With an abundance of intelligence and power, the border collie and the Australian cattle canine are two phenomenal herding canine. In the proper arms, they will additionally make great household pets. Nonetheless, each breeds additionally want loads of workouts and psychological stimulation to maintain them heading in the right direction.
In case you are making an attempt to determine between a collie or an Aussie, then you will need to know extra about every breed. Each breeds fall into the American Kennel Membership’s herding group, and whereas there are various similarities between these two working canine, there are additionally some distinct variations. We make the Australian cattle canine vs. border collie comparability so you may determine which is finest for you, your loved ones, and your life-style.
A Quick Historical past of the Two Breeds
Border Collie
The border collie breed dates again to the tip of the nineteenth century within the UK, with the title showing round 1915. Earlier than this, a smaller sheepdog model of the collie was recognized to have been in Britain courting again to the Roman Empire and was bred for herding sheep.
The title ‘border collie’ represents the breed’s significance within the borders between Scotland and England and the important thing function this sheepdog performed in managing massive flocks throughout vast areas throughout the border.
Bred to be a flexible and sturdy working farm canine, the border collie is hardy and agile, with excessive power ranges and sharp, targeted intelligence, which suggests the breed needs to work and study. This implies in addition they make wonderful companion canine.
Australian Cattle Canine
Often known as the blue heeler, the Australian cattle canine was initially bred as resilient farm canine that might herd over massive distances and stand up to the cruel Australian local weather. The unique Aussie was the results of interbreeding dalmatians, dingoes, and sheepdogs from England through the nineteenth century and was used to herd cattle.
The breed turned wanted on account of its stamina, intelligence, and work ethic and was named heeler because of the way in which it could nip the heels of livestock to maintain them in line. The Australian cattle canine was acknowledged as a breed by the American Kennel Membership in 1980.
A Fast Comparability of the Two Breeds
                   Border collie                   Australian cattle canine
- Measurement              18-22 inches                   17-20 inches
- Weight           25-45lbs                      30-50lbs
- Life expectancy    12-15 years                    13-16 years
- Temperament     Clever, loyal, curious          Clever, unbiased, protecting
- Trainability        Very                          Very
- Vitality degree      Very excessive                       Excessive
- Coat sort        Thick double coat, both           Quick double coat easy or tough
- Coat colours       Brown, pink, black, white, blue       Blue, gray, pink, mottled, speckled bi and tri-colored
Border Collie vs. Australian Cattle Canine
Their work ethic, excessive intelligence, and off-the-scale power can simply confuse the 2 breeds. However whereas there are various similarities between the border collie and the Aussie, there are additionally distinct variations that may make a distinction in case you are selecting between the 2. We evaluate the 2 breeds relating to the important thing options and traits.
Look
Each these working canine breeds are roughly the identical medium measurement, though the border collie tends to weigh lower than the Australian cattle canine. Australian cattle canine have a stockier construct, a broad head, and are typically extra compact, whereas the border collie is lither and extra athletic.
Coat and shade
There are additionally some key variations of their coat. The border collie breed has longer and thicker fur to guard towards chilly climate and might be both easy, tough, or sometimes curled. The fur of the border collie is fluffy with a shorter undercoat. The standard border collie could have black and white markings, though there are different shade variations. These embody brown and white, lilac, and the gorgeous blue or pink merle. Eye colours are brown, though blue eyes will also be a breed function. And a few border collies are heterochromatic, which suggests they’ve eyes of various colours.
The coat of the Aussie is rougher and has quick hair in two acceptable colours – blue or pink. This has led to the breed’s different blue heeler and pink heeler names. Requiring minimal grooming, the blue coat shade is blacker, the pink is browner, and the mottled look creates the blue speckled or pink shade. Australian cattle canine puppies are born white and develop their blue or pink coat as they develop. One other attribute of the heeler which units them aside from the border collie is the black coloration on their face which provides the looks of a masks.
Temperament
As they’re herding canine, the one particular attribute the border collie and Australian cattle canine share is their excessive power ranges! These on-the-go canine are born and bred to work and thrive on exercise – working within the hills, enjoying with the youngsters, or engaged on a farm. And this endless power means they want an lively life-style with above-average train and stimulation to stop them from losing interest. And as they’re each super-smart, an understimulated collie or Aussie can result in undesirable, damaging conduct.
Shifting on to different temperament traits, you see some variations between the breeds. Whereas the Australian cattle canine might be unbiased, the border collies are usually the extra affectionate and pleasant of the 2. And the draw back of that is that the collie is extra susceptible to separation nervousness than the extra self-sufficient heeler. Nonetheless, the border collie might be extra adaptable to alter, much less aloof than Australian cattle canine, and friendlier round strangers.
Alternatively, the Australian cattle canine is understood to be fiercely loyal and so might be protecting of their people, particularly within the firm of strangers. Early socialization of your heeler pup could make an actual distinction to their confidence in several social conditions.
Trainability
As herding canine breeds, the border collie and the Australian cattle canine are extraordinarily clever and quick learners. And, as they’ve been bred to hold out instructions, their intuition thrives on being occupied and with a stimulating job to do. This all makes each border collies and blue heelers extremely trainable. And constructive reinforcement coaching is the strategy that works finest. Nonetheless, because of the variations of their personalities, how every breed responds in a coaching session will also be barely completely different.
