The Border Collie has become a popular breed used for designer breed mixes. From Boradors to Golden Collies. There is no end to the beautiful types of dogs the Border Collie is involved in. Certainly, this is no different when it comes to the German Shepherd Border Collie mix. More affectionately known as the Shollie, this breed has slowly been climbing the ranks of popular designer pet breeds.
Designer breeds too many people are nothing more than fancy mutts. The difference between the two is that designer breeds are purposely mixed. Choosing dogs with combinable personality traits in the hopes of creating an elite dog. However, a mutt is the result of an unplanned litter.
So your thinking the Shollie may be the perfect breed for you. Well, we have created this guide to help you dig deep into this dog. Helping you with all the information you will ever need to make the best decision you will ever have to make. What dog gets to come home with you!
The origins of the Shollie
Like most designer breeds, the Shollie has little recorded history. Although purposefully mixed breeds are a very recent type of dog, their beginnings are always hazy.
Thankfully their parent breeds, the Border Collie and the German Shepherd have plenty of written history for us to pour through. Their origins are always the best place to start when you want to understand their mixed breed descendants.
Border Collies have been a popular working dog for centuries. Long the farmers’ dog of choice, the Border Collie is well known for its working skills. Its agility, speed, and trainability have made them one of the ultimate herding dog breeds.
They originated on the Scottish-English border and have evolved to withstand the Scottish climate perfectly. Their thick double coats have been keeping them cozy during the winter and cool during the summer months for hundreds of years.
In recent years, the Border Collie has become a favored family pet. Border Collies have even made their way into show and agility competitions.
German Shepherds, however, had equally as humble beginnings in Germany. We may see them now as teeth snaring guard dogs but in the beginning, they were bred as farm working dogs. The German Shepherd’s job was to herd livestock and protect the animals from predators.
Much like the Border Collie, the German Shepherd is highly intelligent, obedient, and swift on its paws. The German Shepherd rapidly gained a reputation for being clever and easily trained. It wasn’t long before the breed worked their way into the police force – they are now used as guide assistance dogs for the disabled too.
They have also become a mainstay in the family home thanks to their loyal personalities.
With two impressive parent breeds, there is no doubt that the Shollie has the potential to be a fantastic dog.
What does the Shollie look like?
Luckily both the Border Collie and the German Shepherd have similar physical characteristics. However, the German Shepherd is ever so slightly larger than the Border Collie.
With most designer breeds it can be unreliable as to what parent breed your dog will take after. Shollies however follow a different set of rules. More often than not, they take after the German Shepherd. Border Collie traits can be seen, but they tend to be much subtler.
They have large triangular-shaped ears. These can stand straight or flop over and are determined purely by genetics. Although some owners prefer standing ears and may crop them to ensure they do not flop over.
Their eyes tend to be almond-shaped and are usually brown. Occasionally the Border Collie genes can shine through a little stronger and your Shollie can have blue, green, or even heterochromatic eyes (eyes that are different colors).
The Shollie is regularly mistaken for a purebred German Shepherd. That is how strong the GSD genes can be.
The Shollie: Coats and Colors
Both the Shollie’s parent breeds are very similar in their coats’ textures and cycles. The German Shepherd and the Border Collie have double coats. The double coats of these breeds are combined with two different types of fur. First is the topcoat, which is long and more abrasive. It is also slow-growing. Then there is the undercoat. Undercoats tend to be much shorter, lighter in color and grows a lot faster.
Dogs with double coats also experience shedding seasons, shedding more fur than usual during the spring and the autumn. This is their way of preparing their coats for the upcoming seasons. It also means they have different care needs than single-coated breeds. So it is without a doubt your Shollie will inherit a double coat.
The German Shepherds coat is also slightly shorter than the Border Collies. Meaning your Shollie is likely to have a coat somewhere between these lengths.
When it comes to colors, Border Collies have 17 AKC recognized colors. They also have several unofficial ones, so it is fair to say they are the rainbow of the dog world. Some of the colors you can find on a Border Collie are:
. Black and White
. Red Merle
. Blue Merle
. Tricolor
. White
. Black
The German Shepherd is also a very colorful breed coming in with 11 AKC recognized colors. Although, their colors are more muted and natural. They include:
. Black
. Black and Cream
. Sable
. Bi-Color
. Liver
. Gray
Much like their physical characteristics, the Shollie tends to pull most of its colors from the German Shepherd gene pool. The colors you will find in on most Border Collie German Shepherds are black, brown, golden and white.
Often you will see Shollies with mixes and markings made up from any of these colors.
How big does the Shollie get?
Border Collie German Shepherds are a large dog breed. However, because they are a mixed breed, their sizes and weights can be hard to predict. We can give you some average sizes so you can get a rough idea of what size your Shollie may grow to.
Commonly, Shollies will weigh anywhere from 70 – 80lbs and have an average height of 21 – 29 inches. It is also usual for female Border Collie German Shepherds to come in a little smaller than their male counterparts.
There are no breed standards for the Shollie as it isn’t an AKC recognized breed so your dog could fall either side of these averages. Due to its size, this kind of dog isn’t likely to be an apartment friendly pooch. Unless you spend a lot of time outdoors.
The Shollie personality
When it comes to the Shollies’ personality, they are generally a comfortable combination of their parent breeds. Loving, active, and loyal.
