Bordernese

by Lisa Selvaggio

Published: January 19th, 2017

About Bordernese

Weight

40-80 lb

Lifespan

12-15 years

Group

not applicable

Best Suited For

Singles and families with children and other pets, living in a house or apartment with a yard

Temperament

Gentle, protective, loyal, affectionate, smart, playful, energetic, obedient

Comparable Breeds

Border Collie, Bernese Mountain Dog

Height

19-26 inches

Bordernese Basics

The beautiful Bordernese is a beloved designer canine breed, as these dogs make fabulous family pets. Combining good looks with a loving personality that easily wins hearts, the Bordernese could be the ideal choice for you, but before you bring one home, check out the information below to learn more about this unique breed’s needs.

The Bordernese is a cross between a purebred Border Collie and Bernese Mountain Dog.

Origin

The Bordernese is a designer dog breed whose origins aren’t entirely clear.

Pedigree

The Bordernese is a cross between a purebred Border Collie and Bernese Mountain Dog.

Food / Diet

To give your pet the best nutrition, stick with a reputable brand that uses whole food ingredients. It is also a good idea to avoid brands that use artificial and allergenic ingredients. If you want to feed your Bordernese a homemade or raw diet, talk to your vet first to ensure you’ll be meeting all of your dog’s nutritional requirements.

A Bordernese can eat an average of around 3.5 cups of a high quality dog food every day. It is best to divide this amount up into multiple feedings throughout the day. Many owners choose to feed their dogs at least twice a day. Also, if you are planning on giving your pooch some high quality canned food for canines, make it a point to reduce the amount of dry food accordingly so that your pet can maintain a healthy weight.

The Bordernese is a popular breed because of its fantastic personality.

Training

Even if you have never trained a dog before, you should find it easy to teach your Bordernese the rules of the house, as well as some tricks. These dogs are intelligent and will pick up on new lessons quickly, and they also like learning new things to avoid boredom.

These pooches are known for listening to commands and willingly obeying their owners, so you will need to use fewer repetitions before your pet catches on. Use a firm but consistent and gentle approach. Never be harsh with your dog, and utilize positive training techniques that include rewards, treats, and praise to encourage your pet.

Weight

A large-sized breed, the Bordernese weighs between 40 and 80 pounds.

Temperament / Behavior

The Bordernese is a popular breed because of its fantastic personality. You can expect that your furry friend will be energetic and alert, as well as protective of his family. He will also be smart and loyal, as well as loving, friendly, and social.

If you’re in search of a good-natured dog, the Bordernese will not disappoint. Always striving to please you, your pet will be calm and will get along well with children and other pets, especially when properly socialized.

A Bordernese would also be a good choice for those who are in search of a watchdog that will bark to alert you to suspicious activity or intruders. These dogs will be dependable and ready to come to your aid whenever necessary.

Common Health Problems

Because the Bordernese is a hybrid canine breed, it might be susceptible to some of the health problems that affect its parent breeds. At the same time, though, hybrid breeds can be surprisingly hardy and healthy, and there really is no way to predict an individual dog’s long-term health. In the end, there is no guarantee that your dog will inherit any health problems from his parents, but being aware of them is a good way to keep an eye out for symptoms and get your pet help right away if they arise.

Some of the ailments that might affect the Bordernese include diabetes, allergies, hip and joint dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans, deafness, bloat, obesity, hypothyroidism, eye problems, epilepsy, cancer, sensitivity to drugs, neurological problems, Von Willebrand’s disease, panosteitis, and portosystemic shunts.

Life Expectancy

The Bordernese has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.

Exercise Requirements

Because the Bordernese is a fairly active breed, you will need to take steps to ensure he gets regular exercise and playtime every day. The physical activity will help keep your dog fit and at the ideal weight, while also giving him a positive outlet for all of his energy.

You can take your dog for a walk or two every day, as well as take him to the local dog park so that he can run around and play with other canines. It is also best if you have a safe, enclosed backyard space where you can let your Bordernese run off-leash, play with his toys, and play games like fetch with you.

In addition to giving your dog the chance to be outside every day, you can also ensure he remains mentally stimulated while indoors by giving him a variety of toys to play with.

If you’re in search of a good-natured dog, the Bordernese will not disappoint.

Recognized Clubs

The Bordernese is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, as it is considered to be a hybrid breed. However, this breed is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), the Designer Breed Registry (DBR), the Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC), and the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA).

