Get to Know the Border Collie Dachshund Mix: Origin, Appearance, and More

The Border Collie Dachshund Mix, also known as a BCdox, is an adorable but unique dog that comes from breeding two different types of dogs, the Border Collie and the Dachshund. Although any dog registry doesn’t recognize this mixed breed in the U.S., it is popular among pet owners who appreciate the traits of each parent dog and want to pass them on to their pets. Here’s what you need to know about the Border Collie mix with Dachshund, including its origin, appearance, temperament, and more.

Dachshund border collie mix is one of the unique dog breeds out there and making one yourself isn’t as easy as crossing two purebreds together. To get to know this hybrid dog better, here’s what you need to know about its origin, appearance, temperament, and more.

The Background

One of the more recent additions to family dogs is the dachshund border collie mix. The mixed breed is composed of 50% dachshund and 50% border collie. This mix has also been called a wiener dog or collie-dawg. Initially bred by people who desired a pup that was easier to train than a traditional herding dog such as a border collie. A lesser-known fact about this mix is that they are born with short legs but, over time, grow taller. 

Identifying the physical attributes and personality traits of the border Collie Dachshund Mix is pretty challenging, as with other crossbreeds. Therefore, let’s examine the two parent breeds.

Border Collie Dogs

Around the Anglo-Scottish border, the Border Collie was first developed as a working and herding dog in the late nineteenth century. These dogs were frequently employed to herd sheep, often employing their speed, energy, and piercing gaze to control the animals.

Border Collies have a clever, submissive, and tenacious nature. Intelligent kids pick things up quickly; therefore, it’s crucial to keep their minds active.

Due to their elongated bodies, these dogs were able to flush out unwelcome animals miles from their underground caves, as well as rodents like groundhogs and gerbils.

Border Collies are intelligent, submissive, and stubborn in character. These puppies pick things up rapidly because of their intellect, but keeping their minds engaged is crucial.

Their other qualities, such as boldness and loud bark, also assisted them in achieving this. They were made to be noisy and powerful so they could fight off undesirable critters.

The Doxie is now a well-liked family pet throughout the world.

The dachshund border collie mix makes an excellent pet for someone who likes a challenge. This hybrid will keep you on your toes from puppyhood through adulthood. If you want a dog that can participate in competitive obedience events or agility courses, or just run around with kids in playtime activities, consider adding one of these pups to your family.

Dachshund

Dogs of the Dachshund, Doxie, or Weiner breed date back many years. They were first developed in Germany many years ago.

Because of their lengthy bodies, they could drive mice and other rodents out of their underground dens.

Doxies were powerful and boisterous, always prepared to face unpleasant things, in addition to being so fearless and such good barkers.

Their days of hunting are long gone. Dachshunds are now adored family pets that can blend in with any household.

Appearance

How Does the BCXD Look? The border collie dachshund mix can have a small frame like the Dachshund or a slightly larger frame with an extended back like the border collie. The most distinguishing feature of this mixed breed is that it has long ears, but its ears are longer than the border collies. Usually, there is no other coat type present other than a smooth coat that is either medium or short in length.

Combining two separate dog breeds is never a sure thing because you never know which of the two the puppy will take after. However, it seems that the dachshund genes are more dominant when it comes to stature, and a puppy has a very high chance of inheriting those adorable tiny legs and a torso that is low to the ground.

This combination typically has rough, two-color fur that resembles the traditional Collies pattern: white underneath and black or brown throughout the rest of the body. They can also be tricolored; however, these are relatively uncommon. The Border Weenie typically has two coats, like its sheep-herding ancestors.

Size

One of the first things many people are curious about when considering a pet is size. Will this dog be too big for my apartment? Will it fit in my car or under my desk at work? Keep in mind that both parent breeds have their size ranges, with the border collie typically taller and more extensive than the dachshund. With that said, how large will a border collie dachshund mix get?

The average adult weight for a male border collie dachshund mix is usually around 40 pounds, while females usually weigh between 30-35 pounds. The height range also tends to fall between 18-24 inches tall at the shoulder (male) and 16-20 inches tall (female). All in all, the size of your pup may vary from small to medium-sized dog slightly from what you’re expecting, but you can always consult your vet if you’re still concerned about whether or not your pup’s physical characteristics will suit your needs.

What Is their Coat Like?

A border collie dachshund mix usually has a long coat that requires daily brushing. The wiry hair on their head is shorter than what you will find elsewhere on their body. To keep this mixed breed clean, it’s vital to bathe them with oatmeal shampoo and conditioner frequently. In addition to a bath, a border collie dachshund mix also needs regular nail trims because they have light nails that often grow too quickly.

Temperament

What Is Their Temperament Like? Border collie dachshund mix dogs are a combination of two very smart dog breeds. As a result, they tend to be more highly motivated and have a very high intelligence level. They also share strong herding instincts from their border collie ancestry combined with the tenacity of their dachshund lineage. This combination often means that these mixes require a fair amount of exercise on top of other activities stimulating their brain activity.

They are naturally curious, clever, and playful little beings fiercely devoted to their people. Border Collies and Dachshunds are a composure pair who will do anything to defend their owner. Being as energetic as they are, they will undoubtedly enjoy chasing anything that moves, like a mouse, a cat, a bicycle, or a car.

Are They Good with Children?

Yes! Border collie dachshund mixes love playing with children as they are always happy to play fetch. They are also affectionate, which means that children can cuddle with them for hours.

The dog’s age, training expertise, and unique characteristics all play a role in how well your new Dachshund Border Collie puppy will fit in with your family.

