Dachshund Border Collie Mix

Even if it is not the most common crossbreed, the dachshund border collie mix is undoubtedly a showstopping cross!

When the breeders took the picturesque dachshund and combined it with the medium-sized border collie, the result was quite an unusual mix.

Unfortunately, this breed remains somewhat aloof when it calls for detailed information and statistics.

However, in this article, we attempt to discover more about the enigmatic dachshund border collie mix.

Concentrating our efforts on studying the appearance, personality, exercise requirements, and health of this cross, we also consider its potential life span.

In conclusion, we advise whether the dachshund border collie mix could be the right dog for you and your family.

What is a Dachshund Border Collie Mix?

A dachshund border collie mix is the result of breeding a dachshund with a border collie.

Dachshunds have always been held in high self-esteem. So, it’s understandable why people seek to create mixes from this breed.

However, equally as highly sought after is the border collie breed. Of course, the most popular family pet and working dog, border collies, are well revered for their high intelligence.

Due to their difference in body shapes, the result is the most varied looking cross possible! However, their different physique perhaps also explains why the dachshund border collie mix still remains a rarer sighting.

Dachshund Border Collie Mix Physical Appearance

One of the biggest problems of discussing a dachshund border collie cross comes from pinpointing their exact physical appearance.

This mix is not as typical for a wide variety of reasons. So, it’s harder to find exact literature relating to the crossbreed itself.

Border collies are a fantastic choice when it comes to crossbreeding. However, in particular, this is the cross that we yet have limited data on.

Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t determine potential outcomes by looking at both dogs in the mix retrospectively.

Dachshund Physical Appearance

Dachshunds are well known for their lower body structure. Affectionately dubbed as sausage dogs, they boast a smaller elongated body shape.
With short stubby legs, they are the more well-built and more robust of small dogs.

Coat-wise, you can find dachshunds in a vast range of glorious colours, with the more common being red and black and tan. They also present a display of smooth, wired, or even long hair.

A Border Collie’s Physical Appearance

A border collie is a medium-sized dog with an athletic build. These canines display two types of coat – either rough or smooth.

The most common colors are black and white or tan and white, but you may find many other variations.

Standing up to around 55 cm and weighing up to 20 kg, border collies’ most distinctive features are naturally upright ears! They, too, are the more robust built dog breed.

When combining these two dogs, the result is somewhat unpredictable, to say the least!

From what we’ve seen so far, the most common physical appearance of the dachshund border collie mix seems to be:

• A low lying body structure similar to that of the dachshund
• A typical selection of colors and markings that mirror that of the border collie
• Furthermore, the combination of black and white seem to prevail in the mix.

Ultimately, a dachshund border collie mix comes under a little scrutiny by dog experts and health veterinarians alike. It is predominately due to the undeniable fact that these dogs have two completely different body types – a concern that we’ll expand further on in the health of this mix.

However, to get as clear a picture as possible of a potential pup here, you’ll need to look closely at the parents for visual clues.

The best way to help your dachshund live longer?
Watch our video to find out!

Personality and Temperament

To understand the dachshund border collie mix’s personality, we need to look at the individual dogs in question.

Perhaps the fiercest of the two breeds is the border collie! It indeed has an increased need to be kept busy.

The dynamic firecrackers most of the time, border collies are alert, smart, and extremely energetic. For this reason, they require a continual challenge.

Born as working and herding dogs, border collies also have a sensitive nature. However, some of their best traits can morph into some of their worst. For the border collie, this means an independent and strong-willed streak. If border collies aren’t kept in check, their herding tendency can become persistent.

As to dachshunds, they are the bravest, fiercest, and loyal of dogs, despite their smallish size!

They also are very spirited dogs with an enormous zest for life and thrive on being kept busy and mentally challenged.

Highly intelligent, dachshunds work hard to please their owners.
However, these dogs can, too, demonstrate a stubborn side. If you don’t keep this trait in check, dachshunds can become destructive and cause trouble for their owners.

So, when breeding these two dogs, there is the potential to create the most intelligent of all dog crossbreeds.

Needless to say, you’ll need to dedicate a lot of time and energy to this crossbreed. It is especially so if your dachshund and border collie mix is to thrive in the home environment. Otherwise, you could very well find this mix quickly become overbearing and destructive in swift time.

Dachshund Border Collie Mix Lifespan

To understand the dachshund border collie mix’s potential lifespan, we need to look at the two parental breeds closer.

For a dachshund, the average lifespan is around the 12 years to 16 years mark if it remains in good health.

For a border collie in good overall health, the potential lifespan is around ten years to 14 years.

Because we don’t have enough data to go by on this mix, we merely have to consider the above information.

Therefore, a dachshund border collie potential lifespan is estimated at around the 13-year mark.

However, this is a guide and depends on the individual dog’s health and its home environment.

Dachshund Border Collie Mix Health

With dachshunds, the most common health problems stem from their elongated body structure. It extends to potential issues such as:

• IVDD – Intervertebral Disc Disease
• DM – Canine Diabetes Mellitus

Also, dachshunds might be prone to:

• Obesity
• Cushing’s disease
• Acanthosis Nigricans

Border collies, on the other hand, are the dog breed that generally remains healthy. However, like all dogs, they may be prone to specific health complications at times. It may be worth looking out for issues in the mix, such as:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Eye Disease
• Epilepsy

Undoubtedly, perhaps the biggest concern of a dachshund border collie mix centers around their body structure.
A vast difference in body size coupled with increased potential of spinal issues and hip dysplasia may cause health problems in the mix.

Exercise and Activity Requirements

Naturally, with the high-level intelligence inherited by the parental breeds, the dachshund border collie mix will need a substantial amount of physical activity and mental stimulation.

Bear in mind that this mix is a small-sized dog, and its exercise requirements center around its overall physique.

This breed will ideally need a great deal of outdoor time, benefiting greatly from ongoing access to a safe, secure yard.

Walks may not be as long but should be regular throughout the day.

As well as that, the dachshund border collie mix will undeniably need a high level of mental stimulation.

Toys, activities, and tasks they can perform to engage their mind will all benefit them greatly.

An important thing to consider is that the dachshund border collie mix won’t tolerate being alone for long.

It is also the mix that is going to need to be trained from very early on. The training will need to be implemented and referred to throughout their life. It will ensure your dachshund border collie mix will remain healthy in both body and mind.

Is a Dachshund Border Collie Mix the Right Dog for You?

As the dachshund border collie mix is relatively new, we don’t have as much information as we’d like regarding it at the present moment.

Consequently, it may make it harder for you to decide whether this crossbreed is right for you.

Overall, our advice is to get acquainted with both the dachshund and border collie parental breeds beforehand.

Also, consider how much time you can devote to this mix. One of the most intelligent crossbreeds of the canine world, the dachshund border collie mix, will need continual and ongoing attention and mental stimulation.

Thus, households, where someone is at home for most of the day, will suit the dachshund border collie mix perfectly.