Border Collie Bull Staffy: Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

The Border Collie Bull Staffy is a medium-sized dog that is a mix between a Border Collie and a Bull Staffordshire Terrier. These dogs are known to be highly protective and loyal, and they have a lot of love to give to their owners.

This breed is very active and needs vigorous daily exercise not only to stay healthy but also to reduce destructive behavior. They’re also intelligent, so mental stimulation is a good way to keep your pup occupied and prevent chewing.

This breed is also known for its health and heartiness, and it doesn’t tend to inherit many medical issues from its parent breeds. All of your questions about Border Collie Bull Staffies will be answered below, so stick around to see if this is the perfect breed for you!

Border Collie Bull Staffy Puppies

Border Collie Bull Staffy puppies are adorable and irresistibly loving. However, this is not considered an entry-level breed, and there are a few things you should know about these dogs before you head to the breeder to pick one up. Being prepared for your breed can make the difference between them fitting in nicely with your family and causing problems for you.

One thing that some uninformed owners don’t know is that these pups tend to bark. They’re protective and alert dogs, so sounds and movement outside can trigger your dog to go into protection mode. This means that this breed is usually not good for apartment dwellers who need to keep noise to a minimum.

Because they’re protective and agile, they can also be a bit aggressive toward outsiders if they perceive them as a threat. These dogs are willing to protect you with their lives, and that endearing quality can sometimes go a bit overboard, especially if your pup isn’t socialized and trained from an early age.

3 Little-Known Facts About Border the Collie Bull Staffy

1. They’re Both Companion and Guard Dogs

Bull Staffordshire Terriers usually make good companion dogs, are attentive, and love human interaction. Border Collies are a bit more stand-offish and are driven almost entirely by the desire to work.

Usually with mixed breeds you see a good blend of characteristics from both parents, but in the case of Border Collie Bull Staffies you tend to see mostly the traits of Bull Terriers. This means your pup will be a wonderful companion for any owner, and the one “job” they’ll love doing is protecting you, and your family, and your home.

2. Border Collie Bull Staffies Are Dominant by Nature

All prospective owners should know that these dogs tend to be leaders. They’re dominant, strong-willed, and possessive, and all of these traits lead to a pup that wants and needs to take charge.

Many times, people believe that natural dominance in dogs lends itself to aggression, but this isn’t necessarily the case for this breed. While they assert their dominance in most situations, with proper training you can establish yourself as the leader of the pack. Provided you don’t give in to your pup, they’ll eventually learn to listen to you and respect you as their leader.

3. The Parents of the Border Collie Bull Staffy Were Bred for High Activity

Both parent breeds were bred to be strong, active dogs. The Border Collie was and still is bred to work. This breed is recognized by organizations like the American Kennel Club as the best breed for herding, and they are truly masters in the field. Unfortunately, the Bull Staffordshire Terrier was bred to be used in dogfighting rings which explains their muscular and intimidating appearance.

Some people worry about the aggressive side of dogs bred for fighting rings, but rest assured that breeders today are far more responsible than they have been in the past, and these dogs are now bred and raised to be loving family pets.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Border Collie Bull Staffy 🧠

While Border Collie Bull Staffies may be territorial, alert, and leery or even a bit aggressive toward strangers, they will be nothing but sweet and affectionate towards those they call their own. This breed loves attention from their owners, and they will remain loyal to anyone perceived as part of their tribe. Plus, they’re mentally sharp and ready to learn — just make sure you let your Border Collie Bull Staffy know who the alpha is.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Not only are Border Collie Bull Staffies good with families, but they are also particularly patient with children, so you can introduce your puppy to your kids without concern. If your children have friends over, you may want to separate your pup from the fun, as aggressive play in children can often be perceived as a threat by your dog, and their protective instinct might kick in.

Socialization early in your pup’s life will help limit their possible aggression toward strangers and outsiders, but the instinct is just that: an instinct. It should be taken seriously, and you need to know that it can manifest itself in unwanted protection at any time.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Border Collie Bull Staffies are great family dogs, and that family can include other four-legged friends. These pups are generally good and well behaved with dogs and cats that they grow up with and perceive as family. Early socialization with other pets will help establish other cats or dogs as a part of the family this breed seeks to protect.