Coat

Your Bordernese will have a long and thick coat that requires regular grooming sessions to keep it healthy and clean; however, you will not need to trim or strip the coat. Shedding will occur seasonally. Brushing your pet a few times a week will help remove excess hair and ensure his fur will always look lovely.

Puppies

As with all puppies, you should handle your Bordernese pup with care, and supervise any time that your pet spends with small children to ensure he doesn’t accidentally get hurt.

You can begin socializing and training your puppy after bringing him home, as that will help him become comfortable with a variety of people and animals, and he’ll also start learning what’s allowed and what isn’t allowed in your home.

Photo credit: Ron R/Flickr; Eric Savage/Flickr; Life on White/Bigstock

Lisa Selvaggio

Lisa Selvaggio is a freelance writer and editor, and our resident cats-pert, with certifications in pet nutrition and pet first aid. She enjoys producing content that helps people understand animals better so they can give their pets a safe and happy home.

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We have all been told at one time or another that our pets are good for our mental health. But have you ever stopped to consider how your mental health could also impact the attachment bond you form with your pet? Could your attachment to your pet hurt your mental health?These questions and more were the inspiration behind a new study out of the University of Helsinki.Rather than focusing solely on the benefits of dogs and cats to our mental well-being, researchers went a step better. The goal was to better understand how the relationship we form with our pets could have an impact both on us as well as on the pets themselves. They also dug into how an owner’s attachment style could impact the care they provide and our pet’s behaviors.The research team collected information from approximately 2,500 pet owners and 3,300 pets to gather the necessary data. This included:Personality traits (of owners, dogs, and cats)Owner mental well-being ratingsUnwanted behavior traitsOther potential influences, like children in the householdAttachment stylesIn terms of the relationship, they looked specifically at two types of insecure attachment – anxious and avoidant. Anxious attachment refers to owners who desire to have their pets nearby and are concerned about the risk of losing their pets. On the other end of the spectrum, avoidant attachment refers to pet owners concerned about losing their personal autonomy and, as such, seeking a higher level of independence.The study found that cat owners with lower mental health ratings demonstrated anxious attachment to their feline friends. However, dog owners with similar mental health ratings were split between anxious attachment and avoidant attachment.Interestingly enough, there was a clear division between the attachment styles when categorizing the relationships based on a dog’s mental well-being and potentially “unwanted” or “problem” behaviors. Dogs who demonstrated aggression or ADHD-like behavior were more likely to have avoidantly attached owners, while dogs who demonstrated fear-related behaviors were often connected to anxiously attached owners.What does all this mean? By recognizing the connection, we can better understand how personality and attachment styles can influence one another.For example, if a dog owner demonstrates avoidant attachment, they may not provide the security a dog desires in a potentially threatening situation. As a result, the dog may develop aggression. However, it is also possible that a dog’s aggressive response may contribute to an owner’s need for space and independence from the behavior and its impact on their daily activities.“What made this project unique was that it involved dogs, cats, and owners alike,” explained Professor Hannes Lohi. “We need a deeper understanding of the connections between owners and pets and the associated factors so we can, for example, help people make better decisions when obtaining a pet. It’s important to acknowledge that obtaining a pet while experiencing poor mental well-being may not necessarily meet the expectations of improving it.”Not only is this a big step forward in helping people make educated decisions about pet ownership, but it could also provide valuable guidance for trainers and behaviorists when dealing with unwanted behaviors.

