The Husky Border Collie mix is one of the most energetic dogs you can come across, combining the Husky’s quirkiness and the Border Collie’s trainability.
They’re definitely a challenging dog to own, but they’re more than worth the effort. Husky Border Collie mixes have little to no aggression and are great with all family members; they can be pretty easy to train and have unmatched intelligence.
Stay tuned to learn all about this mix, including whether they’re suited for first-time owners and top tips for success.
Contents
Quick Overview
Here’s a quick rundown of the top facts about the Husky Border Collie mix:
- Other Names: Borksy
- Average Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
- Average Height: 20 to 24 inches
- Average Weight: 35 to 70 lbs
- Coat appearance: Short to medium and double coated, lots of colors possible
- Grooming Frequency: Regular grooming needed
- Typical Temperament: Highly energetic, loyal, and affectionate
- Daily Food Consumption: Medium
- New Owner Friendly: Very challenging for new owners as they need a lot of exercise, grooming, and socialization
- Suitable to live with children? Can be great with children and babies but requires lots of socialization and supervision
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Usually fine, but can benefit from being socialized from an early age
- Suitable to live with cats? Must be socialized from an early age due to high prey drive
Check out our comparison of the parent breeds to get a better idea of what to expect from the Husky Border Collie Mix!
Appearance
The Husky Border Collie mix has a very unique appearance.
They’re medium in size, with a muscular and lean body. Many Husky features are common, such as blue or bi-colored eyes, pointed ears, and a curly fluffy tail.
The eyes usually have markings around them from the Border Collie side as well.
The coat is usually medium, although a shorter, more dense coat may also be possible. The coat can vary in color, with black and white very common.
I’ve included a bunch of photos in this article so you can get a better idea of how the appearance of the Husky Border Collie can vary.
Siberian Husky Appearance & Background
Siberian Huskies have a classic wolf-like appearance, with several Spitz-type features, including erect ears, a thick double coat, and curled tails.
Huskies come in many colors and patterns, including all white, red and white, Agouti, and many more.
Their piercing eyes can also come in various colors, from blue to brown and everything in between.
They have a slender build, which helps them to pull light sled loads for hundreds of miles when appropriately trained.
Border Collie Appearance & Background
Border collies are incredibly intelligent and working breed used to herd sheep.
Border collies have almost unlimited energy and can be challenging if unprepared.
If you give them enough exercise and mental stimulation, they make fantastic family dogs who are always eager to please and fulfill their role.
Border Collies have very alert ears and very focused expressions with striking almond eyes. They come in many colors, although black and white is the most popular, and have a slender build to allow them to exercise for hours on end.
Average Size
Husky Border Collie mixes are medium-sized dogs with an average weight of 35 to 70 lbs and an average height of 20 to 24 inches.
They are very muscular and lean and don’t carry much (if any) excess weight, as this would have a negative impact on their ability to exercise.
Coat Appearance
The coat of the Husky Border Collie mix varies quite a bit, from smooth and shorter to rougher and medium.
This is because the Border Collie can have either a rough or smooth coat, with the smooth coat being shorter in length and coarser than the longer rough coat.
The coat is always double-coated regardless of length, which means it is split into two layers: a short, dense undercoat that provides insulation and a longer overcoat that protects the layer below.
Grooming Guide
Double-coated breeds like the Husky Border Collie mix require a lot of grooming, and once per week, they should be groomed properly to target both layers of the coat.
You can find an overview of this process below, with full details here:
- The grooming process starts with a slicker brush, which is designed to target the undercoat and remove loose hairs.
- After that, use a dematter comb, which gently removes stubborn tangles with a serrated edge.
- A gentle undercoat rake is then used to target the undercoat further and get rid of any remaining loose hairs.
- Lastly, a general grooming comb is used to get rid of any loose hair or matter areas.
The Husky Border Collie mix will also blow its coat twice per year on average, a process where they transition into their summer coat and lose a lot of their undercoat.
During this time, they will need to be groomed daily.
Bathing
Bathing should not be done too often with any double-coated breed with a longer coat, as it can interfere with the natural function of the coat.
Shorter, smooth-coated Husky Border Collie mixes can be bathed more frequently when their coat is dirty, but those with a medium-length coat should be bathed only when necessary a few times each year.
