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Border Collie Beagle Mix: Border Beagle Breed Information

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Last Updated: April 10, 2024 | 10 min read | 7 Comments

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The Border Collie beagle mix is a curious pup that mixes the energetic Border Collie with the fun-loving, friendly Beagle. This designer dog is commonly referred to as the “Border Beagle.”  It’s a creative attempt to pare down the energy level of the Border Collie while adding the laid back nature of the Beagle.

The Border Beagle is a family-friendly dog that’s usually bred purposefully. While these two can always unintentionally pair up, they are usually bred by breeders. With that being said, you should always check breed-specific local rescues before buying a pup! There’s a chance a Border Beagle will pop up at either a Border Collie rescue or Beagle rescue, giving you the chance to save the life of a pup in need.

The Border Collie Beagle mix has an independent streak.  They can be challenging to train, and have some inherited tendencies from both parents that can be difficult to break. They are great dogs though and will do well with just about any family. This includes first-time dog owners.  Read on to find out what you can expect when you adopt this pup and bring them home.

Breed Overview
    • weight iconWeight20-25 pounds
    • height iconHeight15-16 inches
    • lifespan iconLifespan10-13 years
    • color iconColorsWhite, Brown, Black, Tri-Color
  • Child Friendliness
  • Canine Friendliness
  • Training Difficulty
  • Grooming Upkeep
  • Breed Health
  • Exercise Needs
  • Puppy Costs

Parent Breeds

Adopting a mix can always bring a sense of uncertainty. When you adopt a purebred Beagle, you know you are getting a family-friendly dog that can serve as a hunting companion. When you adopt a purebred Border Collie, you know you are getting an energetic and feisty dog that will learn commands very quickly.

Mixing the two can create a mixed bag, but usually, you end up with the better traits of each breed.  To better understand what you can expect with the Border Beagle, we first need to look at each parent in detail, as well as the positive and perceived negative traits that each carries.

Beagle

Beagle Dog Sniffing Air
Beagles are great hunting dogs and family pets.

The Beagle is one of the most popular breeds in the United States. They have some of the best smelling abilities of any breed and are faithful hunting companions. As much as they love to hunt, they also enjoy eating, so weight management and higher activity levels are a must for Beagles.

Size-wise, the Beagle will measure up to about 15 inches tall, and weighs up to 20 pounds. They can exceed this weight if they overeat like they are prone to do. There are also some smaller bred beagles called “Pocket Beagles” but these aren’t the AKC recognized breed standard.

Beagles are pretty low maintenance when it comes to health issues.  They aren’t plagued with problems nearly as much as other breeds, which is also what makes them the popular parent of many crossbreeds. Beagles are friendly, good with kids and other dogs, and for the most part make the perfect family companion. People have been crossing Beagles for years, and other notable mixes are the Beagle Labrador mix or the Beagle Golden Retriever mix.

Border Collie

Border Collie Playing in Snow
The Border Collie is a playful pup that gets along well with everyone!

Border Collies are one of the most popular herding dogs you can own. This energetic breed started in Scotland, and are known to be extremely active, especially as puppies. While they can survive in an apartment setting, Border Collies will do best in a larger yard, or on a farm with acreage. They love to run and have an independent personality when they are doing what they were bred to do. They do rely on their family for social interaction and will be quick to cuddle up in your lap if given the opportunity.

If you are looking to train a dog, Border Collies are one of the easiest dogs there is to train. They rank towards the top of the list when it comes to intelligence, and you’ll never mistake them for being dumb. If they seem like they aren’t paying attention, it’s likely because they are choosing not to and embracing their independence.

Border Collies aren’t generally aggressive and do extremely well as a family pet provided you have the time to spend with them. They can become anxious if separated from family for too long, so keep that in mind as a potential trait the Border Beagle may carry. Because of their intelligence, they are also a parent of many designer dogs with the most common being the Borgi mix or the Borador mix.

Border Beagle

Border Beagle in snow
Border Beagles are excellent family dogs that love to be around their owners.

