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Border Collie & Great Pyrenees Mix: Info, Pictures, Facts, Traits

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Border Collie Pyrenees on beach

Height: 20–32 inches
Weight: 30–120 pounds
Lifespan: 10–13 years
Colors: Various combinations of white, grey, cream, black, and red
Suitable for: Active families with a yard
Temperament: Intelligent, energetic, loving, and loyal

The Border Collie Pyrenees is a large and intelligent designer dog that is the result of crossing a purebred Border Collie with a purebred Great Pyrenees. It is not known precisely when the breed was first developed, and little is known about its history. However, as with many designer dog breeds, their popularity has increased over the past 10 years.

With two of the most intelligent dog breeds for parents, the Border Collie Pyrenees was always going to inherit some smarts. Couple this with the energy of a Border Collie and the Zen-like calm of the Great Pyrenees and you have a dog with boundless energy that could probably outplay you in a game of chess if he had opposable thumbs.

With thick coats that can be long and coarse or short and smooth, the Border Collie Pyrenees shed seasonally and require de-molting and regular brushing. They make great family pets and are excellent guard dogs that can, at times, become a little too protective of their families.

Due to their size and seemingly endless energy, they are not suited to life in an apartment and need an owner that has a house with a yard.

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Border Collie & Great Pyrenees Mix Puppies – Before You Bring One Home…

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Training and socialization at an early age is an absolute must for these big bundles of energy. Although they’re smart, the Border Collie Pyrenees can be unruly if not trained and socialized, and given their size, this can become quite a problem. Thankfully, they’re very quick learners and easy to train. They will usually actively engage in the training process, particularly if they see it as a game. Although some dogs do inherit more of the indifferent attitude of the Great Pyrenees, and this can make obedience training more challenging.

In appearance, the Border Collie Pyrenees can have the physical appearance of either of their parents and can vary significantly in size.

Regardless of which parent your puppy takes after in looks, the one thing that is for sure is that these dogs are not big fans of hot weather. With a thick cold weather undercoat, they are much happier in cold and moderate climates. They are really not suited to life in a hot tropical environment.

What’s the Price of Border Collie Pyrenees Puppies?

Border Collie Pyrenees puppies start from about $1,000 and can, depending on the breeder and the parent dogs, go up to twice this price.

You are unlikely to find a Border Collie Pyrenees for sale in your local pet store, and we always recommend that you find a reputable breeder. Purchasing your puppy directly from an ethical and reputable kennel is the best way to ensure that you’re not encouraging the growth of puppy mills.

Before purchasing your puppy, we also recommend that you visit the breeder’s facilities and have a look at their dogs. In fact, many reputable breeders will insist that you do as they’ll have just as much interest in ensuring that you’re going to be a responsible pet owner as you have in making sure your new pet is coming from a good kennel.

It is also a good idea to ask to see the health certificates of both of your new puppy’s parents. This will ensure they have been tested for and cleared of any significant health problems.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Border Collie & Great Pyrenees Mix

1. Border Collie Pyrenees have weatherproof coats.

Traditionally tasked with guarding sheep on the cold and exposed Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain, the Great Pyrenees breed needed a thick undercoat to protect them from the cold and the rain. The Border Collie too, with its history as a herding dog in the Scottish and Welsh highlands, has over the years developed a thick warm double-coat.

Hence, it should come as no surprise that the Border Collie Pyrenees has inherited a dense undercoat, which keeps them warm and comfortable in adverse weather conditions.

2. They are a new breed with a long historical heritage.

While it is not known when the Border Collie Pyrenees was first developed, their parent breeds have a long historical heritage.

Border Collies are a very old breed of dog that is recorded in history as far back as the Roman Empire, while the Great Pyrenees has an ancestry that reaches back to the early 1400s.

3. Both parent breeds are highly intelligent.

When you have a dog as intelligent as a Border Collie Pyrenees you need to find ways to keep their minds active.

There is quite a range of dog puzzles available, and these dogs simply love them. Be warned, though, once you get your dog hooked on them, you will likely need to buy quite a few as it doesn’t take a Border Collie Pyrenees very long to crack the secrets of a new dog puzzle.

Parents of the Border Collie Pyrenees Mixed Breed
The parents of the Border Collie Pyrenees. Left: Border Collie, Right: Great Pyrenees

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Border Collie Pyrenees

On the scale of dog intelligence, the Border Collie is generally considered to be number one, and the Great Pyrenees is not that far behind. Hence the cross-breed of the two was always destined to be an exceptionally intelligent dog.

The Border Collie Pyrenees is a friendly and alert dog. They are great with children and other animals and will happily run around playing games for hours on end. Unlike the Border Collie, who loves nothing more than to please, these dogs have a real sense of independence. Meaning that they won’t necessarily do something just because you tell them to. They can, however, often be bribed into your way of thinking with the promise of a game or treat.

