A Rottweiler Border Collie mix is a cross between a Rottweiler and a Border Collie. They are affectionate, intelligent, protective, and playful dogs that need an open area to play in. They get these traits from their parents that are known as wise and active breeds.
Border Collies and Rottweilers are well-known dogs. Their cross-breeding produces the Rottweiler Border Collie mix, or Border Rottie, which is a relatively new mix compared to other Border Collie mixes such as the Border Collie Australian Shepherd mix and the Pitbull Border Collie mix. There is little information about the Rottweiler Border Collie mix.
In this article, we will be talking about their characteristics, temperament, lifespan, grooming needs, exercising needs, food requirements, and more.
See the full Rottweiler Mix Breeds list.
Rottweiler Border Collie Mix Characteristics
A Rottweiler Border Collie mix inherits their parents’ personalities through genetics[1]. The American Kennel Club (AKC) describes Rottweilers and Border Collies as loving, intelligent, playful, and protective dogs.
The main differences between the parent breeds are their appearance and barking behavior. Rottweilers seldom barks and have short double-coated coats[2], while Border Collies frequently barks and have medium to long coats[3].
A Rottweiler and Collie mix is likely to have a personality similar to both Rottweilers and Border Collies, but their appearance takes after which parent’s genes are more dominant.
Appearance
Height
19–27 Inches
Weight
30–100 lbs
Lifespan
10–14 years
Dog Breed Group
Mixed Breed
Coat Type
Double
Coat length
Short–Long
Coat color
Black, Tan, White, Sable, Gray*
Eyes
Dark Brown
Nose
Black
Ears
Floppy
Hypoallergenic
No
Shedding
Grooming Difficulty
*Coat color can be unpredictable due to the Border Collie’s genes
Adaptability
Apartment living
Good for beginners
Can be alone
Cold weather tolerance
Hot weather tolerance
Friendliness & Temper
Temperament
Affectionate
Kid-Friendly
Dog-Friendly
Friendly to Strangers
Playfulness
Trainability & Needs
Easy to train
Intelligence
Hunting Instinct
Barking
Energy Level
3 Reasons To Get A Rottweiler Border Collie Mix
A Border Collie and Rottweiler mix is a trainable dog that gets along with children and can protect your home.
1. They Are Easy To Train
Border Collie Rottweiler mixes are intelligent dogs. They possess their parent’s intellectual prowess to process information. They are fast learners and can understand complex commands. Their sensitivity to stimuli makes Rottweiler Border Collies easy to train.
2. Rottweiler Border Collie Mixes Are Protective Dogs
Both Rottweilers and Border Collies are known as protective dogs. They are used by farmers to protect their livestock such as
- pigs
- cows
- sheep
- goats
3. Border Collie Rottweiler Mixes Are Great With Kids
Border Collie Rottweiler mixes take after their parent’s affectionate nature. They are quick to attach themselves to humans, especially kids. When they do, Border Collie Rottweilers devote their lives to them.
They also have the energy and playfulness to keep up with children.
3 Reasons Not To Get A Rottweiler Border Collie Mix
A Rottweiler and Border Collie mix is a territorial dog who frequently barks and looks for ways to spend its energy which leads to destructive behaviors.
1. Rottweiler Border Collie Mixes Are Territorial Dogs
Rottweilers and Border Collies have been recorded to show signs of aggression to show dominance and to protect their territories.
Given this aggressive trait in their parents’ breed, Rottweiler Border Collie mixes are expected to show aggressive tendencies toward unfamiliar people and animals.
Although it takes patience and time, you can train and familiarize them with other people and animals.
2. Border Collie Rottweiler Mixes Bark A Lot
Border Collies are vocal dogs. They bark to express everything they see and feel, such as:
- Seeing moving objects
- Feeling hungry
- Feeling angry
- Seeing an unknown object
- Getting attention
Without proper training, a Border Collie Rottweiler mix develops a destructive behavior where they bark non-stop.