It only made sense that someone would eventually breed one of the most intelligent dogs alive and mix it with one of the top hunting dog breeds. What you end up getting is a highly trainable, friendly companion with slightly less energy than their Border Collie parent.  They are medium-sized dogs that won’t get over 25 pounds in weight most of the time. Next, you’ll find out why the Border Beagle makes such a wonderful family companion.

Temperament

Border Beagle Laying Down
Border Beagles have a fantastic temperament with kids, neighbors, and other pets.

The best part of mixing these two breeds is getting the best personality traits of both parents! The only personality characteristic you’ll need to be aware of is that the Border Beagle does have energy when they are puppies. Moreso than other breeds, but less energy than a purebred Border Collie. So this can be a benefit to potential owners who are already prepared to have a pup with higher energy requirements but don’t want to take on the extreme energy that comes with a purebred Border Collie.

Overall, the Border Beagle is an extremely friendly mix that absolutely loves to be around their family. They are fairly easy going and do not need to be trained firmly. Border Beagles need consistency but will learn basic commands during obedience training very quickly. They may have a tendency to “nip” and “herd” during playtime due to their inherited genes from their Border Collie parent.

These highly trainable dogs and will learn how to do even more complex tricks with relative ease. They are great in multi-pet households if socialized early, and love to be the center of attention. They will bark upon arrival of strangers but aren’t known for being overly vocal. This means they can be good watchdogs too.

Size & Appearance

Border Beagle staring
Their size can vary depending on the parents and their sizes.

The Border Collie Beagle mix will usually get no taller than 15-16 inches. Both parents are medium-sized dogs, but both are on the smaller size in weight, usually weighing no more than 25 pounds. The Border Beagle will have a thinner frame than a purebred beagle, carry a lean and muscular build, and will likely be less stocky.

This mix will likely remain very active, even into adulthood, so it’s unlikely they will gain excess weight if they are exercised properly.  They will usually have a tail that curls, inherited from their border collie parent. They will look bigger than they actually are due to the length of their coat.  Their eyes will also be tighter, and less likely to succumb to cherry-eye than their Beagle parent, which doesn’t visually look appealing to any dog owner.

Coat & Colors

Border Beagle Mixed Coat
Their coats will vary greatly and can be short, long, or somewhere in between.

The Border Beagle will usually look like a nice blend of both parents, as do most mixed breeds. Their coat colors can range all over the place. Usually, they will be some combination of black, white, and tan. Black and white are two of the most common Border Collie colors and almost all Beagles carry those shades in their coat as purebreds. Tan is in just about every Beagle’s coat, and while less common in the Border Collie, it does surface from time to time.

Your Border Beagle can have a coat length that’s all over the place. You may find your pup with hair that’s closer to the Beagle, or a longer-haired coat closer to their Border Collie parent. Usually, it will be a mix in between though, giving your pup less hair to groom than a purebred Border Collie. This is good because Borders shed excessively, so proper grooming is a must. While you’ll need to groom your Border Beagle regularly, they shouldn’t shed nearly as much.

Exercise & Living Conditions

Outdoor Border Beagle
You’ll want to exercise your Border Beagle daily.

The Border Beagle should get regular exercise, even through adulthood. While they will slow down a bit as they age, they still have plenty of energy when they are young. They can live just fine in an apartment, but we’d suggest having at least a medium-sized yard. You want your Border Beagle to have plenty of room to run around.

If you don’t have access to a yard, you’ll want to spend a minimum of 45-60 minutes per day outside with your pup. This ensures they have adequate exercise and proper mental stimulation for their energy. The Border Beagle has a stubborn streak, so if they aren’t mentally stimulated, you could find them becoming destructive around the house or yard.

Training

Border Beagle Sitting
Border Beagles are extremely easy to train.

This is one area that the Beagle Border Collie mix excels at! They are excellent when it comes to learning basic obedience commands, and they are highly eager to please. Getting them to keep their focus on you isn’t a challenge, and they are extremely motivated pups.

