Border Collie and German Shepherd dogs have a lot of things in common. Both are relatively large working breeds meant for flocks and farms. They’re both very protective and brilliant. But, do German Shepherds and Border Collies get along?
Border Collies and German Shepherds make for great pets. For the same reason, many people choose to get a pair of Border Collie and German Shepherd puppies to enjoy all the good sides of each breed.
But before you do so, let’s take a closer look at the compatibility of these two breeds.
Do Border Collies and German Shepherds get along well, and why?
When you compare Border Collies and German Shepherds, they seem pretty similar. Most sources have the two breeds grouped into the “working dog” category. It is fitting because they are sheepdogs.
Border Collies and German Shepherds both have herding instincts, and with that comes their energy. Playing Frisbee, going on long walks or hiking, and anything else energetic, they can do it together.
German Shepherds are just as energetic as Border Collies and get along well with them.
However, Border Collies have a few herding instincts, so make sure to control their herding attempts. Otherwise, their playtime can turn into a fight.
How To Breed a German Shepherd and Border Collie
Breeding Collies and German Shepherds are exciting and promising, but only as long as you understand its in-process risks and responsibilities.
Read on to know more about its process and your needs for this job.
1) Check Out If They Are Purebreds
Almost all dog breeds are mixes, and because of this, it is difficult to say whether they are purebred. Unlike other crossbreeds, if these breeds are purebred, you can somewhat predict the outcomes.
Usually, genetic processes tend to select those characteristics that make a dog stronger. In this way, the natural crosses between dogs eliminate a series of traits such as inbreeding diseases and do not pass to the next generations.
Purebred mixes have lesser genetic disorders and health problems, predictable temperament, and increased vigor.
You can check for yourself if your Border Collie and German Shepherd are purebreds or not.
If both your dogs are in good health and have a symmetrical physique matching their breed standards, they are most likely purebred.
In any case, if you are not so sure of yourself, you can ask your vet. You don’t want the mix to have an unpredicted temperament, genetic disorders, or diseases.
2) Pay Attention To Their Temperament With Their Mate
Keep an eye on those dogs and pay attention to how they behave. They should be on good terms with each other and get along well with other dogs too.
Well-behaved and breeding-friendly dogs have tendencies to pass on their temperaments to their puppies.
Please do not breed overly fearful or aggressive dogs. They prove to be dangerous.
3) Check Your Dogs’ Age
First, make sure that your Border Collie and German Shepherd are at the optimum age to breed. Both Border Collie and German Shepherd should be at least 2.5 years old.
By this time, you can observe their genetic issues. You can get these tested in specialized screenings.
You should breed females only if they are two or more years old and not older than nine. This age period is better for handling stress during pregnancy and for better parenting skills.
4) Check that they are in good health for breeding.
Get their fertility tested. Fertility tests include semen analysis for the male dogs and progesterone hormone levels tests for females.
These tests can figure out genetic problems as well as contagious diseases. Brucellosis Test Before Breeding ensures that neither of the dogs is a career of it. It would help if you got such tests done before breeding to have no deficiency or disease in the puppies.
5) Wait for the female to go in heat.
Females need to be in their heat cycle to breed. A female is in heat twice a year, and there is no fixed timing. At that time, their reproductive organs swell and turn red.
General Information About Border Collie and German Shepherd
The border collie and the German shepherd are two herding breeds and amongst the most intelligent breeds.
They have very different styles, and today, we use the german shepherd mainly for other tasks than herding. At the same time, the border collie still excels in this area.
Even so, the border collie is used in many canine sports and is prone to outshine any other breed.
The border collie originated in the UK. Border Collie’s name came to be due to the location where breeders created this unique breed; on the border between England and Scotland, more precisely in Northumberland.
Today the german shepherd is one of the most versatile breeds on the planet, and it is easy to forget that his origin was for herding sheep.
Herding dogs are known for their trainability, and these breeds are no exception. Both the border collie and the German shepherd are extremely easy to train.
There’s no wonder both police and the military use the German shepherd for canine service.
The only real difference between these breeds is that perhaps the border collie is just a tiny bit quicker to learn, even the stuff you don’t want him to know.
With a border collie, you have to be intelligent and quick. Border Collies pick up everything, and if you’re not outsmarting him, he will outsmart you and take on all the bad habits you don’t want him to have.
Both breeds are high-energy, but the border collie may outdo the german shepherd in the learning aspect.
They are, however, brilliant, and considering their herding ancestry, they are eager to work.
Be prepared to entertain your dog no matter with which of these breeds you end up working. They are hard-working dogs and thrive when allowed to do that.
Temperament And Appearance Of Border Collie and a German Shepherd Mix
The look of the Border Collie German Shepherd mix traces back to its German Shepherd parent. His primary coat colors are black, brown, gold, and white. It is often a mixture of two or more colors.
They look almost the same as the German Shepherd, and therefore, it is often mistaken for identification. However, their tail is not as fluffy as that of the German Shepherd, and its ears are also different.
No matter what they look like, these dogs will have strong muscles and high levels of endurance, ideal for herding livestock.
Because this breed is made from intelligent dogs like German Shepherd and Border Collie, their intelligence is amazing. Their temperament is a mix of guard and herding dogs.
How To Train a Border Collie German Shepherd Mix
It is effortless to train a mix of Border Collies and German Shepherds, as long as you know what to do. Natural selection also makes mixed breed dogs nobler and less prone to developing behavior problems. However, upbringing and education also influence this aspect.
Encourage, praise, and reward the behavior you like to see. Label and repeat the method. Giving him a treat after he feels right will encourage him to want to do it again because he found out that’s the right thing to do by getting a reward.
Avoid using forfeit or intimidation techniques – this never works and can lead to behavioral problems.
This is especially true for this hybrid as they do not respond well to harmful methods. This is not an excellent way to train.
This breed is more accessible to instruct than others because they focus on food. For the same reason, you can train them by giving them treats.
Usually, this hybrid is not aggressive, but it is always better for a puppy to socialize earlier with other puppies.
Conclusion
German Shepherds and Border collies do get along and are a perfect match for each other. But before you breed them, you must take care of their health and temperament and have an acceptable reason for doing so.