If you love Huskies and Border Collies, you definitely won’t be disappointed with a Border Husky! This hybrid pup takes a little bit from each parent, but most of all, they inherit tons of energy and enthusiasm from both parents.
If you are ready for hours of entertainment and some solid cuddle sessions after a long day, this breed is perfect for you.
We understand that huskies are unique and require special care, so we’ve created this one-stop shop to help you find the must-have items for your furry friend.
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Key Questions Answered
What is a Border Collie Husky Mix called?
Border Collie Husky Mixes are called Border Huskies!
How much is a Border Collie Husky Mix?
Border Huskies usually cost between $500 and $1200. However, you could find a Border Husky for $300 to $500 from an oopsie litter! Or even for as low as $200 from a shelter or rescue.
Where to buy a Border Collie Husky Mix?
Visit LancasterPuppies.com to search for a Border Husky in your area or try your luck at a local shelter.
Border Collie Husky Mix Traits & Characteristics
- Intelligent
- Chatty/talkative
- Loving and affectionate
- Energetic
- Free-thinker
Traits Summary Table
| Traits | Border Collie Husky Mix |
|---|---|
| Eye Color | Blue, brown, black or a combination. |
| Coat Color | Black, brown, gray, tan, red and merle. |
| Shedding | Lots of shedding! |
| Height | ~22 inches |
| Weight | 35-45 pounds |
| Temperament | Friendly, affectionate, fun-loving! |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
| Intelligence | Very intelligent |
| Activity Level | Very active! |
| Good With Kids? | Good with kids (but keep an eye on them!) |
| Speed | 30mph |
| Endurance | 100-150 miles per day |
| Origin | First bred in 90's as a designer breed |
| Price | $500-$1200 |
| PROS | Quick learner with training, athletic and always ready for an adventure and hard working! |
| CONS | Escape artist, destructive if bored, vocal with barking and howling. |
Appearance
Like any mix and even some purebred dogs, it can be hard to predict what exactly a Border Husky puppy will look like until it’s developed a bit more.
No two Border Huskies will look exactly alike! One might have straight triangular husky ears, and another pup from the same litter could have the half-flopped triangular ear of the collie.
Colors
Oftentimes, the Husky genes will prevail, resulting in the Husky patterning, but the browns, grays, tans, reds, and even merles from the collie side can shine through as well.
As far as their eye color goes, the Border Husky will inherit blue, brown, black, or sometimes even a combination of two colors!
Coat & Shedding
The Border Husky will take after both parents and have medium-length thick fur. The Border Collie is known to have two variations to its coat though both are dense and weather-resistant like the Husky’s.
One kind is called the soft coat and is more of a medium-length light and soft coat, while the other, the rough coat, is shorter in length and, as the name suggests, coarse or rough to the touch.
The Border Husky can have either or a combination of both, depending on its genetic makeup. Either way, get ready for some shedding!
Both breeds are notorious shedders, especially when the seasons change. You’ll want to do an all-over brush out at least once to twice a week to stay ahead of the shedding.
Size
As far as size goes, the Border Collie stands between 18 and 22 inches and weighs between 30-55 pounds. The Siberian Husky is typically a bit bigger and stands at between 20 and 23.5 inches, and weighs between 35 and 60 pounds.
A mix between the two usually ends up in the ballpark of 35-45 pounds and stands at around 20 inches.
Temperament & Personality
The Border Husky is a friendly, affectionate, fun-loving, and busy dog. Depending on the individual dog, they can be a bit shy of strangers, but the husky usually takes over and wants to make friends with everybody.
Lifespan
The Border Husky can live a long and healthy life. The average Border Collie lives anywhere from 12-15 years, whereas the Siberian Husky lives about 12-14 years on average.
A mix between the two will most likely fall somewhere in the middle. With proper nutrition, exercise, and preventative healthcare, the Border Husky can live a healthy, long life.
Further reading: How old is my Husky in humans years?
Intelligence
The Border Collie is well-known for being one of the most intelligent breeds (ranked #1 in obedience and working intelligence!). They are high performers in agility, obedience, and any other athletic competition.