We do recommend you enroll your Border Beagle in basic obedience lessons or even look at doing some agility training. They have both the energy and the focus for agility events. This pup is highly food motivated, and using nutritious snacks is recommended. Stay away from processed foods like Graham Crackers or chips as training rewards.

Health

Healthy Border Beagle
The Border Beagle is a very healthy breed that can live 10+ years.

Your Border Collie Beagle mix will most likely be a very healthy dog! Both parent breeds only have histories of mild health issues. This means your Border Beagle will likely have very few. Many people choose to adopt a mixed breed dog because they are generally healthier than most purebreds.

Having a wider gene pool is generally good for any breed of dog. This helps diversify possible health impacts that may come from inbreeding. A healthy Border Beagle will live anywhere from 10 to 13 years, which means fewer trips to the vet is a good thing!

Nutrition

Border Beagle on Rocks Playing
A high-quality adult dry kibble will suit the Beagle Border Collie mix.

Nutrition is relatively easy. Most Border Beagles can do well on traditional dry dog food that’s grain-free, or train inclusive. Dry dog food options like Nutro’s kibbles will do well, and American Journey has a well-rounded selection. American Journey’s food options allow you to manage by your dog’s weight instead of by formula.

As with most medium-sized dogs, you’ll be looking at anywhere from 2.5 to 3.5 cups per day depending on your dog’s activity level and overall health. Border Beagles are not known for having sensitive stomachs, so starting them on a grain inclusive food is likely the best route, especially for your wallet. If you find your pup doesn’t do well with grain, you can always move to a grain-free recipe.

Grooming

Border Beagle Short Haired
Border Beagles will have lower grooming requirements than their Border Collie parent.

There’s no way around it.  Any breed that’s mixed with a Border Collie is likely going to need more grooming than a normal short-haired breed. Borders have long hair, and they are double coated, meaning they will shed profusely at least twice per year. This means you’ll want to use a shedding tool to keep their hair down, and you’ll want to use a dog shampoo that prevents shedding in order to keep hair under control.  Brushing three times per week is recommended, with a high-quality dog brush.

Puppies & Breeders

Beagle Border Collie mix sitting
Puppies can be purchased for around $700 and up.

Border Beagle puppies usually start at around $700 and can go north of that figure depending on the parents. Any puppy that is listed for cheaper than that should be brought into question. If they sell for less, it’s likely a backyard or weekend breeder. This means the parent pups may not have registered papers or health certs.

You should always ask to see papers of the original AKC registered parents whenever available. This will ensure that you know exactly what you are getting health-wise. To find reputable local breeders, we recommend checking local community groups online in your area first, followed by internet research. It’s always recommended you have conversations with several breeders before buying a puppy.

Rescues & Shelters

Border Beagle in Grass
We always recommend that you adopt before you shop!

We always encourage you to adopt before you shop! Rescue dogs can make some of the best companions, and are going to be generally less expensive than adopting from a breeder. We recommend you look at local Beagle or Border Collie rescue centers/agencies.

Most agencies will carry mixed breeds and not just purebred dogs. So, start here first, then work your way back to buying a puppy if it’s your only option. You may luck out, find a puppy that’s six months old at a rescue center, and get to skip the biting and nipping stage (which not everyone loves!).

As Family Pets

Border Beagle playing
Border Beagles make wonderful family companions.

Overall, Border Beagles are extremely well-rounded family pets. They will do well in multi-pet households and excel with children when properly socialized at a young age. Due to their average size, you won’t have to worry about them running over small children like you would a large breed dog. Since they have a great aptitude for learning, it will make training much easier. You’ll also spend less time doing it which is important if you have family obligations.

Final Thoughts

The Border Beagle is a perfect crossbreed for any family. This mix has plenty of energy but still gets along well with kids and neighbors. Once strangers have been accepted into the home, they will be treated like family too. The Border Collie Beagle mix is the perfect pup if you are looking for a mix that’s lively, healthy, affordable, and adorable.

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