3. They Always Look For Ways To Spend Their Energy
Border Collie Rottweiler mixes are playful dogs. They like to spend their time running around and playing with their owners. Being energetic dogs, to the point where they get frequent bursts of energy or “zoomies”, they are sensitive to stimuli and will use their energy in response. Small animals and moving objects can quickly pique their attention.
They generally do not do well in solitude or small spaces as they can turn anxious. When they do, Border Collie Rottweilers will exhibit negative behaviors.
Some of these destructive behaviors include:
- Biting and scratching everything it sees
- Digging on mattresses and sofa
- Defecating and peeing on wrong areas
- Barking persistently
- Howling continuously
Origins Of The Rottweiler Border Collie Mix
The Border Collie Rottweiler mix’s origin is unknown; however, it is likely that they originated somewhere in Europe because Rottweilers and Border Collies both came from Europe.
Border Collies originated in the Anglo-Scott region, UK. They served farmers as guardians, herders, hunters, and ratters[4]. They came from ancient Roman drover dogs who bred with the Spitz that the Vikings brought with them when they invaded this region some 1200 years ago.
Rottweilers can be traced back to Rottweil villagers during the middle ages and to the Romans during the 2nd Century CE[5]. They evolved from Italian Mastiffs and worked as herders and protection against thieves.
The Border Collie Rottweiler mix originated somewhere within Europe. They likely came from the UK region because Romans lived there at some point.
Border Collie Rottweiler Mix Appearance
A typical Rottweiler and Border Collie mix have floppy ears, a black nose, a black coat with cream, sable, and white streaks. There’s also a chance their eyes turn out to be heterochromatic. Their appearance depends on which parent’s genes are more dominant.
They are double-coated. Border Collie Rottweiler mixes’ coats are coarse and rough, similar to their parents’ coats. They have short to long hairs depending on which parent the Rottweiler Border Collie mix puppy takes after. Their coats are mostly black with cream, sable, and white streaks.
A Border Collie Rottweiler mix puppy will shed its coat as it grows old. It will develop a new coat that’s different from its puppy coat.
Border Collie Rottweiler mixes as puppies
Rottweiler and Border Collie mix puppies have single-colored coats. Most of their noses are pink that turn dark brown as they age—their overall appearance changes as they grow up due to the Border Collies’ genes.
Rottweiler Border Collie mixes as adults
A typical adult Rottweiler Border Collie mix has a predominantly black coat with gray, white, cream, and dark streaks. They have floppy ears, a black nose, and eyes that can be a shade of brown or heterochromatic.
Rottweiler Border Collie Mix Grooming
Future owners need to groom their Border Rotties weekly and brush them daily to avoid skin irritation. Groomers use a slick brush to remove old and damaged hair from their coats.
The Border Rottie’s grooming requirements depend on their hair length. Their coats can either be short, medium, or long-haired.
Short-haired Border Collie Rottweiler mix
A short-haired Border Collie Rottweiler mix takes after its Rottweiler parent. Those with short-haired coats are moderate shredders. They require weekly brushing and monthly baths.
Medium-haired Border Collie Rottweiler mix
Border Collie Rottweiler mixes with medium-haired coats are slightly heavy shredders. They take after their Border Collie parents and require weekly grooming.
Long-haired Border Collie Rottweiler mix
Border Rotties with long hair are heavy shredders. They require a slick brush to remove old hairs from their inner coat properly. They need daily brushing and weekly grooming.
Products you can use in grooming your Rottweiler Border Collie mix
Rottweiler Border Collie mixes have sensitive skin. They need a proper brush and appropriate grooming products to avoid skin diseases.
Here are some products you can use:
- Slick Brush
- Bristle Brush
- Shampoo with tea tree oil
- Sulfate-free soap
- Antifungal soap
- Aloe Vera body wash
Rottweiler Border Collie Mix Food Requirements
Rottweiler Border Collie mixes, like other dogs, need to eat around 2% – 3% of their body weight per day, depending on their daily activities[6].
