Crossbreeding dogs has become popular due to its offered benefits. For instance, it adds more variety, it produces wonderful dogs with increased vigor and lastly, the offspring is sure to be unique. One of the nice crossbreeds you could have is the Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix.
Basic Characteristics of Border Collie Great Pyrenees Mix
Border Collie Pyrenees mix is a designer dog. It has a large body structure that’s complemented by remarkable intelligence. It is the cross between a purebred Great Pyrenees and Border Collie. The table below shows their quick characteristics:
| Characteristic | Description |
| Height | Depending on the more dominant gene, they could be anywhere from 20 to 32 inches or 51 to 82 centimeters |
| Weight | Again, their weight is dictated by the dominant gene. But usually, they weigh around 30 to 120 pounds or 14 to 55 kilograms. |
| Lifespan | These are generally healthy breeds that live for 10 – 13 years |
| Colors | They have varieties of colors from grey, white, red tricolor, cream, and black |
| Temperament | These dogs are energetic, loyal, loving, and intelligent |
History of Border Collie and Great Pyrenees Mix
There’s not enough information about the history of the Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix. What lacks history for this crossbreed is the opposite for its parents.
Border Collie has deep roots dating back in the first century. This was when Romans introduced large breeds for livestock herding. In ’95, the American Kennel Club, or AKC acknowledge the presence of such breed.
The Great Pyrenees however dates to the 15th century. Like a Border Collie, it was bred to work and herd in the Pyrenees Mountains of Southern France and Northern Spain. Hence, its name. Compared to Border Collie though, AKC recognized their breed in 1933.
Appearance of Border Collie Great Pyrenees Hybrid
Appearance and color will be based on the dog’s genetics. There are some Great Collies that are grey or white while others have distinctive markings of Border Collie. Some could have cream and black with partial markings and others may have red, black or tricolor. It’ll all falls on which parent has the more dominant blood.
Parents of Border Collie Great Pyrenees have long fur and full coats which they’ve inherited as well. There are instances where they have smooth and short coats if the Border Collie’s blood is more dominant. Their ears are always alert, but some dogs hold them back close to their head. The most expressive appearance they have is their tails. It either fan out or curl up.
Size, Height & Weight of Border Collie Great Pyrenees Crossbreed
Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix is quite a tall dog. They could grow anywhere from 22 to 32 inches or 56 to 82 centimeters. Depending on which gene was strongest between the parents, they can weigh from 45 to 120 pounds or 20 to 55 kilograms.
Coats & Colors of Border Collie Pyrenees
Thanks to their parents, Collie Pyrenees mixes have thick and double coat. This protects them from chilly and cold weather. You could see them having a topcoat and an undercoat, which can either be long, short, rough or smooth. Once again, it’ll rely on the inherited characteristics from their parents.
Typical colors are cream, red, grey, white and black. These colors usually come either as a tricolor or bicolor combination. There are other colors that might present itself. However, these may appear as patches instead of a full coat color.
Personality & Temperament of Border Collie Pyrenees
Border Collie Pyrenees mixes are watchful, loyal, devoted and protective of their owners. They’re always alert, making them wonderful watchdogs. These dogs love showing their affection too. They’re very gentle and highly responsive. In essence, they’re the perfect dog for any family.
Intelligence
This breed’s intelligence is top-notch. They’re trainable and can quickly remember what was taught. Though they can be stubborn at times, which may present a challenge. If you want to fully take advantage of its intellectual capacity, you must have a firm hand. It is you who must show control and take lead in the training.
To help you with training, remember that dogs respond well to positive reinforcement. Whenever your dog has done something good or something you like, praise them, or give them treats. This is an effective technique for them to remember it. Your dog loves challenges and exercise. The more challenging the training is, the faster they learn.
Energy
These dogs are packed with an incredible amount of energy. After all, its Border Collie and Great Pyrenees parents are accustomed to cold weather conditions and herding flocks. Today, if you have one, provide them with plenty of activity. Find time to walk them, play with them, or do some strenuous physical activities in the park. These are all effective activities to drain your dog’s energy.
Family & Kids
A truly wonderful trait of trait of Border Pyrenees is their alertness and friendliness. They’re just the perfect match for children. They normally get along with strangers and easily make friends of them. But they quickly switch into protection mode the moment they sensed a threat to their family.