New Survey Ranks America's Top Dog Breeds by State

There’s no doubt about it - Americans love their dogs! We know that your pooch is the best breed, but have you wondered which are the most favored dog breeds in America? Forbes surveyed 10,000 dog owners across the 50 states to find America’s top dog breed. The survey involved the top 25 most popular dog breeds nationwide, according to the American Kennel Club. So, what is America’s top dog? As it turns out, “no breed in particular” is the country’s favorite at 13%.However, if Americans had to decide, they’d pick the Australian shepherd as a favorite, followed by the German shepherd and the bulldog.The highly intelligent and energetic Australian shepherd was ranked as the top dog breed in 10 states, including Alabama, Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Montana, Missouri, New York, and Virginia. This breed was also voted the second favorite in nine states. Although Aussies won the popularity vote, the German shepherd was the number one pick in 16 states. That’s more than any other breed!Known for its loyal and courageous nature, the German shepherd is the most common breed to serve as a police K9 but also makes a wonderful family companion. They ranked as the second favorite dog breed in nine states. Interestingly, more men than women picked German shepherds as their favorite breed (9% compared to 6%). America’s 3rd favorite breed, according to Forbes, is the bulldog. The English bulldog is a medium-sized dog breed, best known for its stocky build, large head, and wrinkled face. The bulldog ranked as the top dog in eight states, including Illinois, Connecticut, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Utah. Among all states, Nebraska ranked the bulldog lowest, placing this breed at 24th place, The lovable and friendly Labrador retriever ranked as the nation’s 4th favorite breed. Thanks to their affectionate, friendly, and energetic nature, Labs make great companions to people of all ages and families with children. Labrador retrievers ranked as the most favorite dog breed in 10 states, including Louisiana, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Dakota, and West Virginia. Bernese mountain dog is the 5th favorite dog breed in the United States. Large in size and built for hard work, Bernese mountain dogs are easy to train and make affectionate, loyal, and faithful companions. So, it’s no surprise that this doggo ranked as the most favorite breed in nine states. Compared to four other top-ranked breeds, the Bernese mountain dog had the most varying results, with 10 states ranking this breed in the bottom 10.The beagle is the nation’s favorite small breed. Ranked as the 6th favorite breed overall, the beagle was placed in the top 10 favorite breeds in all but seven states. This breed received the lowest ranking in Utah, where it was voted as the state’s 3rd least favorite breed.The golden retriever comes in at 7th place, after being voted as the most favorite dog breed in Michigan and Wisconsin. Medium in size and best known for their gorgeous golden coats, golden retrievers are loving, loyal, and affectionate companions to active people and families with children. Goldens were the 2nd favorite dog breed in four states, including New Hampshire, North Dakota, Connecticut, and Vermont. This breed ranked the lowest in Alabama, where it received 17th place.These are America’s most favorite dog breeds, but the nation also has the least favorite doggo. This title goes to the Havanese, which was the bottom-ranked breed in 33 states.The Havanese is followed by Pembroke Welsh Corgi which was the least favorite dog breed in 17 states. And what about you? What’s your favorite and least favorite dog breed?Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

ACANA™ Pet Food Team Announces Nationwide Kitten Cuddler Promotion

Are you the next champion kitten cuddler? Because ACANA™ is looking for one! Their latest campaign is aimed at supporting  cat shelters, which can be overwhelmed with newborn kittens during increased birth rates amongst cats. In a bid to help, ACANA™ will help both shelters and kittens in the critical stages – from arrival to adoption. ACANA™, the pet food specialists, are preparing for the upcoming “kitten season”, attempting to increase public awareness of just how much work shelters could have during this time. In their latest effort, not only will they be donating cat food to the shelters, but they will also be offering $10,000 to one lucky cat lover to do nothing more but cuddle with kittens at a  Best Friends Animal Society center. They do this in hopes of encouraging others to volunteer as “kitten cuddlers”. Hopefully, their efforts will lead to increased adoptions of kittens, and completely eliminate the killing of unadopted cats and dogs in America, a goal to which Best Friends Animal Society is wholly dedicated to. And now, the help is needed the most. The so-called “ kitten season” spans from May to November, and it is the time of the year when female cats have most of their kittens. During this period, many animal shelters report a great influx of kittens that need care and adoption. It goes without saying that caring for a large number of gentle and fragile kitties is a labor-consuming and very challenging job. A shelter’s resources and staff can be very strained in this period, so all the help they can get is more than welcome. The ACANA™ pet food team is well aware of this and is donating 5,000 cases of wet kitten food in Apri. This is equivalent to about $250,000 at retail prices and comes to roughly 120,000 meals for kittens. Not only this, but the team also encourages everyone to volunteer at their local shelters and help with the many tasks surrounding kitten care. And a very important task is, of course, cuddling! Kitties are fragile and require constant care and all the love and warmth they can get. It is because of this need that ACANA™ will reward one person with $10,000 to cuddle kittens! The lucky winner will spend half a day at a Best Friends Animal Society lifesaving center, or a chosen network partner shelter this June. For their cuddling efforts, they will receive $10,000. "We believe in the total well-being of cats," said Billy Frey, Vice President, Marketing for Champion Petfoods. "ACANA™ pet food helps cats thrive through every stage of life, and a cat's earliest days set the tone for everything that follows. This program demonstrates our commitment to taking care of both the emotional and nutritional needs of kittens."The rules of the contest are straightforward. The prospective kitten cuddlers must be U.S. residents, and aged 18 or over. Needless to say, they must love kittens and have four hours available over one weekend in June 2024. Easy, yes? Additionally, contestants must pass a background check and cannot be in a partnership with a competing pet food brand. For a chance to be selected, you can enter the contest between March 27th through April 10th, 2024. Cuddlers, good luck!

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