The Border Collie Chihuahua mix is sure to bring its energy and intelligence to bear as it combines the quickness and speed of the Border Collie with the small-yappy-type dog nature of the Chihuahua. While not necessarily to be feared, the Border Collie Chihuahua mix will be a fearless dog, despite its small to medium sizing.
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The only way to achieve the Border Collie Chihuahua mix has been to impregnate a female Chihuahua via IVF treatments using male Border Collie sperm, as physiological boundaries make mating these two breeds an impossibility.
Border Collie Chihuahua Mix – At A Glance
| Weight: | 10–50 pounds |
| Height: | 8–22 inches |
| Lifespan: | 10–20 years |
| Coat Colors: | Black, white, brown, tan or a combination of each. |
| Temperament: | Highly energetic, stubborn, loyal, jealous, intelligent, playful. |
| Suitable for: | Active families with or without children, single individuals, not suitable for the elderly. |
What Does a Border Collie Chihuahua Mix Look Like?
Being a hybrid, designer breed, the Border Collie Chihuahua mix will likely borrow much of its looks from both parent breeds. Many designer breeds are also very unpredictable in terms of precisely which parent breed they’ll take after. You can expect your Border Collie Chihuahua mix to be a small to medium-sized dog with an adorable face – it will likely have a button nose and a short snout.
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Your Border Collie Chihuahua mix may adopt either the longer fur of the Border Collie or the short, smooth coat of the Chihuahua. It’s also likely that it will have a furry, bushy tail, like the Collie.
The History of the Border Collie Chihuahua Mix
As a designer dog breed, not much information concerning the Border Collie Chihuahua mix is readily available. However, we do know that most designer breeds of dog began to appear in the 1960s in the United States, before the designer-dog craze took off in the 1990s and early 2000s.
It stands to reason therefore, that the Border Collie Chihuahua mix will have been first bred during this period, although given the presence of artificial insemination being necessary for the creation of the mix, it’s likely that the breed appeared later, when more advanced IVF technology was available to breeders.
The History of the Border Collie
The Border Collie first appeared in Scotland in 1915, likely bred somewhere near the Scottish/English border due to its name “Border Collie”, the latter half “collie” is a word meaning “useful” in Celtic. This would seem to suggest that the Border Collie’s descendants are much older and stem mostly from Scotland.
The Border Collie was initially used as a herding dog throughout the British Isles and is very much still a working dog in the UK today – however, like most working dogs, as society transformed, they became part-working-dog and part-companion pet. They were also used as show dogs for their phenomenal intelligence and ability to follow commands.
How Popular Are Border Collies?
The Border Collie has a long history in the United States, beginning when it was initially imported to the country since it’s settlement – with paintings from the late 18th-century showing the Border Collie working as a herding dog.
Given their popularity in the UK, it’s no surprise that when British farmers emigrated to the United States, they brought their beloved Border Collies to help them herd the sheep and cattle they would rear in their new home.
This steadfast working/companion pet has meant that the Border Collie has gained huge popularity in the United States, coming in 31st in the 2021 most-popular dog rankings, curated by the American Kennel Club.
Who Are Border Collies a Good Dog For?
If there’s one thing that can be said about Border Collies, they have a fantastic work ethic and boundless energy. This can make them difficult to handle for most dog owners. However, if you do have a large yard, or access to a free-roam dog park and have a large enough internal space, then a Border Collie might just be perfect for you.
However, Border Collies do best on farms, as their heritage is all in herding. Although Collies are tremendously loyal pets to almost anyone, they’ll do better when they have things to do.
How Did Border Collies Come About?
Border Collies were originally bred in the British Isles, likely somewhere on the border between Scotland and England. Bred from old Scottish herding dogs, they were also used on Scottish and English farms (and continue to be to this day) as herding dogs.
Later, they became show dogs and companion pets in Britain and throughout much of the West.
When Did First Cross-Breed The Border Collie?
Given the history of at least a few centuries, it’s highly likely that the Border Collie was crossbred with other dogs, though that crossbreeding went unrecorded.
The more recent popularity of crossbreeding – specifically breeds such as the Border Collie (primarily crossbred for their endurance and work ethic) – began in the 1990s and early 2000s. While it’s likely that the Border Collie was crossbred well before this, modern crossbreeding history points to this period as the most likely first instance of mass-crossbreeding of the Border Collie and breeds like it.
The History of the Chihuahua
The Chihuahua’s history dates back centuries – far older than the Border Collie. It’s believed that the Chihuahua descended from the Techichi dog, a small, mute dog kept by the Toltec Peoples of the Aztec period in Mexico.
The Chihuahua’s modern history began when one was first noted in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, in the mid-19th century. Though it is unknown for what purpose(s) the Chihuahua’s direct ancestor was bred for, the modern Chihuahua was most definitely bred and kept as companion pets by Mexicans, where it first became popular in the early 20th century.
How Popular Are Chihuahuas?
The first record of a Chihuahua in the United States was when the breed was first recognized (and registered) by the American Kennel Club in 1904, via a dog named Midget, owned by a family in Texas.
Who Are Chihuahuas a Good Dog For?
Given their small size and relatively docile, low-maintenance nature, Chihuahuas are often viewed as great dogs for almost any owner. However, Chihuahuas have been known to exhibit jealous behaviour towards children and others in a family circle.
That fierce loyalty probably makes them best owned by single people, or the elderly, who benefit from their relatively low-maintenance nature.
How Did Chihuahuas Come About?