This breed will usually get on well with strangers and can make friends quite easily. However, they will become very protective if they sense that there is a threat to their family. And, when they decide they don’t like somebody, there is very little that can be done to change their mind until they’re satisfied that person poses no threat.

Brave, alert, and intelligent, Border Collie Pyrenees make excellent guard dogs. They will have no issue with alerting you when something isn’t right. Nor will they have any problem bailing-up a stranger who tries to enter their yard or home without invitation.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Yes, the Border Collie Pyrenees make great family pets. Ideally, they need a family that lives in a house with a sizeable fenced-off yard. While they will happily curl up on the floor beside you at night for a snooze, they are highly active dogs that need a lot of physical activity and mental stimulation.

Left alone with little to do or to play with, a Border Collie Pyrenees will become destructive. They love chewing shoes and ripping up cushions and will give no thought as to how you’ll react to this until you get home. As such, if you have to leave them alone, they are best left to play in their yard with a variety of toys while you’re away.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Border Collie Pyrenees are great with other animals. They love making new friends and can be trusted around your other pets.

You should be aware though that they are very active dogs that like to herd. So you should consider how tolerant your other pets will be to this type of behavior before bringing home a Border Collie Pyrenees.

border collie pyrenees puppy in snow
Image Credit: Bailey Diane Clark, Shutterstock

Divider 4Things to Know When Owning a Border Collie Pyrenees

Food & Diet Requirements

Being an active and large dog, your Border Collie Pyrenees is going to need a lot of food.

All dogs need a healthy and well-balanced diet, and the Border Collie Pyrenees is no different. Being a cross-breed, you won’t find a breed-specific dog food for them. Instead, we recommend that you look for a premium brand of dry dog food that has been specially formulated for large active dogs. This will likely contain the right mix of high-quality ingredients and is the best way to keep your dog fit and healthy.

Of course, you should consult your dog’s vet if you have any questions about what to feed your Border Collie Pyrenees.

Exercise

The Border Collie Pyrenees requires a lot of daily exercise. They are extremely active dogs that need both physical activity and mental stimulation every day. They love to run and taking them for a long jog every day will be equally as good for your pet as it is for you. Although, you should expect that when you get home feeling tired and ready to crash, your Border Collie Pyrenees will be ready and raring to go again.

Besides physical exercise, these dogs need a lot of mental stimulation, and you may find yourself becoming a regular visitor to your local dog park so they can play with other dogs.

Training

The Border Collie Pyrenees is a relatively easy breed to train. However, they can sometimes have a streak of independence that can make training a little more challenging.

As already discussed, they are highly intelligent and active dogs, and as such will respond best when you can make training fun. They respond well to rewards, and usually, a bit of time playing with their favorite toy or a small treat will keep them focused on the task at hand.

Being large and protective dogs, you must socialize your Border Collie Pyrenees while they are young. Your dog needs to get used to being around strangers and other dogs, and socialization should continue to be part of their ongoing daily routine.

Grooming ✂️

The Border Collie Pyrenees require a moderate amount of grooming. For most of the year, you can probably get away with brushing them once every 2 or 3 days and bathing them every 6–8 weeks.

However, due to their thick double coat, these dogs undergo a seasonal shed twice a year. At this time, as with other double-coated dogs, they will need daily brushing to help remove the shedding hair. Alternatively, you may find it beneficial to take your dog to a professional dog groomer when they start to shed.

Health Conditions

The Border Collie Pyrenees is typically a healthy dog. Aside from the usual ailments that affect all dogs, they will likely go through life without any serious health complications or issues. However, there are several conditions that you should look out for.

Minor Conditions
  • Eye infections
  • Cataracts
  • Skin allergies
  • Ear infections
Serious Conditions

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Male vs Female

Apart from the obvious reproductive differences, when it comes to choosing the sex of your Border Collie Pyrenees, the main difference between males and females is in their size. Male Border Collie Pyrenees tend to be bigger, stronger, and heavier than females. However, as domestic pets, this difference in size has little impact.

There are also some hormonal differences associated with the dog’s mating instinct. However, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, spaying or neutering your dog can, besides removing their ability to reproduce, help prevent many of the behavioral problems associated with the mating instinct.

Divider 3Final Thoughts

The Border Collie Pyrenees are large, intelligent, and very energetic dogs. They make great family pets and are best kept in a house with a large yard. They are also excellent guard dogs that are very protective of their family.

They do require quite a lot of physical exercise and mental stimulation and are not the sort of dogs that will sit and play happily by themselves all day. They are easy to train, enjoy spending time with people, and are generally happy to learn new tricks and games. 

Due to their thick undercoat, the Border Collie Pyrenes is not well suited to life in the tropics or other places with extreme heat. If you are looking for a big dog with mountains of energy, and loads of personality, the Border Collie Pyrenees might be the perfect pooch for you.

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Featured Image Credit: April Stevenson, Shutterstock

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