Bichon Collie (Bichon Frise x Border Collie Mix): All You Need to Know

The border collie bichon frise crossbreed is extremely rare. Far more common is the bordoodle, or collie poodle mix. Still, the borchon or border bichon is a fabulous small-to-medium size dog that is perfect for energetic households.

This is a great bichon frise crossbreed for people looking for a less demanding but still highly intelligent crossbreed.

Border Collie Bichon Frise Mix History

As a rare crossbreed, the history of bichon collie is really the history of its two parent breeds. Both have fascinating lineages with very different origins.

History of the Border Collie

The border collie descends from an ancient landrace of Scottish herding dogs. In fact, “collie” perhaps comes from a Celtic word meaning “useful.” They came from the area near the border between Scotland and England. So the word “border” became part of the name. In fact, they were called border collies when they separated from their close relatives, the Scotch or rough collies (famous for playing Lassie).

The border collie is among the hardest working, smartest, and most driven dogs in the world. This has been a problem for many owners who want to keep one as a pet. Border collies tend to be destructive and are known for plenty of high-pitched barking when they don’t have a job to do.

History of the Bichon Frise

The bichon frise has a long history of first being a water dog, bred for hunting waterfowl, and then becoming an ideal companion dog for many centuries. The bichons frises we know today started in the Canary Islands and were called “little white dogs.” Like most bichon breeds, they soon became popular with the nobles and the wealthy, including royalty.

Over time, the bichon frise frequently came under threat during various revolutions and wars. However, it survived due to dedicated enthusiasts and became the devoted companion breed it is today.

Border Collie Bichon Frise Mix Appearance, Coat, Size, and Weight

Because the border collie bichon frise cross comes from two completely different parents, there is a lot of variation in their size. In general, puppies from a border collie female will be bigger than those from a bichon frise mother. But even so, you can expect a dog that stands anywhere between 15 and 18 inches and likely weighs between 20 and 30 pounds.

Their coat can also differ considerably depending on which parent they take after the most. An average litter of border collie bichon frise mixes will be about 50% with medium to long silky, wavy hair, and about 25% should have the dense, thick curls that look like the bichon’s. The last 25% will likely have a coat that looks something like a mix between the two. They may even have long, wiry guard hairs, giving them a slightly scruffy but adorable appearance.

This means there is a lot of variation in the coat of a bichon collie, but almost all will likely have a double coat. Some may be heavy shedders that aren’t good for allergies. Colors may be white, buff, or cream, with black or a combination of black and white being most common. They may also be red or red and white.

Border Collie Bichon Frise Mix Maintenance, Activity, and Space Requirements

Next, let’s take a look at what it takes to keep one of these dogs happy.

Grooming

The average border collie bichon mix will need regular brushing and trimming to keep its coat in order. Pay particular attention to matting behind the ears. If they inherited the border collie’s coat, you might have a seasonal shedding issue. With something like the Equigroomer de-shedding brush for dogs and cats, you can remove this excess dead hair.

However, shedding isn’t usually an issue for a dog with a bichon coat. In these cases, a bath about once a month and frequent visits to the parlor are appropriate. Depending on the length of the coat, the bichon collie may need to be brushed between two and four days a week.

Make sure to clean their ears to remove excess wax and prevent ear infections. Trimming the hair inside the ears can also help with this.

Keeping the nails trimmed will help prevent issues with their tendons and arthritis later in life. In addition, good dental hygiene will keep your border collie bichon frise mix healthy and at a lower risk of heart and renal disease.

Activity

The bichon frise border collie crossbreed is one of the most active bichon mixes you can find, so be prepared. Although it shouldn’t be as busy as the purebred border collie, they won’t be simple lap dogs either.

Expect to provide your dog with 45 to 60 minutes of exercise daily. Some of this can be walks, but they will appreciate having the time to sprint and run. They may not be able to do a marathon, but these are good dogs for moderate jogging and hiking. More active bichon collies will also need additional playtime.

They will love games of fetch and are fantastic at sports like agility. As this may be a more excitable breed, going for obedience training early will make for a better relationship with your dog.

Space requirements

Unfortunately, herding dogs and herding cross breeds are known barkers. So this tendency to be loud, together with the tendency to be destructive when bored, means this is not the dog for an apartment.

Ideally, they will have a yard of some kind and access to a place to go for long walks or play in a park. As they are smaller dogs, they do not need massive amounts of space. But a yard to play fetch will come in handy.

Bichon Frise Border Collie Mix Temperament and Intelligence

The bichon collie is a highly trainable and eager-to-please dog that will be thrilled with a job to do.

They may not be quite as quick to learn a new trick as a border collie, and they may have a hint of stubbornness. However, this little mixed breed can learn to do anything by keeping training sessions short and breaking complex tasks down to their smallest components.

They respond particularly well to lots of enthusiastic praise and treats and do not do well with punishment or harsh treatment. With a good trainer, they will thrive on obedience and take any tasks very seriously. This makes them great therapy dogs and good for sports like agility and obedience.

Keep in mind, while some the bichon frise border collie cross may enjoy napping with you on the couch, this is a mix that can grow bored more quickly than the average bichon frise mixed breed. Especially while they are young, the bichon collie will love to chew on everything, bark at everything, and dig up your garden. They usually settle down after 18 months to 2 years and make devoted pets.

Still, new owners should be prepared with some extra patience and keep their shoes and charger cables out of reach.

With socialization, this breed will enjoy a family with other pets. Their early interactions should be positive. As adults, they may take to occasionally trying to herd the cat or the kids. If you have other small animals, keep an eye on this behavior as herding could become chasing, leaving any backyard chickens traumatized.

Nevertheless, the average border collie mix will not have anywhere near a purebred border collie’s energy levels or working drive. While they will always need regular exercise, their energy requirements will become easier to manage as they age.

Borchon Health and Lifespan

The border collie bichon frise mixed breed is usually relatively healthy and should live between 12 and 15 years.

However, they may be prone to several disorders. These include:

• Patellar luxation
• Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
• Kidney stones and urinary tract infections
• Diabetes (in older dogs)
• Dental issues
• Hypothyroidism
• Cataracts and eye issues

Therefore, regular vet checkups are advised.

Is Border Collie Bichon Frise Mix the Right Breed for You?

If you are looking for a trainable, highly intelligent dog and you have some time for daily exercise, then this rare mixed breed might be the perfect dog for you.

However, beware, as not all of them are hypoallergenic and will require a fair bit of coat maintenance. Some of them may be shedders; although this won’t be as much as the German Shepherd, it can still be a nuisance if you aren’t a fan of dog hair on your favorite couch.

These dogs may grow bored quickly and may turn to chewing, digging, or barking if they are not kept active or if they are not properly trained. Therefore, the right owner will be prepared with plenty of time to dedicate to this bichon mixed breed, and a good socialization and obedience trainer should stand by.

This also means they are not always ideal for apartments.

Properly raised, bichon collies will get on well with other dogs and should do well with children. Any interactions between small children and dogs should always be supervised, however.

Summary

The bichon collie or border collie bichon frise mix is extremely rare. However, it is a fantastic breed that retains the intelligence and trainability of the border collie. It has fewer exercise requirements and makes a more relaxed companion dog when it is a settled adult.

In short, this is a great dog for a moderately active owner who primarily wants a companion but is also looking for a dog that can keep up on long walks or hikes, or perhaps engage in fun activities like agility.