Chihuahuas have a history that stretches back centuries to the Aztecs and are descended from an Aztec dog known as the Techichi, first recorded by the Toltec People. The modern Chihuahua was first noted in the mid-19th century in Chihuahua, Mexico.
When Did First Cross-Breed The Chihuahua?
Given the fundamental physiological differences between the Chihuahua and almost any other dog breed – it’s the world’s smallest dog – crossbreeding via means other than artificial insemination is physically impossible.
Therefore, while we don’t know precisely when the first crossbreeding of the Chihuahua happened, it stands to reason that Chihuahuas were caught up in the craze of the late 1990s and early 2000s when crossbreeding reached peak popularity in the United States – and IVF treatments were technologically advanced enough to achieve high levels of successful breeding.
How Important Is a Dog’s Temperament to Your Family?
A dog’s temperament could be the make-or-break of its relationship with any family it goes to. A good fit should mean a long and happy life together – a bad fit or temperamental mismatch could mean that the dog is tragically re-homed or sent back to where it came from.
This only compounds the trauma the dog has already experienced and is no good for anyone involved. One of the most important things you can do to prevent this is to thoroughly research the likely temperament of the dog you’ll be adopting.
This research will tell you whether or not your dog is likely to fit your existing family unit well. Active families and active dogs do much better with one another than an inactive family and an energetic dog or an inactive dog and an active family.
What is the Temperament of the Border Collie Chihuahua Mix?
You can expect your Border Collie Chihuahua mix to adopt some of the temperaments of its parent breeds. The Border Collie Chihuahua mix is likely to be very energetic, excitable, particularly loyal and loving toward you and your family.
It may also be nippy towards younger children as part of its herding instinct – be mindful of this if you’re adopting it into a family with kids. While training your Border Collie Chihuahua mix, you may experience some stubbornness that is common with the Chihuahua breed – or, you may find your pup easy to train thanks to it’s Collie genes.
Is The Border Collie Chihuahua Mix Friendly?
Yes, in general, the Border Collie Chihuahua mix is a very friendly dog toward those it knows, but may be standoffish with strangers.
Is The Border Collie Chihuahua Mix Easy to Train?
If the dog inherits the obedience genes of the Border Collie, you can expect it to be straightforward to train – Border Collies have been known to memorize up to sixty different tricks! However, the Chihuahua’s side of the gene pool is slightly more stubborn and may take longer.
So, it’s a toss-up whether your Border Collie Chihuahua mix will be easy to train.
How Much Can A Border Collie Chihuahua Mix Weigh?
The average weight of a Border Collie Chihuahua mix can be between 10 and 50 pounds.
How Tall Can A Border Collie Chihuahua Mix Get?
The average height of a Border Collie Chihuahua mix can be between 8 and 22 inches.
Similar Sized Breeds
Given the difference in size between the two breeds, there is a plethora of different dog breeds that might be of a similar size. So, we’ve taken the average. Here are the breeds that are most likely to be of similar size to the Border Collie Chihuahua mix.
They are the Beagle, the Boston Terrier, the Shetland Sheepdog and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Does the Border Collie Chihuahua Mix Shed?
Yes! Whether you’ve got a long-haired or short-haired version, you should expect the Border Collie Chihuahua mix to shed plenty. We recommend weekly brushing to mitigate the fur-nado.
How Much Exercise Does A Border Collie Chihuahua Mix Require?
Due to its Border Collie genes, you can expect your Border Collie Chihuahua mix to need lots of exercise. Let your Border Collie Chihuahua mix roam freely in your yard – they’ll enjoy that far better than a leashed walk! Better yet, if you live on a farm, release the Kraken! The Border Collie Chihuahua mix will be far happier running after cattle or sheep.
If you’re only able to walk your dog, you should prepare for at least an hour of walks each day.
How Long Can a Border Collie Chihuahua Mix Live?
The average lifespan of a Border Collie Chihuahua mix is between 10 and 20 years.
What Health Conditions Could the Border Collie Chihuahua Mix Have?
- Patellar Luxation (kneecap dislocation)
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (eye problems)
- Pannus (fatty growths in joints)
How Can You Find a Border Collie Chihuahua Mix Puppy For Sale?
Before you search for a Border Collie Chihuahua puppy mix to purchase, we highly recommend that you go down the route of adoption first. You can check your local veterinary office or animal shelter, to see if anyone has dropped off a Border Collie Chihuahua mix for adoption.
Alternatively, you can search on https://www.petfinder.com/, to see if there are any Border Collie Chihuahua mix puppies up for adoption in your local area.
How Much Does a Border Collie Chihuahua Mix Puppy Cost?
The average price of a Border Collie Chihuahua mix puppy is between $800 and $1500, depending on the breeder and location.
Going down this route is a far more expensive alternative than adoption – which is why, if you’re going to spend the money, you want to make sure it’s going to a proper breeder. Read the American Kennel Club’s guidelines on finding and working with reputable breeders before venturing down the road of purchasing a Border Collie Chihuahua mix.
Is the Border Collie Chihuahua Mix the Right Breed For You?
Whether or not the Border Collie Chihuahua mix is the right breed for you will largely depend on whether or not you can give the Border Collie Chihuahua mix the life it deserves. Most Border Collie Chihuahuas love to be outdoors and are very energetic.
If you feel like you can offer the Border Collie Chihuahua the life it deserves after reading through our profile, be sure to keep an eye out for one to adopt or go down the route of purchasing one from a responsible, reputable source.