Known as Golden Border Retriever, Golden Border Collie, or Coltriever, this crossbreed is a mix of two widely popular dogs – the Border Collie and the Golden Retriever.
Both working breeds may do different tasks, but combining them makes an intelligent, loving, obedient, and agile offspring.
If you’re interested in this designer canine, let’s break down what they’re really like.
Origin: The parents of the Golden Border Retriever
As with all hybrids, it’s vital to learn the physical traits and personalities of the parent breeds.
Getting to know the Border Collie and Golden Retriever will already give a hint of what your Coltriever would be like in terms of looks and behavior.
The highly intelligent and active Border Collie
Borders are the result of combining the Romans’ stout herding canines with the Vikings’ Spitz-type herders. Through generations, this sheepdog (which is the definition of the term Collie in Scottish) became popular.
Nowadays, Border Collies are touted as the smartest and the most excellent herding dog.
They have a height of 18 to 22 inches (46 to 56 cm) and a weight of 30 to 45 pounds (14 to 20 kg), where the females are a tad smaller.
They have a double-layer coat that’s either short and smooth or a medium-length fur that’s rough. Not only are Border Collies’ smart and hard workers, but they also come in a wide range of colors and markings. Black and white are the most common combination seen in the breed, though.
As a herding canine, sheep won’t stand a chance with the Border’s intense gaze called “the eye” that is matched with their crouching stalk and bursts of speed. They’re sensitive and responsive to their owner or handler’s every move.
Border Collies aren’t the type of pooch that would spend their day snuggling with their human on the couch. They have high energy levels that would require lots of physical and mental stimulation.
The popular and affectionate Golden Retriever
A lord named Dudley Marjorbanks of the Scottish Highlands wanted to create a gundog that can adjust well to rugged grounds and rainy climates. He started crossing the extinct Tweed Water Spaniel with his very own Yellow Retriever. After long years of breeding, he finally got the hardworking and smart Golden Retriever.
Though it has been recognized by the AKC or American Kennel Club around 1925, Golden Retrievers hit their popularity in the 1970s.
Goldens are beautiful, large dogs that can stand between 21 to 24 inches (53 to 6 cm) and can weigh up to 75 pounds (34 kg).
Just like Border Collies, Golden Retrievers have a double-layered coat that’s dense and water-repellant. They can either have wavy or straight hair, and feathering on their chest, underbody, legs, and tail.
Their color isn’t just one particular shade of gold. It can be light or dark gold, and some have a paler shade that gives a cream hue.
Goldens are bright and are often used in different kinds of jobs, such as search and rescue missions. They’re also amazing at providing assistance as therapy dogs, as well as in fieldwork like hunting.
There’s a reason why Golden Retrievers are popular with families, just like Labradors and Flat-coated Retrievers. They’re very loving and loyal dogs that they naturally bond with humans and other pets.
During their transition from puppyhood to adolescence, they’re quite famous for being rambunctious furballs.
What does a Border Collie Golden Retriever mix look like?
The Golden Border Collie will either inherit features from both its parents or more on one parent.
A Golden Retriever & Border Collie cross often has a long face with hanging ears, almond-shaped eyes, and an elongated snout.
Since both of the parent breeds have a fairly dense, double-layered coat, so will this hybrid. Some may get the rough and corded fur of the Border Collie, while others get the wavy and silky look of the Golden Retriever.
The colors of the Border Golden Retriever can vary from black, black and white, yellow or golden, light or dark brown, chocolate, and red. Most of them have markings on their face and chest.
If you’re concerned about shedding, this crossbreed is not hypoallergenic. Both the Borders and Goldens range from moderate to heavy shedders, so expect the Coltriever to do so as well.
How big do Border Collie-Golden Retriever mixes get?
When full-grown, this mixed breed can weigh 45 to 75 pounds (20 to 34 kg), with a height of 24 to 25 inches (61 to 64 cm).
One of the things you’ll love about this dog is that, even though they are large, sturdy canines, they don’t mainly require a huge home.
Most of the time, it’s better if a dog owner has an enclosed yard where their pet can run freely to avoid pent-up energy. With Coltrievers, they’re okay living in an apartment as long as you can make sure that you can provide their daily exercise needs.
Border Collie Golden Retriever mix traits and temperament
There’s a lot of similarities between the parent breeds of the Golden Border Collie hybrid.
With the easy-going, happy, and kind personality of the Golden Retriever, and the eager to please, hardworking, and intelligent Border Collie, this crossbreed seems to be quite a perfect canine.
Here’s a quick video of Ziggy, a Border Collie-Golden Retriever mix who’s enjoying a pumpkin at playtime.
Are Border Collie Golden Retrievers good family dogs?
Absolutely! If you’re looking for a family companion, the Coltriever has a sweet disposition. They’re also friendly, loyal, and playful that they’d get along with kids and other pets you may already have at home.
Since they love being with their humans, it’s important to note that this designer dog is prone to separation anxiety. They quickly become anxious and bored, which means they’re not suitable in a house where they’d be left alone for more than 6 hours.
Border Golden Retrievers may not be an excellent guard dog or watchdog, but you can rely on them to be top-notch alarms! Being attentive and cautious of their surroundings means they’ll do great at alerting you when there’s a stranger around.
If you keep a pretty garden, it may be an issue because this pooch lovesdigging and getting dirty in the mud.
It’s best to be prepared whenever you’re with her in the doggy park or taking a walk. Once she sees a muddy area, distract her away from it.
Is the Golden Retriever Border Collie mix easy to train?
