Borador Basics
Playful and energetic, the Borador makes an absolutely excellent family dog. This is a pup that puts a smile on every family member’s face and a spring in their step! Often described as a naturally happy breed of dog, they are incredibly sweet and are always great around children as well as other dogs. They’ll bite and play with any toys you give them, yet they will gently and lovingly lick your kids head to toe if given the chance. Sounds perfect, right? Well, that’s because the Borador is a mixed breed pooch that inherits traits from two fantastic dog breeds. This designer dog was developed by crossing a Border Collie with a Labrador Retriever. As you all know, those are two incredible breeds of dog. So you can just imagine what a combination of those two parental breeds will deliver.
Needless to say, in addition to wonderful personality, this particular mix of genes ensures remarkable intelligence as well. You see, despite these dogs being so full of energy, Boradors are surprisingly easy to train and can be taught to perform a variety of tasks with minimal repetition. Smart and loyal, they also do well with singles or childless couples (especially if those couples live an active lifestyle). Boradors need plenty of daily exercise in the form of walks, runs, and really love to play fetch. That means your tennis ball will become their new favorite toy!
Sounds like a pretty special designer dog, huh? Well, they are. However, not every dog is right for every home. Fortunately, you’ve come to right place to find out. Keep your eyes glued to this page and scroll away. All will be revealed.
Expect to make plenty of fond, hilarious memories with this little guy both when he’s a little clumsy puppy and as an energetic, playful adult.
Origin
There’s not much information about the origin of the Borador. Designer dogs are a new phenomenon, and more often than not, they lack well-documented history. So, when it comes to the borador’s origin, the best that we can offer is guesswork. Just like most hybrids, it’s highly likely that the Borador was first created in the United States at some point during the last two decades. However, the fact that this is a new breed didn’t stop the Borador from quickly rising to fame. Owing to the exceptional qualities that they inherit from their parents, these dogs have become a popular choice to work as service dogs. Whether it’s to work as a K9 drug and bomb detection dog or to be a guide dog for people with visual impairment, this designer dog has shown to be up to the task each time. Boradors are excellent working dogs that always excel at their assigned tasks.
Pedigree
The Borador is a cross between a purebred Border Collie and a Labrador Retriever. Like the majority of other designer dogs, this is a so-called F1 or first generation mix, meaning that the mom and dad are always purebred dogs. While this might lead to unpredictability in appearance (no two Boradors are exactly alike, even amongst puppies born in the same litter!), some breeders believe that F1 mixes are the healthiest.
Even though this mixed breed dog is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, and, as such, not eligible for official pedigree papers, the proof of his good breeding is in the parents- rather than the papers. The best bet you have of knowing what to expect from your Borador puppy is to meet their mom and dad and learn more about their family tree. If you’re dealing with a reputable breeder, it should be easy enough to at least access their parents papers. If you are dealing with breeders who won’t allow that, chances are they are not a breeder worth dealing with. Sadly there are many breeders out there who follow unsafe practices and they should be avoided at all costs. Be skeptical of low prices. These breeders should never be encouraged or patronized by true dog lovers.
Food / Diet
Most (if not all) dogs do best on a diet that consists mostly of high-quality dry food for dogs. The Borador is no exception. The only trick is to find kibble that suits their unique needs (and of course, that have a flavor your dog likes!). Their food should suit their size and activity level (medium, active dogs) and age (puppy, adult, or senior). From time to time, you can include “treats” in form of kibble toppers like wet food or cooked meat and veggies.
As an energetic dog, Boradors will need plenty of food to keep them going. One and a half to two and a half cups of dry kibble should give them an abundance of nutrition for the day, and keep their teeth healthy and strong. Be sure to consult your local veterinarian to find out which brand is best for your dog. While dog food manufacturers and pet blogs provide useful guidelines, they are still guidelines and not gospel. All dogs are different and have their own dietary needs. The only person qualified to determine the specific needs of your personal pup is your vet. So always rely on them before altering or establishing your dog’s diet.
Forever happy and always eager to please, the Borador’s infectious positive aspect on life will absolutely color your entire life.
Training
The Borador breed has a strong reputation as a working dog and tend to have some of the hardest dog jobs around. Because of their wonderful trainability, they often participate in competitive obedience, man trailing, narcotic detection, search and rescues, and other police work. They are also excellent service dogs, serving the blind and people with disabilities to make their lives a little bit easier. It’s remarkable what these dogs are able to do. They truly are born working dogs.
Now, if Boradors are able to easily learn how to become a narcotics dog, it is safe to say that they can be taught to sit, stay and perform many different tricks with minimal training sessions. Be patient, firm, and always reward your dog with a treat to associate good behaviour with an edible prize and you’ll easily teach this dog how to roll over, retrieve your daily newspape,r and lots of other nifty tricks. With all this mind, it’s safe to say that the Borador is also one of the best dog breeds for first-time and beginner owners! Just make sure to always focus on positive reinforcement and rewards-based training. Anything less is closer to abuse than training and will never get the results that you seek.
