy from a breeder may leave you susceptible to a lower genetic quality.
Being a new designer dog breed, it would not be easy to find them local and you may need to put aside the transportation cost as well while planning to adopt him.
It would be wise to ask for medical records and check for any hereditary issues to protect yourself.
Dogs with a genetic disorder should be neutered or else these damaged genes will continue to circulate.
Origins
Let us have a closer look at the parent dog breeds of this designer cross breed.
About Border Collie
The Border Collie dates to the Roman civilization. During their invasion of England, they brought their sheepdogs to help herd their animals. Later, the Vikings invaded England and brought their dogs. The resultant cross-breed dog is the Border Collie as we see today.
Today, Bordie is prevalent throughout the world. This agile dog-breed is considered the smartest among the dogs and the best one for working on a farm.
He has been bred for herding sheep, cattle, and ducks. Keeping you company is his passion, this makes him an ideal all-rounder. His intelligence and agility are seamlessly fused for maximum performance.
About Great Pyrenees
The Great Pyrenees is a massive dog that originates from snowy cold Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural border between France and Spain. They are also known as the Pyrenean Mountain dog.
These watchful giants were bred to herd and protect livestock from predators. Their thick water-resistant coats act as protection against snow, rain, and attacks.
These dogs can have a height of 25 to 32 inches and an astonishing weight of 85 to 160 pounds!
They are quite intelligent dogs who are very alert and have a tendency to bark when they sense danger. They are mellow at heart but can be protective of the family.
Their intelligence makes them independent dogs as well. This can make them difficult to train. They are only for the experienced dog owners who can exert their authority and train & socialize them from the beginning.
As an unruly dog with their large size is a recipe of disaster.
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