Border Collie Rottweiler puppies need to consume 4%-6% of their body weight daily. They need to eat 3 to 4 times per day until they are nine months old.
Introducing a varied diet also helps your dog meet its mineral and vitamin requirements.
Here are some foods you can feed your Rottweiler Border Collie mix:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Beef
- Salmon with skin
- Broccoli
- Quail egg
- Carrots
- Yams
- Bananas
- Apples
- Blueberries
Border Collie Rottweiler Mix Exercise Requirements
A Border Collie Rottweiler mix needs 2 hours of daily exercise. They need both physical and mental stimulation due to their intelligent and lively nature.
Rottweiler and Border Collie mixes are active, intelligent dogs. More often than not, they are looking for ways to stimulate their mind and body. Their kind needs an open space to run around.
They need physical exercises that require them to move their body. You can achieve this by walking, playing fetch, running, or other bonding activities.
You can stimulate your dog’s brain by giving them exercises that require them to think. Border Collie Rottweiler mixers are quick learners, so you need to vary the mental activities. These exercises are also good ways to improve your dog’s mental health.
Here are some exercises and activities you can do with your dog:
- Jogging
- Playing fetch
- Scent work
- Obstacle course
- Hide and Seek
- Scutter Feeding
- Toy stuffing
- Sniffing games
Are Rottweiler Border Collie Mixes Easy To Train?
Rottweiler Border Collie mixes are fast learners. They possess the mental capacity to respond to stimuli and figure out commands and tricks quickly.
The parents of this mixed breed, Rottweilers and Border Collies are known working dogs. Records show that their parents worked as drovers, herders, guardians, and hunters.
Rottweiler Border Collie mixes have the mental and physical capacity to learn complex commands and tricks.
Common Rottweiler Border Collie Mix Health Problems
Rottweiler Border Collie mixes are prone to brain, eyes, heart, bone, and blood conditions.
The Rottweiler and Border Collie mix was an attempt to produce healthier dogs. Breeders selectively bred Rottweilers and Border Collies with healthy traits. Although healthier than their parents, Rottweiler Border Collie mixes are prone to health issues that are common in their parents.
Future owners can help prolong their dog’s lifespan by giving them regular exercises, proper grooming, periodical Veterinarian check-ups, and an appropriate diet.
Border Collie Rottweiler Mix Lifespan
Rottweilers have an 8–10 years life expectancy, while Border Collies live 10–18 years.
Border Collie Rottweiler mixes have an 8–13 years life expectancy that future owners can extend with proper diet and activities.
Are Rottweiler Collie Mixes Hypoallergenic?
Rottweiler Collie mixes are not hypoallergenic dogs. They are not compatible with people who are allergic to dogs. They can be moderate to heavy shredders which increases the number of allergens in the air.
If you’re planning to buy or adopt a Rottweiler Collie mix, you need to get allergen levels checked to see if they’re compatible with your allergies.
Numerous researchers have mentioned that a dog’s coat and hair length are not causes of allergies[9]. What causes dog allergies in people are the protein levels found in their saliva and dead skin[10].
Where to get Rottweiler Border Collie Mix Puppies?
You can get Border Collie Rottweiler mixes from breeding farms and animal shelters.
You can also get a Border Collie and Rottweiler mix puppy on Facebook and Instagram. Breeders and shelter owners post their sale/adoption notices on their pages.
Remember, a trustworthy breeder or shelter owner does the following:
- Provide documentation of your dog’s pedigree
- Show parent’s medical history
- Show their facilities
- Show the pup’s parents
Conclusion
A Rottweiler Border Collie mix is the product of breeding a Rottweiler and a Border Collie together. They are affectionate, intelligent, loyal dogs that need physical and mental stimulation. They need proper training to familiarize themselves with unknown people and strangers. They have different grooming needs based on their hair length.
A Border Collie and Rottweiler mix is an excellent dog for kids or active owners. Like their parents, a Border Collie and Rottweiler mix need an open space to entertain themselves. Given their energetic nature, Rottweiler Border Collie mixes are not great apartment pets.