Strange dogs and cats outside of this pup’s family will likely not get the same treatment. While these dogs are friendly, they do have a moderate prey drive which means any cats — or other small animals on the block — may cause your pup to lunge into a chase. Dogs they meet on walks or at a dog park might be perceived as dangerous to you or your family members, and they will often be met with some barking and possible aggression. Again, early socialization will go a long way here, but that instinct will likely not be trained out of your pooch.

Things to Know When Owning a Border Collie Bull Staffy

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

This breed is strong, muscular, and very active, so a proper diet is essential for keeping up with their energy needs. These dogs should eat a high-protein diet that is formulated for medium-sized dogs with high energy to ensure they get all of the nutrients and calories they need

Although more common in smaller dogs, this breed is susceptible to obesity if overfed. It’s important to follow portion directions on your dog food manufacturer’s packaging for this size breed, and while training may involve food rewards, make sure you don’t overfeed with treats.

Exercise 🐕

Like we mentioned before, both parent breeds are highly energetic, and this crossbreed inherited all of that high energy! Your hybrid will require between one and two hours of energetic and rigorous exercise every single day. This exercise is essential for your pup to be healthy and happy, so if you can’t keep up with this kind of time commitment, you may want to opt for a less energetic breed. As is the case with many dog breeds, not meeting this exercise requirement can lead to destructive behavior as well.

Your pup will do best with long walks each day, but they’ll also enjoy hiking and swimming, and their intelligence and willingness to learn new things will make canine sports like flyball appealing activities as well.

Training 🦮

Border Collie Bull Staffies are a bit of a handful when it comes to training. It’s imperative you know what to expect before you get your dog so that you can avoid ingraining bad behavior early on.

This breed is strong-willed and dominant which means they’ll challenge your leadership constantly. They’re intelligent, so they will pick up on commands and new concepts quickly, but they need a dominant and strong leader to listen to and obey. You need to go into your relationship with this breed knowing that you need more than anything else to be the leader of the pack.

Once you establish this leadership position, you may still have some issues training your pup, as they’ll continuously need to be reminded of your dominance.

For these reasons, these dogs are not recommended for inexperienced dog owners, and we suggest getting trained in the area of dog obedience and training before getting one.

Grooming ✂️

Border Collie Bull Staffies do require some routine grooming, so in addition to their required exercise, be prepared to put in some time each day to brush your pup’s coat. Their hair is short but thick, and if not managed daily it can look matted and unkempt. Daily brushing with a wire brush will also help reduce shedding, which is moderate in this breed.

Regular bathing is important for skin and coat health, and you should plan to bathe your dog about once a month.

You should also clean your dog’s ears and cut their nails regularly. Ear cleaning will help prevent infections, and since this is a very active dog, nails should always be kept trimmed to prevent cracking and breaking during exercise or play.

Health and Conditions ❤️

This breed tends to be extremely healthy, provided their parents were properly tested and passed all standard genetic testing. They have very few medical issues to be concerned with, but be on the lookout for the possible issues below to make sure your pup stays happy and healthy.

Male vs Female

The male Border Collie Bull Staffy will likely be more dominant and therefore a bit more challenging to train, so you’ll have to put additional time and energy into establishing yourself as the pack leader for a male pup. Males will also tend to be more territorial and might be less welcoming toward strangers and other dogs. The female Border Collie Bull Staffy will still exhibit dominance and be protective, so these traits aren’t avoidable in this breed.

Additionally, male Border Collie Bull Staffys will tend to be more energetic, and as a result, they might be more alert. This could lead to more frequent barking.

Final Thoughts

Border Collie Bull Staffies are beautiful dogs that are strong, protective, and loyal. They’ll go out of their way to protect you in any situation. They’re also as loving as they are protective, so while you may have some concerns when it comes to how they will interact with strangers, you can be sure that this breed will be very gentle and patient with all family members, including children.

If you’re looking for a dog that will be a wonderful and attentive companion that will protect you above all else, and you aren’t afraid of putting time and effort into training and establishing dominance for yourself, the Border Collie Bull Staffy will be a lovely addition to your family.

• See Also: Border Collie Samoyed Mix: Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

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Featured image credit: Pixabay