Since their potential to focus can border on obsession, the border collie requires a constant coaching routine that permits them to channel their power and intelligence positively and productively. Agility coaching is a superb ongoing exercise for border collies.
In the meantime, the extra unbiased persona of Australian cattle canine implies that an everyday coaching routine with loads of vigorous exercise is extra typically wanted to maintain this breed engaged within the activity. Australian cattle canine puppies will also be a handful, though they relax as they age.
Each canine breeds additionally require socialization from an early age and correct coaching in order that their herding instincts, resembling nipping, might be managed efficiently, particularly round youngsters and smaller animals.
Train
Each canine breeds have excessive power ranges and require common train and psychological stimulation to maintain them completely happy and wholesome. A every day train, coaching, and play routine may even stop extra power from creating boredom or damaging behaviors. The border collie and the Australian cattle canine are usually not suited to condominium residing as they want entry to loads of outdoors area. It’s within the out of doors setting that each breeds come into their very own. This implies they will make wonderful pets for the lively proprietor or household. Though each breeds do have wanderlust potential.
The grownup Australian cattle canine would require barely extra train out of the 2 breeds, with round two hours a day the perfect. Border collies work properly with not less than 90 minutes of train per day. Mixing this time up with walks, cardio actions, play, coaching, and agility can profit each breeds and provides them the number of psychological stimulation they want.
Well being
Each border collies and Australian cattle canine are typically thought of wholesome breeds, and their working heritage makes them extra resilient than many different breeds. However as with all pure breed, they are often prone to sure well being points. Listed below are the principle well being points to pay attention to for every breed.
Border Collie – Potential Well being Considerations
The typical lifespan for a border collie is between 12 and 15 years. The principle well being issues the breed might be inclined to incorporate:
- Collie eye anomaly: Often known as CEA, this situation is seen in younger collies as much as the age of two. Collie eye anomaly is an inherited dysfunction that impacts the attention tissue known as the choroid, which provides oxygen to the retina. Because the choroid thins, it will possibly result in blindness. There’s presently no treatment for CEA, however surgical procedure is an choice for extreme instances.
- Epilepsy: One other inherited dysfunction, epilepsy, is sort of frequent in border collies and usually current within the first six months of a pet’s life. The seizures brought on by the situation might be handled with medicine.
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): PRA is a degenerative situation that steadily impacts a canine’s imaginative and prescient and ultimately results in blindness. PRA normally begins across the age of three, however there’s a screening take a look at that may be carried out at an earlier age.
- Hip dysplasia/elbow dysplasia: A typical orthopedic illness in canines, hip and elbow dysplasia, might be seen within the border collie breed. With dysplasia, the joints don’t develop correctly and put on down over time, inflicting ache and stiffness and infrequently progressing to arthritis.
- Deafness: Border collies with a merle coat sample and blue eyes might be prone to deafness linked to the merle pigmentation gene.
Australian Cattle Canine – Potential Well being Considerations
The Aussie has a barely longer life expectancy than the collie, residing on common between 13 and 16 years. The principle genetic situations that may have an effect on the breed embody:
- Orthopedic issues: Australian cattle canine might be susceptible to situations affecting their joints, together with hip and elbow dysplasia and patellar luxation, the place their kneecap slips misplaced. Surgical procedure could also be wanted in additional extreme instances of patellar luxation to stop the dislocation from recurring.
- Eye well being: A number of eye situations can have an effect on heelers. Like border collies, Aussies will also be susceptible to progressive retinal atrophy. Cataracts – which trigger the attention lens to ‘cloud up’ – are one other frequent reason for blindness within the breed, particularly in older canine. Relying on the extent of sight loss brought on by the situation, surgical procedure can be utilized to take away cataracts utterly. Australian cattle canine will also be susceptible to glaucoma, which might be extraordinarily painful and result in blindness if left untreated. Glaucoma can even grow to be a medical emergency, so vets advocate annual screening for the situation.
- Deafness: Deafness might be an inherited situation within the breed, which is why it’s important the breeders have screened your new pup. Congenital deafness can’t be cured, however with assist and coaching, deaf Australian cattle canine can nonetheless stay full and rewarding life.
Border Collie vs. Australian Cattle Canine – Which One is Best for you?
Excessive power, distinctive work ethic, sensible mind, simple upkeep, and constant – there are various similarities between border collies and Australian cattle canine which might make selecting slightly troublesome. However earlier than you determine, it’s additionally essential to take all these similarities, in addition to variations, under consideration.
Relating to Australian cattle canine vs. border collie, each will thrive in a family with outdoors area, loves the out of doors life, and has the time and power to coach, train, play with, and usually sustain with these full-on, life-loving breeds. Nonetheless, the collie is usually a little extra upkeep on account of its want to please and probably obsessive conduct. And Australian cattle canine even have their ‘points’, being independent-minded with an inclination to be protecting.
With all this in thoughts, it’s purely a private alternative in the event you suppose you’ve got what it takes to welcome a working breed into your private home. And offered you may match their power ranges and excessive train wants, the Australian cattle canine and the border collie could make loving, entertaining, and constant pets.
Sources:
- Border collie – American Kennel Membership
- Australian cattle canine – American Kennel Membership
