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Border Collie Lakeland: Dog Breed Info, Pictures, Traits & Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Border Collie Lakeland

Height: 15- 20  inches
Weight: 15 – 25 pounds
Lifespan: 12 – 17 years
Colors: Virtually any
Suitable for: Active families with older children
Temperament: Loyal, Alert, Intelligent

The Border Collie Lakelands is a mix between a Border Collie and a Lakelands Terrier. While this mixed breed has likely been occurring since the parent breeds first met, it has only recently been thoroughly documented.

This breed can inherit traits from either parent. Because of this, it can vary quite a bit. Some puppies may be more like a Border Collie, while others may be almost exactly like a Lakeland Terrier. More often, though, dogs of this mixed breed will have traits from both parents.

You never know exactly what you’re going to get when you mix two breeds. It is difficult to predict how a Border Collie Lakeland will look or act. However, these dogs typically have a few traits in common, which we will discuss in-depth below.

Divider 1Border Collie Lakelands Puppies

Border Collie Lakeland puppies are medium to small dogs. However, they do not do well in apartment spaces or the city because of their high activity needs. They are much more suitable to somewhere with a fenced-in yard, where they can run as much as they want. They have built-in herding skills and will automatically herd just about everything.

They have moderately long coats in most cases, which need a bit of grooming. Luckily, a quick brush a few times a week is typically all they need, though some dogs may need more.

These canines are also very intelligent. This means they take quickly to training. However, they also need regular mental stimulation, or they can get quite destructive. They are relatively responsive to people, though they are not necessarily all over strangers the moment they walk into a room. They are not typically aggressive but may have some innate protective instincts.

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

3 Little-Known Facts About the Border Collie Lakeland

1. These dogs are very healthy.

Border Collie Lakeland dogs are often relatively healthy. For one, they’re a mixed breed, which means their chance of genetic problems is lower. Furthermore, both their parent breeds are relatively healthy. That makes this breed one of the healthiest around.


2. Border Collie Lakeland may try to herd everything.

This includes children, cars, and even other dogs. They have innate herding instincts that you can’t “train away.” This can make Border Collie Lakelands more likely to get hit by cars and may make them hard to handle in households with small children.


3. These dogs are brilliant.

These canines can be very intelligent. If they take after their Border Collie parent, they may be the smartest dog you ever meet. This is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, they’ll train faster and generally understand what you want them to do. On the other hand, they need mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy.

The parent breeds of the Border Collie Lakeland. Left - Lakeland Terrier & Right - Border Collie
Image Credit: Left – ivkatefoto, Shutterstock | Right – BIGANDT.COM, Shutterstock

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Border Collie Lakeland 🧠

The temperament of this canine depends on the parent it takes after the most. It may be quite alert and energetic. Most are friendly with most people, though they aren’t going to obsess over strangers as some other dogs do. They are more aloof with newcomers, but very accepting of affection when it is offered.

However, because of their Lakeland Terrier blood, they may also be quite protective. They may have territorial guarding instincts, which can make them aggressive if they aren’t trained properly. Early socialization can help with this substantially.

With that said, these dogs are generally less protective than their parent, which can make them the right choice for families.

It is not uncommon for these dogs to inherit the herding instinct of their Border Collie parent. Some dogs may only herd somethings (or have a disposition that makes them able to be trained in herding), which others may herd absolutely everything instinctually. This can be a problem with children. Herding typically starts with “stalking,” which works on sheep and livestock. However, children will often run away. This can encourage the dog to snap at their ankles, as this is usually what they do with sheep who aren’t listening.

However, this can be a problem with children. You cannot train this behavior out of the dog. It is instinctual.

Are Border Collie Lakelands Good for Families? 🏡

They are typically perfect for families with older children as long as they are correctly socialized. Their protective instincts can make them difficult with strangers, but they are virtually always affectionate with their family members.

Because of their herding instincts, it is best to avoid having them in a home with small children.

Do Border Collie Lakelands Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Yes and no. They can be somewhat territorial without proper socialization, so it is essential to get them around dogs and other animals at an early age. At the same time, their herding instincts can make them terrorize other animals, and no amount of training or socialization will stop this.

It is best not to have them around animals that don’t need to be herded. However, they usually do fine with livestock and such.

Divider 4Things to Know When Owning a Border Collie Lakeland Dog:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

These dogs have the same dietary requirements as most dogs. They are not particularly prone to any diet-related disorders and tend to be pretty healthy. Because of this, they tend to be more tolerant of sub-par food than other canines would be.

However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t feed them premium food. They will be happier and healthier with good quality dog food. You should feed them as good of a dog food as you can afford.

Exercise 🐕

Border Collie Lakeland dogs need quite a bit of exercise. They were bred to work, and therefore, need quite a bit of exercise to get them worn out. If you don’t provide them with enough exercise, they can become bored and destructive. They do not do well in apartments unless you are very active and plan on taking them out and about daily.

These dogs do not do well with being left alone inside for extended periods. They need exercise throughout the day and are not just going to lay around while you work.

They do best in a home with a large, fenced-in area and a family who will interact with them often. You should plan on walking with them many times a day – even with a fenced-in yard.

Training 🦮

These dogs are quite intelligent and do well with training most of the time. They can figure out what you want pretty quickly and can learn a wide variety of commands. You can teach them to do just about anything.

However, these dogs vary from people-pleasers to independent. You never know exactly what you’re going to get. Sometimes, you’ll get a puppy that will do whatever you say just because you said it, while others need a bit of encouragement to follow simple commands.

Your best bet is to make training fun. These dogs need quite a bit of mental stimulation and love games. The more engrossed they are in training, the more likely they are to pay attention and follow the commands. Mixing things up and introducing impressive rewards can go a long way. For example, you could practice the “come” command by playing a game of hide and seek.

Grooming ✂️

While these dogs typically don’t need to be trimmed, they do need to be brushed several times a week. They shed a lot, though it may only be seasonal. Whenever your puppy is shedding, they will need to be brushed to remove the excess hairs, or they can get quite miserable. They do not need to be bathed unless they get dirty. Their coats are pretty good at being self-cleaning.

Like all dogs, they will need their teeth brushed and their nails clipped regularly. You should also check their ears regularly, as they may get dirty and need to be cleaned as well.

Some of these canines will need their faces trimmed if their coat resembles a Lakeland.

Health and Conditions ❤️

These dogs are shockingly healthy. They are not particularly prone to any diseases at all and usually live long and happy lives. Below, you’ll find some of the health conditions they are most prone to.

Minor Conditions
  • Cataracts
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Pannus
Serious Conditions
  • Deafness
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
  • Collie Eye Anomaly

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Final Thoughts: Border Collie Lakeland

Border Collie Lakeland dogs are adorable small-medium canines. They are well-known for their intelligence, which can may them highly trainable. They do well in most families as long as they are properly socialized, though they may try to herd small children.

They do best in active families with older children, especially if you have some livestock that needs to be herded.

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Featured Image Credit: Roxxy62_Shutterstock; SoloStar, Pixabay

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