However, just like any other breeds, if these lovely Great Collies are mistreated and have felt that the person in question cannot be trusted, they will always be considered a threat by these canines.
Other Animals
If you have other pets at home, bringing home a Great Collie mix shouldn’t be a problem. These easily get along with other pets. Though, you must be aware that these dogs are quite active. With herding roots from its parents, there is a big chance that they may herd small animals. In such a case, consider the tolerance of other pets as well in your home to such behavior. This way, you can be certain that issues can be averted once you decided to get one.
Strangers
While these dogs bark a lot, they don’t have aggressive behavior. So even if there are other pets or strangers, you won’t see any hostility from them. Rather, they use barking to show their aversion.
Does Border Collie Pyrenees Bark A Lot?
Barking of dogs will vary from one breed to the other. There are breeds that are barking louder compared to others while some have a quieter demeanor.
If you notice that your dog bark at night often, this may be a sign that they’re seeking attention. Try figuring out why they’re doing this kind of behavior. Check if there’s anything that you can do to fix it.
If your dog is barking excessively in the day, this could be an indication that they may be experiencing separation anxiety. Fortunately, there’s a solution for this and your trusted vet can give you the step to mitigate it.
Are Border Collie Pyrenees Good For Newbie Dog Owners?
New dog owners will not have much of a problem with Border Pyrenees. These dogs have a friendly and gentle personality. They love being with people, playing with them, or just cuddling. As previously mentioned, it’s not difficult to train these dogs since they’re smart and intelligent. Though you need to be patient and consistent in training.
If you are a vocal type of person and loves giving treats, your dog would love you even more! These are the things that this breed loves and you two will probably get along faster than you thought.
Training & Exercise of Border Collie Great Pyrenees Mix
Whether it is a Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix or other breeds, there are some obstacles and challenges when training a dog. But you can make it simpler by starting the training at a young age and showing consistency as well.
When you have this dog, plan for ongoing training. Ideally, make sure you have a plan before bringing one home. While these pups may be small at the start, they will already need positive reinforcement. Because they’re intelligent, it’s easy for them to remember commands. This is the reason why you must be gentle with the training.
Negative training will cause your dog to develop a fearful, nervous and shy personality. Failing to start training during their puppy stage will also stimulate destructive and unfavorable behavior. A large dog with an unruly attitude is the last thing you want to happen.
To make your training a success, use cuddles, praise, and treats. As said earlier, these are the things that these dogs love. It will motivate them in learning new commands. Doing it this way will make training more of a bonding moment than a task.
Taking Care & Maintenance of Border Collie and Great Pyrenees Mix
Luckily, these crossbreeds are healthy dogs and need little maintenance. You don’t have to bathe them often. You don’t have to bathe them often as doing so may deprive them of the natural oils that their body produce. Using mild dog bathing shampoo can get the job done. The cool part about this is, wherever you go, they can quickly adapt to new environments.
While these dogs can do well with little maintenance and adapt to new environments fast, make sure that they have a large space. Due to its big size, these dogs need decent space to walk and run.
Health of Great Collie Hybrid
Generally, these breeds are very healthy. Apart from the common health conditions that affect dogs, there is little chance that they would suffer from serious health problems. This hybrid dog have chances of inherting its parent’s common ailments listed below.
| Less Alarming Conditions | Alarming Conditions |
| Cataracts | Deafness |
| Skin allergies | Hip dysplasia |
| Eye infections | Elbow dysplasia |
| Ear infections | Collie eye anomaly |
Have your dog checked by your vet on a regular basis. This prepares you for any unexpected situations that may arise in the future.
Diet & Nutrition of Border Collie Great Pyrenees Crossbreed
Regardless of breed type or mix, dogs would need to be fed a healthy diet. Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix is not an exemption. Since they’re a mixed breed, there’s no specific diet made for them. Rather, it is advised to go for premium dry dog foods.
Oftentimes, these products are specifically formulated for big and active dogs. Normally, this contains the perfect balance of quality ingredients for keeping your dog healthy and fit. If you want to be sure of what to feed your dog, always consult your trusted vet as to have an educated recommendation for your pet’s diet.