The Husky is, of course, intelligent too. The Husky in the border husky may tend to have a bit of a rebellious streak. This just means that training is a must, and you’ll probably need to find a really delicious treat to convince them that it’s worth listening to you!
Further reading: How smart is a Siberian Husky?
Activity Level
The Border Husky is undoubtedly a busy bee! These pups want to be doing something almost all the time, whether it’s going for a walk or playing ball in the backyard. Whatever it is, count them in!
Are Border Collie Husky Mixes Good With Kids?
The Husky isn’t known for being easily scared or startled, and they are known for being outgoing and social. Border Collies are also known for being good family dogs so long as they have an outlet for all that energy.
Training will be necessary, though, as the Border Husky will no doubt have the instinct to want to herd other animals and even people.
With the chaos that small children can bring, the border husky may use its herding knowledge to nip, chase, or herd kids, so training will be incredibly important, so the dog knows that children aren’t sheep!
Speed, Strength & Endurance
Huskies are known for their speed, as well as the strength needed to pull sleds and, of course, the stamina to travel long distances. The Border Collie is known for its speed, needed to catch up to wandering sheep, as well as its endurance and stamina.
Many working border collies cover as much as fifty miles per day! In short bursts, both border collies and huskies can reach top speeds of 30 mph. And the Husky has been known to run as much as 100 to 150 miles per day.
Behavior
The Border Husky is extremely playful and energetic, as well as eager to please. Once they reach adulthood, as long as they have proper training, you’ll find that they are absolutely amazing dogs.
Border huskies can show some destructive tendencies if they don’t get exercise and activity, both mental and physical, every day. These dogs have been known to scratch at doors, chew on the baseboards, rip up the carpeting, and display countless other destructive behaviors.
Unless you are planning on renovating your house, make sure you train early and focus on finding solutions and different outlets for all that pent-up energy.
Visit our Husky Behavior hub to learn more.
Origin & History of the Border Collie Husky Mix
History of the Border Collie
The Border Collie’s history goes back to medieval times in Scotland and England and the regions between the two countries, often referred to as the border country. This is where the “border” part of the Border Collie’s name comes from!
It is also often suggested that in rural old Gaelic, the word “collie” referred to something that was useful. So they would call their dogs Collie Dogs because they were useful dogs! Eventually, they became known as the Border Collie and were introduced to the rest of the world, where they quickly became popular.
Though increasingly popular throughout the United States, it wasn’t until 1955 that the Border Collie was included in the Miscellaneous class of the AKC, and it wasn’t until 1995 that the Border Collie was finally fully recognized by the AKC.
History of the Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky’s lineage goes back as far as 4,000 years ago. The dogs we recognize today as Siberian huskies are believed to have originated with the Chukchi people in northern Siberia.
Huskies were more than just companions for the Chukchi people. They would pull sleds full of food and equipment and even snuggle up and keep the families warm at night! In the early 1900s, the Siberian Husky made its way to Alaska, where it continued to grow in popularity.
The history of the Border Husky isn’t quite as certain, but it most likely occurred in the 90s and 2000s when designer breeds and hybrids were first beginning to become more popular, and people intentionally began breeding the two breeds together.
Breeding the Border Collie Husky Mix
Like many of the hybrid breeds, the Border Husky has only recently begun to be purposefully bred. Even then, it is still not a super common pairing. In many cases, the Border Husky comes from oopsie litters where a family either chose not to or waited too long to spay and neuter their pets.
However, these hybrid dogs are starting to become more popular, with many people believing that mixed breeds tend to be healthier thanks to their larger gene pool.
How to Take Care of a Border Collie Husky Mix
Nutrition
Because these are highly active dogs, they will need a bit more calorie intake than the average dogs. 2-3 cups per day is usually around a normal amount for a Border Husky, but it depends on the dog and its activity level.
It is well worth it to invest in high-quality dog food for your pooch. A food with a high protein content will be a must to keep these athletes in tip-top condition.
Visit our Husky Nutrition hub to learn more.