This crossbreed is very trainable as it inherited the intelligence of the Border Collie and Golden Retriever. Aside from being easy-going and obedient, it’s also a people pleaser.
You can start training from puppyhood to help avoid behavioral issues from developing, too.
Agile dogs will do excellent at agility rings, but with this mixed breed, they can do so much more!
Their high energy levels would require them to be active as much as they can. As a pet, a lot of walking, running, hiking, and swimming would be great.
For mental stimulation, there are a lot of puzzle toys where you can hide treats, and the dog has to figure out how to get it.
Kick it up a notch because the Golden Border Retriever is considered as a sporting and working dog, too. They can be trained and used for herding, retrieving, and other canine sports.
Taking care of a Golden Border Collie
When it comes to grooming, Golden Borders are relatively high-maintenance. If this is your first time owning a dog and you’re not okay with taking care of your pet’s hair most of the time, then this is not the right breed for you.
This designer pooch has a coat that helps it adjust in all weather conditions. Bathing should only be done once or twice a month, or when necessary, to avoid drying out her skin. Weekly brushing is needed to keep her hair from taking over your house.
Avoid ear infections by cleaning your Coltriever’s ears once a week, and don’t forget to brush her teeth once a day or every other day.
The Border Golden Retriever’s diet and exercise
Each dog’s food intake and nutritional requirements would vary from one another. It should depend on factors such as their size, age, daily activities, and their current health condition.
Most of the time, it’s best to rely on calories when figuring how much to feed your pet. A Border Collie would generally require 700 to 1,000 calories a day, while a Golden Retriever needs 989 to 1,272 calories. For their mixed-breed offspring, it can be anywhere between those numbers.
For puppies, their meals should be divided into three, then deducted to two once they’re past six months of age.
Whether you decide to feed your Border Collie & Golden Retriever mix dry kibbles or wet food, never disregard the suggested amount of servings in the pack or can. There are also dog foods that are best for working or sporting dogs.
The Coltriever requires at least 90 minutes of exercise a day. With their high activity level, you can give your fur baby up to 180 minutes, if your time and energy allow it.
A technique you can do is start slow, then increase the time of exercise gradually as you go.
Health problems the Golden Retriever and Border Collie cross may inherit
No matter if the dog is pure or a crossbreed, all canines are susceptible to particular ailments.
The breed parents may pass health conditions to their litter, especially the illnesses that they both have. Keep in mind that this won’t always happen, and this designer dog is generally healthy.
For Border Collie parents, they should be screened for Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Collie Eye Anomaly, deafness, and epilepsy.
Golden Retrievers are prone to heart problems like subvalvular aortic stenosis, eye conditions such as pigmentary uveitis, as well as cancer. They should get ophthalmologic and cardiac exams before they’re used for breeding.
Other diseases that the Border Collie and Golden Retriever mix may have are allergies, bloating, and elbow and hip dysplasia.
With proper care combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, your Golden Border Retriever can enjoy their average life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.
Where to get Border Collie Golden Retriever mix puppies
The Golden Retriever Border Collie mix is popular among designer breeds.
Expect to pay an average cost of $300 to $800 for a puppy. But depending on the breeder, the price can go up to $1,500.
Border Collie Golden Retriever mix breeders
Reputable breeders test their dogs used in breeding for genetic conditions that are common in each breed.
They are going to provide medical certificates as proof that the Border Collie and Golden Retriever parents are free of ailments before breeding. They’ll also encourage you to have a vet see your puppy before going home to ensure that they’re committed to their dog’s health.
It’s recommended that you get to see the doggy family and their environment before making a deal. Get the chance to observe if the puppies were born and raised in a clean place.
To help you start your search for a Coltriever, you can check out these websites:
- McGregor Goldens (Lacey, Washington)
- Crooked Rooster Farm (Snohomish, Washington)
Border Collie Golden Retriever mix rescue and adoption
If you already think that you and your home are open for this crossbreed, it’s a fantastic idea to adopt. Not only is adopting a puppy or an adult dog cheaper, but you’d also be saving a life and giving a fur angel another chance to be part of a family.
For now, there’s no specific website that focuses on rescuing this particular mix only, but there are Golden Retriever mixes, and Border Collie mixeson these websites:
- Almost Heaven Golden Retriever Rescue (Capon Bridge, West Virginia)
- Sunshine Golden Rescue (Port Washington, New York)
- Great Lakes Border Collie Rescue (Eagle, Michigan)
- Midwest Border Collie Rescue (Beloit, Wisconsin)
Would the Border Collie Golden Retriever mix be suitable for you?
The Coltriever is a gorgeous dog that is intelligent like the Border Collie and lovingly playful like the Golden Retriever.
One of the most important things that you should worry about if you’re interested in a Golden Border Retriever is time.
Border Collie & Golden Retriever crosses require a lot of time from their owners. You have to be able to provide the mental and physical stimulation she needs. Bond with her so that she doesn’t get bored, and she can’t be left alone as this dog is prone to getting separation anxiety.
But if you’re looking for an active canine buddy to join your active lifestyle, and you or someone else is home with the dog every day, then this hybrid is a good match.
Do you have what it takes to own a Border Collie Golden Retriever mix? Tell us what you think about this designer dog by typing it in the comment box below.
Cess Gamas
Cess is a seasoned dog enthusiast and expert in the field of canine care. With over 5 years of experience in the Pet Industry, she is a go-to resource for dog owners seeking expert guidance.
As the Head of Content Writing at Border Collie Health, Cess shares her extensive knowledge through informative articles and practical tips. Beyond her professional role, she actively volunteers at local shelters and enjoys participating in dog-related events.