From birth, until the dog is old enough to be a family dog, its potential should be nurtured.

Exercise

These cute little furry balls are very active. Additionally, they enjoy being mentally challenged in addition to engaging in physical activity. Energy-filled dogs will engage in inappropriate behavior, including chewing on your belongings, biting, and loud barking, if they are not given adequate exercise.

Get ready to walk, run, or hike with the Dachshund Collie border mix for at least 45 minutes each day unless your neighbors (or you) appreciate the sounds of barking. A further 30 minutes should be set aside for mental exercises, such as retrieving or flirting poles, because these intelligent little dogs appreciate having their brains challenged.

Of course, how much exercise your dog prefers will depend on both of you. Early physical conditioning of the dog will reduce the amount of training required as they age, and vice versa.

Diet

Border collie dachshund mix dogs need a particular diet because they can develop bone or joint problems. In addition, border collie dachshund mix puppies should not be fed full-sized dog food at a young age.

Health Issues To Watch Out For

 

Some health issues come with this type of crossbreed, so it’s essential to do research before adopting one.

Hip dysplasia: It is a condition that occurs during the growth stage in dogs. It results in loosening the hip joint, which causes dysfunction and pain. As the dog grows, the cartilage and bone of the hip begin to wear down. Over time, this causes arthritis, muscle atrophy, and limited mobility.

For example, they can be predisposed to elbow dysplasia, leading to joint pain and, in extreme cases, arthritis. A thorough vet exam should always be performed before getting any dog (especially one with a mixed breed).

Idiopathic epilepsy: Studies have shown that this breed may develop cancer of the blood vessels at an earlier age than other breeds. Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is the condition of repeated seizures throughout a pet’s life without an identified cause despite extensive testing (such as bloodwork, MRI, spinal fluid sampling, etc.) Idiopathic epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurologic problems affecting pets.

Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is usually caused by one of two diseases: lymphocytic thyroiditis or idiopathic thyroid gland atrophy. The former disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism and is thought to be an immune-mediated disease. This means the immune system decides that the thyroid is abnormal or foreign and attacks it. It is unclear why this occurs; however, it is a heritable trait, meaning genetics plays a role in this condition. In idiopathic thyroid gland atrophy, fat tissue replaces normal thyroid tissue. This condition is also poorly understood.

These two causes of hypothyroidism account for more than 95% of the cases in dogs. The other five percent are due to rare diseases, including thyroid gland cancer.

Shedding

If your border dachshund collie mix has a coat similar to a longhaired Dachshund, expect them to shed heavily. To reduce the amount of shedding in this dog’s short-haired coat, brush the fur once a week with a slicker brush. Plus, vacuum your floor more often than you would for an average pet owner.

Grooming

Your dachshund border collie mix require proper grooming regularly. Brush their fur once a week using a slicker brush and vacuum your floors more often than usual as they are prone to shedding heavily. These dogs are also one of the breeds that require some form of exercise every day, which can be anything from taking them on walks, playing fetch, or even just tossing around balls in the backyard. These dogs are intelligent and quick learners, so it should be easy to teach them new tricks!

Fun fact about Border collie dachshund mix

A dachshund’s back is long and flexible, which means it can get into smaller spaces in search of prey. On the other hand, a border collie’s back is short, so they cannot fit as well. This may be why some dog breeds work better at chasing animals than others. For example, terriers have that small back but are excellent for going after rodents. The border collie and dachshund mix share these qualities; it makes them great hunting partners.

A lot of people want this breed because their intelligence is unmatched. If you need a dog to help you with your intellectual pursuits, this is your perfect match.

Life Expectancy

The average life expectancy of a Border Collie Dachshund mix is 14 years. However, this lifespan varies depending on the dog’s health conditions, diet, and care.

Cost

So, how much does a border collie Dachshund mix cost? This mixes two prevalent breeds that, make it a bit more expensive. A border collie dachshund mix puppy will range from $1,500-$2,000, while an adult dog would be more in the $700-$900 range. And this is if you are looking for a purebred border collie dachshund mix. 

I know it may seem expensive, but they are worth every penny! They are active dogs and want to play all day long.

Is the border collie dachshund mix suitable for me?

Is a border collie dachshund mix right for you? You might have been thinking about getting a dog for some time now. Maybe you have always wanted one, but didn’t know what kind of dog would fit your lifestyle or personality.

Maybe you recently lost your old best friend and are looking for a new pup to share your heart with. In any case, there is an interesting breed that could be perfect for you- it’s called the border collie dachshund mix. This breed was bred by crossing a purebred wire-haired miniature dachshund with a purebred border collie in order to get these extraordinary dogs.

Pros and cons of owing Border collie dachshund mix

There are several advantages and disadvantages to having this type of mixed breed dog, which will be discussed below.

Pros

Energy: These dogs have a high energy level

Intellectual level: They can do basic tricks like sit, stay, shake hands, roll over, lay down, and high-five at an early age- most likely due to their smarts.

Size: They don’t take up as much space as larger breeds.

Less Exercise: It also makes them easier to handle and care for since they don’t need as much exercise. 

Cons

Boring: This breed gets bored easily

Shyness: Get shy in front of strangers

Training: They require a challenging way to train

Conclusion

A Border Collie Dachshund mix is one of the unique dog breeds out there and making one yourself isn’t as easy as crossing two purebreds. To get to know this hybrid dog better, and is not a recognized dog breed by many kennel clubs. As such, it doesn’t have as formalized a temperament or origin.