Exercise
The Border Husky is a dog that is going to want to constantly be on the move! These dogs need tons of exercise. It’s their favorite activity! At the minimum, a full-grown border husky should get at least a full hour of vigorous exercise every day.
If you aren’t up for going for an hour run with your dog, just try throwing a ball in the backyard. These short sprinting increments can be a great way to get exercise and let a little energy out.
Further reading: How much exercise does a Husky need?
Grooming
Even though it may not be their favorite activity, grooming is an important part of keeping a Border Husky in good shape. Remember that grooming does not necessarily mean shaving. In fact, a Border Husky should never be shaved except in cases of medical necessity.
Both breeds making up the border husky are double-coated. This means that their coat actually provides protection from sun damage as well as protection from extreme cold and heat. Shaving makes it more difficult for double-coated dogs to regulate their body temperature, and it can cause the fur to grow back coarse and even somewhat sharp to the touch.
That aside, grooming for a Border Husky will look more like taking the pup to the groomer or getting a bath at home. Groomers will often be able to use an awesome de-shedding shampoo and conditioner, which helps reduce shedding in the long run!
They are also great at trimming their nails short and even smoothing them with a grinder or file. In addition to trips to the groomer, regular brushing will be incredibly important for maintenance, and regular ear cleaning and teeth brushing are a must!
Training
As you can probably already guess, training a Border Husky will be a number one priority. With all of their energy and their penchant for being a bit stubborn or willful, building a relationship through training with your dog will be incredibly important. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and utilize puppy classes for socialization and obedience training.
A dog trainer can also help you hone in on any possible problem areas, like discouraging nipping or herding tendencies. Easier said than done, but work on teaching your dog to be okay with being bored!
These pups are full of energy, and oftentimes, they will find ways to entertain themselves that you may not be so happy with! For example, chewing the walls, ripping out the carpet, etc.
Visit our Husky Training hub to learn more.
Border Husky Puppies
The puppy stage is one of the many great parts of being a pet parent. It can also be one of the most frustrating stages! Remember to stick to a routine for potty training and sleep time and incorporate lots of play sessions in between nap times!
Further reading: Why does my Husky sleep so much?
General Health (Problems, Medical, Sleep, etc.)
Overall, the Border Husky is a healthy breed with relatively few concerns. A few concerns common for many breeds, including the Border Husky, include osteoarthritis, elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, and degenerative disc disease.
Others more specific to huskies include eye problems like cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. From the Collie side, these dogs may be more prone to hypothyroidism and seizures due to epilepsy.
Visit our Husky Health hub to learn more.
Border Collie Husky Mix Price
If you are adopting from a breeder who does health screenings for various concerns like hip and elbow dysplasia, the cost for a Border Husky can range from 500 to 1,200 dollars.
You may be able to find a Border Husky from an oopsie litter. These usually run anywhere from 300 to 500 dollars, enough for the owner to cover the fees associated with health care for mom and puppies.
And, of course, you may very well find a Border Husky in a shelter or rescue! Depending on the shelter or rescue, the price could be as low as 200 dollars for a senior dog to as high as 600 dollars for a puppy.
Visit our Husky Price hub to learn about maintenance costs.
Border Husky Pros & Cons
Cons:
- Escape artist
- Destructive if bored
- Vocal with barking and howling
Pros:
- Quick learner with training
- Athletic and always ready for an adventure
- Hard worker
Border Collie Husky Mix Alternatives
Here are some great alternatives to the Border Husky:
- German Shepherd Husky Mix
- Australian Shepherd Husky Mix
- Labrador Retriever Husky Mix
- Golden Retriever Husky Mix
- Poodle Husky Mix
Recommendation
Whether you’re a farmer, rancher, or outdoor enthusiast, as long as you can give the Border Husky something to do or some way to keep busy, you’ll find that this husky mix breed is an incredible dogs.
And best of all, after a long day of work and play, you’ll have a faithful companion snuggled up right by your side!
Have you got a Border Collie Husky Mix?
Share your love for them in the comments below.
