Top 10 merle dutch shepherd border collie mix You Need To Know

The Dutch Shepherd Border Collie mix breed is going to be a truly unique hybrid dog regardless of which parent dog your puppy most favors.

If there is one fact you can bet on when choosing a Dutch Collie, it is this: you will be choosing a working dog through and through.

Because these dogs have special exercise, training, and enrichment needs, you really need to be prepared and do your homework before deciding to make a commitment to a Dutch Collie puppy or rescue dog.

In this article, learn what you need to know about the one-of-a-kind Dutch Collie hybrid dog breed and decide if this is the right dog for you.

See a Dutch Shepherd and a Border Collie Dog Playing

This YouTube video offers you a perfect example of some of the differences and similarities between the Dutch Shepherd and Border Collie dog breeds.

Both dogs are working herding dogs with high energy levels and strong prey drives. But the Dutch Shepherd is a true guarding and protection dog and the Border Collie is a true livestock guardian dog.

So the Dutch Shepherd is out front, just as this dog would be when guarding a person.

And the Border Collie is herding the Dutch Shepherd, coming at him from behind just as a working Collie would do when herding a group of livestock animals.

Dutch Shepherd Border Collie Mix: Dog Breeds History

One of the best ways to learn more about what your Dutch Collie might be like as an adult is to learn more about the history and development of each parent dog breed.

Dutch Shepherd history

The Dutch Shepherd, as this dog’s name suggests, hails from The Netherlands.

As the American Kennel Club (AKC) points out, these dogs have a strong herding background.

They are also in high demand for military, police, and private protection and security K-9s. And Dutch Shepherds make great service dogs in search and rescue, guide dog roles, and more.

Border Collie history

The Border Collie is currently the 35th most popular (out of 196 breeds) dog breed registered through the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Today, the Border Collie is largely recognized to be the best herding dog breed in the world.

They are unmatched in their agility, speed, courage, tenacity, and sheer talent when it comes to herding and protecting livestock.

These dogs are also championship canine athletes that routinely medal in K-9 agility and other canine sports.

Dutch Shepherd Border Collie mix history

As you can see from this overview, a Dutch Collie is going to be smart, focused, tireless, and extremely talented at any job they undertake.

Dutch Shepherd Border Collie Mix Personality & Temperament

The Dutch Shepherd Border Collie mix dog brings together two distinctive purebred dog breeds with some very complimentary personality and temperament traits.

Dutch Shepherd personality and temperament

The Dutch Shepherd is known to be a smart, active, and lively dog breed that is keen to work and provide protection to their charges.

However, these dogs are also stubborn and independent, which is a facet of the type of work they have been bred to do.

Border Collie personality and temperament

The Border Collie is very smart, active, and energetic, which can make these lively dogs very challenging to keep in a pet dog setting.

Dutch Shepherd Border Collie mix personality and temperament

The Dutch Collie needs to stay active to be happy and healthy – there are no two ways about it.

Dutch Shepherd Border Collie Mix: Size, Height, and Weight

If you live in a situation where you cannot accommodate a large dog breed, it will be especially important to learn as much as you can about the size of both purebred dog parents before making a commitment to a Dutch Collie puppy.

Dutch Shepherd size, height, and weight

The Dutch Shepherd typically stands between 21.5 and 24.5 inches and weighs between 42 and 75 pounds.

This is quite a big range weight-wise, which means the best way to guesstimate a puppy’s adult size is to meet the parent dogs.

Border Collie size, height, and weight

The Border Collie typically stands between 18 and 22 inches tall and weighs between 30 and 55 pounds.

Dutch Shepherd Border Collie size, height, and weight

Here you can see that you can expect your Dutch Collie to stand between 18 and 24 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 30 to 75 pounds.

Dutch Shepherd Border Collie Mix: Training and Exercise Needs

Do Dutch Collies need a lot of exercise? You had better believe it!

Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Border Collie are literally born to run, to herd, to be out in the elements in difficult terrain doing challenging jobs for long hours every single day.

These dogs will be a handful to tire out even for the most active individual or family.

And you will also need to provide very specific training and socialization to help your dog temper their guarding and protection instincts so they can distinguish between friendly visitors and potential threats.

Perhaps most importantly, never let your Dutch Collie off-lead in an unfenced area.

Your dog will inherit such a strong chase and run drive from both parent dogs that you risk losing your dog forever if they get out.

Dutch Shepherd Border Collie Mix: Coat Care, Shedding & Grooming

For most dog owners, one of the biggest time commitments aside from training and exercise is coat care.

As well, some dog lovers are very sensitive to pet dander, which can mean it is important to find out in advance if a dog will shed a lot before making that lifetime commitment.

Dutch Shepherd coat care, shedding, and grooming

The Dutch Shepherd is a true working dog breed. This means that the Dutch Shepherd’s parent dog will contribute the traditional thick, double-layer coat of a working canine.

Dutch Shepherds do not typically need many baths, but they do need regular brushing to keep the coat clean, healthy, and free from tangles and mats.

And during the seasonal shifts, you can expect the shedding to be heavy and even profuse.

Border Collie coat care, shedding, and grooming

The Border Collie is also a true working dog breed. These dogs can be bred in smooth or rough coats, but both types will need daily brushing to keep the coat healthy and free from tangles and mats.

And the Border Collie, like the Dutch Shepherd, will shed year-round and seasonally. The seasonal shedding will be quite heavy.

Dutch Shepherd Border Collie mix coat care, shedding, and grooming

No matter which parent dog your Dutch Collie most favors genetically, you can count on having to do a lot of brushing to keep the coat healthy and functioning well.

During the seasonal changes, you will have a lot of shed hair to deal with, so it will be good to keep a vacuum cleaner on hand.

Dutch Shepherd Border Collie Mix: Longevity & Health Issues

Many purebred dog breeds today are facing serious genetic health issues. This is primarily due to focused breeding for specific appearance traits.

Hybrid breeding programs can inject some much-needed genetic diversity back into the gene pool. But this only works if both parent dogs are healthy to start with.

Dutch Shepherd longevity and health issues

According to the American Dutch Shepherd Association, the Dutch Shepherd breed has the following known possible genetic health issues you need to be aware of:

• Hip dysplasia
• Eye health issues
• Sensitivity to anesthesia

The Dutch Shepherd has a typical life expectancy of 11 to 14 years.

Border Collie longevity and health issues

According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Border Collie breed has the following known possible genetic health issues you need to be aware of:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Shoulder issues
• Eye issues
• Heart issues
• Congenital deafness
• Autoimmune thyroiditis
• Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (neurological degenerative brain condition)
• Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (autoimmune bacterial infections)

The Border Collie has a typical life span of 12 to 15 years.

Dutch Shepherd Border Collie mix: longevity and health issues

The Border Collie definitely brings the majority of health concerns into the mix when you are considering adopting a Dutch Collie puppy.

For this reason, it is important to check the breeder’s health records to be sure all available pre-breeding genetic health tests have been done.

Dutch Shepherd Border Collie Mix: Is This the Right Dog For You?

If your idea of the perfect companion canine is an energetic, smart, active dog that loves to run and hike and jump and learn tricks and explore the great outdoors, you may find your ideal mix in the Dutch Collie.

Related Reading: Meet the Shollie: The German Shepherd Border Collie Mix