Life Span of Great Pyrenees Border Collie Mix
Under normal circumstances, they can live for over a decade (roughly 10 to 13 years). This is a good number as for most dogs, this is the average lifespan. Once they passed 13th or 14th year, they may start developing health complications, which is normal.
Health Issues
Age and genetics would play a big part in your dog’s health and as they age, health problem will start to develop. Age and genetics would play a big part in your dog’s health. There are breeds that are healthier than others and there are some that are vulnerable to sickness. In the case of your Border Collie Great Pyrenees, the health conditions that they are prone to are:
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Great Collies are large breeds and they are prone to elbow and hip dysplasia. Such medical condition is brought by the improper fitting of ball joints. This sometimes happens because of the pressure that it bears from the dog’s weight.
Sooner or later, their mobility will decrease. If you see that your dog is limping or lethargic, better seek your vet. They can provide you with the best treatment to deal with your dog’s condition.
Deafness
Hearing problems are mostly brought by genetics. But this doesn’t significantly impact your dog’s health and quality of life. If you like to, you can have a custom hearing aid done for your dog. There are vets that provide this service, which is great for your dog in restoring its sense of hearing.
Collie Eye Anomaly or CEA
While this is more common among Border Collies, your Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix might still be at risk of this. In more serious cases, it could be the reason for your dog’s blindness. Remember that your dog is still part Border Collie.
Grooming of Border Collie Pyrenees
Grooming can be done twice a week but you must increase the frequency during shedding season. They have thick fur that could matt and result to skin problems. Make sure to brush them often using the right brushing tool. Applying the right technique will support their skin in releasing natural oils as well.
The advisable bathing frequency for your Great Collie pets is every 3 or 4 months. However, This depends on the type of activity that you and your dog are doing. This should be good as their coats are specifically designed to be weatherproof. It’s thick and provides great protection to the skin.
Does Border Collie Pyrenees Shed A Lot?
This breed has a thick coat so whether you like it or not, this dog will shed throughout the year. Their shedding will be twice as much when it is in season. Come spring and they’ll begin losing their winter coat. This is in preparation for warmer months. Then, it’ll shed its lighter coat in fall to give way for the thicker coat in winter.
The coat of your Great Collies play and important part in regulating its body temperature. No matter how tempting it is, don’t clip or shave their coat just so you think it’ll keep them cool in warm months. This will disrupt their temperature regulation but also, exposes them to UV rays.
Male vs Female
Aside from the visible differences of male and female, their size is what comes next. A male Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix tends to be stronger, heavier, and bigger than its female counterpart. Also, there are hormonal differences linked with the mating instinct of these dogs. As per experts though, neutering or spaying (whether male or female) can help in preventing most of its behavioral problems related to their mating instincts.
Cost
Truth is that these dogs are deemed to be a “rare” breed. The same reason why they’re difficult to find and pricey to care for. This doesn’t account for the regular vet visit and care as well as the food to feed to these dogs. Before you decide, clear your mind first whether this is the dog you really want, or you’re just excited to the idea of owning one.
Puppies
Puppies of Border Collie Great Pyrenees could go for as high as $1,000. But this figure can go lower or higher depending on the dog’s lineage, the breeder’s reputation, location, and so forth.
Breeders & Shelters
There are a lot of great reasons to purchase from a reputable and established breeder. First and foremost is predictability. You’re not just bound by the pup’s cuteness and adorability. Buying from one gives you confidence that you’re getting a dog that possesses the qualities you expect from such a mix or breed.
Besides, well-known breeders don’t just give the pups to anyone. Instead, they make sure that each pup is sent to responsible owners. Some even go the extra mile of keeping track of the dog’s condition after it left. These breeders pride themselves from producing well-adjusted and healthy dogs that have the correct personality and temperament.
Conclusion: Is Border Collie Great Pyrenees Mix Right Dog For You?
Indeed, it is nice to have a dog. They are lovely and bring life to the room. But if you’re eyeing for a Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix, you must find time to exercise them regularly. If you have an active and outdoorsy lifestyle, then they’d be perfect for you!
If you can’t allot time to exercise them, train them, and bond with them, you might have a dog that has the opposite of its positive traits. While these dogs are friendly, gentle, and smart, if you don’t know how to capitalize on these, it’ll be nothing. If you have no experience in taking care of dogs, it is best to get advice from professionals first. This way, you know what to do and can properly take care of your Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix.