Temperament
Temperament is one of the most important things to consider with any dog breed, especially mixes where the temperament can vary.
Let’s take a deep dive into the expected temperament of the Husky Border Collie mix.
Very Friendly And Sociable
Husky Border Collies are very friendly dogs who love socializing with others.
Border Collies thrive on pleasing their owners through their work and other interactions, and Huskies are simply friendly with everyone and lose to meet new people.
Husky Border Collies that haven’t been socialized as much might try to herd or be protective with strangers, but this behavior can be addressed through earlier socialization.
Extremely Active
The Husky Border Collie mix might be the most demanding in terms of exercise out of all dogs.
Huskies have a sledding background and can pull sleds for hundreds of miles over rough terrain, so there is no denying how energetic they are.
Border Collies are notorious for being energetic as well. They were bred mainly for herding and can work all day long without rest.
It’s important to give this dog a job to do or be willing to exercise them for at least 2 hours a day and ideally more.
High Prey Drive
A high prey drive is a guarantee with the Husky Border Collie Mix.
Huskies have a high prey drive, and Border Collies are the same. A high prey drive means prone to chasing after smaller animals instinctually, and if this happens, there is a very low chance of recall.
This dog needs lots of off-leash exercise, so you’ll need a secure area like a large yard or dog park to let them off their leash to run around.
Highly Intelligent
There is no denying the intelligence of the Husky Border Collie mix.
Border Collies are renowned for their intelligence, with a Border Collie called Chaser named the most intelligent dog in the world.
Huskies are also very intelligent, although they are stubborn as well, which can make them hard to train as they’ll choose when to listen to you.
Husky Border Collies are usually much easier to train than a Husky, but don’t be surprised if they also have an independent streak.
Prone To Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety can be a real problem with highly intelligent and active dogs.
This is a condition where a dog can become anxious and develop destructive behaviors when left alone for long periods.
Husky Border Collie mixes can be prone to separation anxiety, especially if they haven’t been exercised or mentally stimulated enough. This is why these dogs are not ideal for people with busy lives, as they need a lot of attention.
Can Be Protective
Huskies are not a protective breed at all and have practically no suspicion of strangers.
Border Collies are different in this respect and can become very protective of their families, although they very rarely show any aggression, even in extreme cases.
Husky Border Collies can become protective and wary of strangers, although this isn’t likely to be a strong instinct.
Is The Husky Border Collie Mix A Good Family Dog?
Husky Border Collie mixes can make great family pets, but they’re a huge commitment.
They ideally need a job to do and require hours of exercise as well as mental stimulation every day. If you can meet these requirements, they are perfect for families as they get on well with all family members and love spending time with them.
Requires Lots Of Socialization
All dogs benefit significantly from socialization; the Husky Border Collie mix is no exception.
It’s even more beneficial for this mix because of how energetic and friendly they are. Teaching them how to behave around other people and dogs can address unwanted behaviors like jumping up and getting overexcited.
How Much Do They Cost?
Border Collies and Huskies are both pretty expensive:
- Huskies cost anywhere from $800 to $1,500 on average
- Border Collies cost anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 on average
Finding a breeder of this mix is obviously difficult given how rare they are, but don’t be surprised if you find a puppy selling for a high price given the price of the parent breeds.
Finding them in shelters or rescue centers is much more common, though.
In Summary
Husky Border Collie mixes are challenging to own; there are no two ways about it.
It’s essential to read this article carefully if you are considering getting one, as they’re seriously hard work and can become destructive if their needs are unmet. They are worth the effort, though, and make great, loyal family members who will love spending time with everyone in the family and new people.
If you’re interested in learning about more Husky mixes, you can check out some of our recent articles below:
- Husky Chow Chow Mix [Chowsky]: Complete Guide & Pictures
- Husky Yorkie Mix [Yorksky] – Full Guide With Pictures
- Husky Newfoundland Mix (Newsky): Full Guide With Pictures
- Siberian Husky Staffy Mix [Staffsky] – Profile & Pictures
- Husky Doberman Mix [Dobsky] – Full Guide & Pictures
- Labradoodle Husky Mix: Full Profile & Pictures
- Siberian Husky Great Pyrenees Mix: Full Profile & Pictures
- Irish Wolfhound Husky mix [Irish Wolfsky] – Full Profile
