Skip to Content

Is A Toller Border Collie Mix The Right Dog For You?

A Toller Border Collie Mix is often considered the best of both dogs – a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and a Border Collie shepherd. Both are working dogs, so they’ll need plenty of exercise and stimulation from their future owner.

While it will depend on what breed they take after the most, knowing their parents can help you to learn quite a bit.

A Toller Border Collie Mix tends to be a highly intelligent dog that learns quickly. They can be quite obsessive about different things, so it’s all about taking the time to understand the needs of your individual dog.

When you get this breed at a young age, it allows you to socialize them so that they can be the kind of dog that you need.

This longer-haired dog is beautiful, though you’ll want to make sure to dedicate plenty of time toward grooming so that they stay healthy.

Knowing a bit about the two breeds that go into the mix will help you to determine if it’s the right dog for you and your family.

Where you live, whether you have kids, and how much time you can dedicate to keeping your dog entertained are all critical when looking at the Toller Border Collie Mix.

What is a Toller Border Collie Mix Like as a Pet?

A Toller Border Collie Mix is quite active because of the background that led to creating this hybrid.

The border collie is a natural herder that was commonly used on farms while the toller retriever was commonly used for luring waterfowl and retrieving ducks.

These dogs are fiercely loyal and love spending time with their human companions.

This breed is going to be quite inquisitive, so they’ll always be looking to get into something, which is why they shouldn’t be left alone before receiving any training.

Socialization is critical, so that means spending time with the family or going to a day camp. They require a lot of mental and physical exercise so that they don’t get bored (and potentially turn destructive).

These dogs tend to be rather large depending on what breed they lean toward, with a weight ranging between 30 and 50 pounds.

They’ll lie on the furniture if you let them, and their stubbornness can lead to them taking ownership of anything and everything in the home. They’re loyal dogs and will have a lifespan between 10 and 17 years with the right level of attention and care given to them.

What Should You Feed a Toller Border Collie Mix?

It’s important to feed a Toller Border Collie Mix something that is specific to them and their needs based on age, weight, and health problems that they might be experiencing.

Many dogs have a tendency to be overweight if they’re not getting enough time to run around. By choosing a custom dog food, you can make sure that it is a high-protein formula without a lot of fillers.

Since these dogs have a history of spending time outdoors and being bred for hunting and such, giving them a taste of the wild is important.

It can ensure they enjoy a flavorful meal in comparison to some of the shelf dog foods on the market that are essentially dry kibble with fillers like rice and potato.

Lamb, chicken, salmon, and other flavors can be introduced to your Toller Border Collie Mix so that they enjoy eating at every meal.

Pay attention to the ingredients for the dog and take into account anything that they may be allergic or sensitive to. Avoid a formula where you can’t pronounce half of the ingredients, which is often the case with cheaper dog foods on the market. As long as the food is predominantly meat, you can’t go wrong.

Additionally, be sure that you are limiting the snacks and treats to less than 10% of their daily caloric intake.

Is It Easy to Train a Toller Border Collie Mix?

Due to the level of intelligence, a Toller Border Collie Mix can be difficult to train because of its stubbornness.

As long as you are willing to take the alpha position and set them in their place, they can go on to be very well-trained dogs. It’s beneficial to find a dog training course that specializes in this breed so that you can get the most out of the course.

This is the kind of dog that loves to please its owner, so you will maximize training efforts with positive reinforcement.

Proper socialization will also help with a well-behaved dog so that they can be around other people and dogs. Taking them out and about and to the park will make a big difference.

The Toller Border Collie Mix has a tendency to have prey drive, so it won’t be uncommon for them to run and chase small prey.

This can make it difficult for you to herd them, so taking them out on a leash is critical. If you start leash training at a young age, it will be easier to take them out in public without chasing prey or causing a disruption in other ways.

Toller Border Collie Mix Temperament

For the most part, Toller Border Collie Mixes are going to be calm and collective, especially when they have learned how to be obedient.

They will show aggression if there is another dog in front of them or if they identify something as dangerous, whether it’s a dangerous situation or a dangerous person.

Knowing how to identify the signs of anger and aggression can ensure you de-escalate the situation as quickly as possible.

A Toller is a less submissive dog than other retrievers, such as the golden retriever.

This means that they are also less outgoing with strangers. Depending on which parent the mix leans toward, they can generally be even-tempered dogs that enjoy having plenty of playtime with their family.

Knowing about the dog’s parents will help you to learn more about the temperament and what to expect as they grow up.

Generally speaking, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is going to be a bit more laid back than the Border Collie. The level of training is important so that your dog’s temper never gets out of control.

Toller Border Collie Mix Exercise Requirements

As a mix between a retriever and a shepherd, these dogs are known to have a significant amount of energy.

Plan on taking them for long walks; with the right level of training, they can also be jogging and running companions.

They’re not big sleepers, so it will take quite a bit of work to get them tired – and tired dogs are more well-behaved than bored and anxious ones.

Since they enjoy the time outdoors, they can run, hike, and even swim, allowing you to bring them with you on all of your adventures.

Mental stimulation is just as important as physical stimulation.

There are all sorts of toys that you can buy to ensure they have plenty of ways to stay active even when no one is home.

Dog sports, trick training, and more will help your dog to be healthy and happy so that they don’t get bored.

On average, an adult Toller Border Collie Mix will need at least 90 minutes of exercise per day.

Typically, this should be done outside where they can run around and build up to their max speed. Dog parks, large fenced-in backyards, and even doggie daycares should be utilized regularly to help get the dog all of the exercise that it needs.

Is a Toller Border Collie Mix a Good Family Dog?

A Toller Border Collie Mix tends to be a good family dog because they are eager to please their humans and they are fast learners.

They are great with kids of all ages as long as the kids are monitored and don’t show any aggression toward the dog (such as tail pulling).

Mixes that have more Border Collie than Toller Retriever can be indifferent toward other animals in the house while Toller Retrievers welcome the interaction from other pets.

With the dog having so much energy, it’s important that they are allowed to run around and be given the opportunity to exercise.

Dogs that are kept indoors for too long tend to be resentful – and their extra energy can manifest by rough-housing with the smaller members of the family. With proper training, they can be taught to be good around everyone in the house.

Introducing a dog inside of a house with small members of the house is ideal in the puppy stage.

This way, there’s a strong level of respect built within the baby and the puppy as they grow up with one another. Introducing older dogs into families with small kids can be difficult, especially if the dog’s history is unknown.

If you’re going to get a dog for the family and there are young kids involved, focus on asking questions, and don’t forget to sign up for training courses.

Conclusion

A Toller Border Collie Mix is a smart, athletic dog that can prove to be a faithful companion for many years to come. Understanding their personalities is critical so that you can make sure to give them what they need. Learning about their parents can help you to prepare for what to expect from the dog, though if you know enough about both breeds, you can make that decision and choose to buy from a shelter. No matter what, you can get quite the life-long friend from this breed, especially when you get them at a young age so that you can help with the socialization.