Weight
As a medium-sized dog, you can expect the Borador to weigh anywhere between 35-45 pounds once fully grown. Pretty standard. Nothing out of the ordinary here.
Temperament / Behavior
Expect to make plenty of fond and hilarious memories with this little guy both when he is a little clumsy puppy and an energetic, yet playful adult. Rain or shine, the Borador loves to be your workout buddy when you go outside for a run or even a nice and long leisurely walk through the park. If you’re not as active, be sure to account for the fact that Boradors still need plenty of exercise. So, a large yard with plenty of indoor and outdoor playtime is essential to keep this pup happy and healthy.
The Borador is also a wonderful family breed. Their loving and sweet nature comes from labrador retrievers, which are arguably one of the best family-friendly dog breeds around. Nothing is private when it comes to the Borador: he’ll be around when you eat, sleep, do homework, play board games…in short, this dog will be right beside you wherever you go. They are absolutely velcro dogs. Forever happy and always eager to please, the Borador’s infectiously positive way of life will absolutely affect your own mood every day.
This breed does not tend to show aggression towards humans and other animals, which is great if you’re looking to add another pooch to your growing herd of cats and dogs. They are also not known to excessively bark but they will alert you if someone knocks on your door or rings the doorbell with a few sharp barks, which is very much a Border collie trait. You can feel the parent breeds in this dog at all times, so thankfully the Borador comes from a very impressive lineage.
Common Health Problems
Because this is a crossbreed, Boradors may inherit health issues that are associated with its parent breeds (but it doesn’t guarantee that your dog will suffer from any of them). Some common health problems that plague Labrador Retrievers include hip and/or elbow displace, luxating patella, osteochondritis, panosteitis, wobbler’s syndrome, cruciate ligament rupture, hypertrophic osteodystrophy and a few eye diseases. Border collies are also prone to minor health problems including seizures, progressive retinal atrophy, osteochondritis dissecans, lens luxation, hypothyroidism, patent ductus arteriosus, Collie eye anomaly, and major problems like canine hip dysplasia.
In addition to breed-specific health issues, the Borador can be prone to issues such as obesity. This problem is a direct result of a poor lifestyle and can be easily prevented with a bit of care and attention from the owner. In order to keep the Borador’s weight under control, be sure not to overfeed him/her and incorporate plenty of exercise into their day-to-day lives. An overweight dog can suffer from health complications as a result of their weight. As always, it’s important to maintain regularly scheduled checkups with your vet (especially as your dog ages) to ensure that any potential health issues are identified and treated as early as possible.
Life Expectancy
A healthy Borador is expected to live between 14 to 15 years.
Exercise Requirements
The Borador must go on regular walks and/or runs not only to keep their weight under control, but also to burn all that energy inside of them. They are very energetic and love to play both inside and out, no matter the weather. For that reason, the Borador needs a human family who has enough time and room for walks, runs, and hardcore play time (which includes their all-time favorite game of fetch).
As a rule of thumb, the Borador will need circa 45 to 60 minutes of deliberate exercise each day. This means that they’re a better fit for houses with a securely fenced backyard where they could run around and play. That said, since these are such friendly and well behaved animals, Boradors can live happy lives in apartments too. They just need their owners to provide enough activity.
In addition to their need for physical activity, the Borador will need an engaging and productive outlet for its active mind. These dogs are very smart and task-oriented, so boredom can lead to destructive behaviors. Unless he’s a working dog in addition to being a pet, the Borador will need puzzle toys and stimulating and fun activities in their routine to be content. Boradors need plenty of physical activity and mental stimulation, so, regardless of their physical living circumstances, these dogs need owners who can keep up with their needs in order to live full and happy lives.
Boradors need plenty of daily exercise in the form of walks, runs, and really love to play fetch – your Tennis ball will become their new favorite toy!
Recognized Clubs
The Borador is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), Designer Breed Registry (DBR), Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC), Dog Registry of America (DRA) as well as the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR). It is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, as it is considered to be a hybrid breed.
Coat
Borador coats come in a range of beautiful colors including solid black, brown, tan, or a combination of those hues. Depending on how much they take from their parents, the Borador can have short or medium-length fur. Should your Borador have medium fur, you should brush it regularly to keep it shiny and tangle-free. They also don’t shed very much, making it great news for families who dislike puppy versions of their Borador in the form of fur nestled in every corner of their home.
Puppies
The Borador can birth a litter of up to nine mini-mes. As a puppy, Boradors tend to look more like labrador retrievers than border collie pups. These puppies can fit in the palm of your hand when they are born and need constant supervision (especially with kids) until they are about six months old because they are so fragile. Be sure to expose Borador pups to kids and other dogs to bring out their playful nature. Early socialization is vital to ensure that these puppies grow up to be their best selves. Plus, there will be plenty of adorable photo ops. Borador puppies are absolutely adorable, so your phone’s hard drive will fill up with photos fast!
Photo credit: eriklam/Bigstock; robeo/Bigstock
