Border Aussie puppies

About the Border Aussie

The Border Aussie crosses the Border Collie with the Australian Shepherd, two herding breeds PetMD describes as workaholics. This is a relatively new mix with no set standard. PetMD gives adults as 13.6 to 29.5 kg with a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years, the range it gives for both parents. The coat is thick and weather resistant.

Plan on one to two hours of physical and mental exercise every day. Without it, the herding instinct gets turned on children and other animals, and chewing, barking and separation anxiety follow. Brush once or twice a week and more in spring and autumn. Ask about coat colour before buying: merle and white coats are linked with inherited deafness, and both parents should be DNA tested for MDR1, which changes which drugs are safe to give.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Border Aussie puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened by hip scoring radiographs of both parents
• Progressive retinal atrophy, detectable by DNA test and eye examination
• Congenital deafness in one or both ears, more likely in merle and white dogs, which can be confirmed with a hearing test
• Epilepsy, diagnosed after other causes of seizures are ruled out and managed with medication
• Multi-drug resistance mutation (MDR1), detectable by DNA test and important to know before certain drugs are given

Your Border Aussie puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Border Aussie.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 13.6 to 29.5 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 29.5 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Border Aussie

Previous: Borador · Next: Border Collie

Sources

• petmd.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• Health notes from Border Aussie breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/border-aussie. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

No published figure for adult height, the good with children rating, the good with other dogs rating and country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.