Both the German Shepherd and the Border Collie are mid to high-energy dog breeds. So you can expect your Shollie to be bursting with energy as well. Lots of walks and exercise activities will be on the menu for both of you.
The Border Collie German Shepherd will also inherit a lot of intelligence from its parents. Training will have to be consistent if you want to avoid any destructive behaviors from boredom or dangerous ones if your dog isn’t taught boundaries. They are also an incredibly protective breed. So if you are looking for a dog to keep an eye out at home, this dog will be on it.
Shollies, at their core, are silly, fun, obedient, and athletic so they are a great choice for a new family dog as long as you can exercise them properly.
How to care for your Shollie
The Shollie can have some specific care needs, thanks to their pedigree parents. From caring for their fickle double coat to ensuring their exercise and mental stimulation needs are met. Don’t be put off by this though. This breed may need a little bit more loving care but once you know what you are doing it will be a breeze.
Feeding a Shollie
When choosing food for your Shollie, it is important to choose a dog food that has been formulated for large, high-energy breeds. Sometimes it can work out a lot cheaper buying the dog food that is made for working dogs. This food is high in calories and nutrition but is also easy to find in bulk, saving a few cents.
If you can’t find dog food specifically for larger breeds you may need to keep a closer eye on the ingredients in the dog food you purchase. A great start is ensuring your chosen food has a protein source as its main ingredient. Many dog foods, even the ones you see on the T.V, will use low-quality grains as fillers instead of protein.
The amount of food you feed your dog can vary depending on health, age, size, and exercise levels. A good amount to aim for is one and a half to two and a half cups of dry kibble or wet food per day. If your dog is busier during the day or is sick, you may need to increase or reduce this amount.
There is also the Wet/Dry debate. As long as you purchase good quality food feeding your dog dry kibble, wet food or a mix of the two won’t be an issue.
Exercising a Shollie
The parent breeds of the Shollie, having been bred to chase animals around a field all day, have a lot of energy. So your Border Collie German Shepherd will too.
Usually, they will need at least two hours of good, vigorous exercise every day. Some owners find it easier to get all of this out of the way in one session. You can break it up into smaller bursts of exercise throughout the day if this suits you better.
Mental stimulation will also be an important part of your Shollies day. You know how sometimes taking a dog for a 3-hour hike never seems to be enough. This isn’t necessarily because they haven’t had enough physical exercise. They also need to stretch their brains.
One easy way of incorporating this into your day is by providing stimulating toys and puzzles. These are also a great way of keeping your pooch entertained if you have to leave them alone in the home. Especially if they are prone to separation anxiety.
Grooming a Shollie
The Shollie is a double-coated breed and a heavy shedder at the best of times. Shedding seasons or blowouts happen about twice a year. Usually once in the spring and again in the autumn. This is when they shed extra fur to prepare their coats for the coming months. You will find during these seasons, which typically last a couple of weeks, your dog will shed far more fur than usual.
A brush once a week will usually suffice. However, during blowouts, you may have to brush your Shollie up to twice a day. Extra grooming sessions during shedding seasons can help you to avoid mats and mountains of hair in the corners of every room.
You can get some excellent shedding combs, like The Furminator, making this job a lot easier for you and your dog.
Bathing a Border Collie German Shepherd can also limit the amount of Shedded hair. Keeping bath times to a minimum is vital. Once a month is more than enough. If you over bathe your dog there is the risk of stripping too many of its natural, protective oils. This can put them at risk for some very uncomfortable skin conditions.
If you choose to bathe your dog, using shampoo specifically formulated for dogs is a good idea. Shampoos and soaps for humans can sometimes be too harsh for your dogs’ sensitive skin.
We have written a helpful guide on how to minimize coat shedding in Border Collies. All our tips and tricks there can also be used on a Shollie.
Maintaining a healthy dental routine is something you should work into your daily routine. Brushing your dogs’ teeth regularly can limit the amount of damage they do to their teeth. Avoiding rotting and broken teeth will leave your upper happy and healthy.
Shollie health issues
One of the pros when deciding on a designer breed is that health issues may be diluted. A lot of dogs are cross-bred to eliminate the health issues that purebreds can fall foul to. It may not always work but it gives your dog a better chance at making it through its life with fewer health issues.
Being aware of the health issues that the parent breeds are more at risk from is still great to know. It’s also good to know that reputable breeders test their parent dogs before they breed them to avoid these illnesses. These breeders will be able to provide you with health certificates so you can be prepared as your pooch grows.
Some common health issues your Shollie may experience are:
. Hip dysplasia – A bone deformity that usually occurs during growth
. Bloat – A condition where the stomach fills will gas, air, or fluid which causes it to twist
. Elbow Dysplasia – A condition that a variety of developmental abnormalities in the elbow
Both the Border Collie and the German Shepherd have several genetic inherited health issues but if you have purchased your Shollie from a reputable breeder they will have tested the parent for them. Any breeder worth his salt won’t breed from dogs who can pass these health issues onto their puppies.
If your Border Collie German Shepherds shows signs of serious illness you must contact your vet immediately.
Are Shollies a good family pet?
Border Collie German Shepherds are a wonderful family pet. Their loyalty and affection make them great around children. Although, thanks to their herding traits, they may nip or herd small children initially. So you should set clear boundaries for your dog from the beginning. We also suggest overseeing all interaction between your dog and children initially. Even though Shollies are usually very tolerant, there’s always the possibility that an over-eager child can upset them.
Shollies can also be great with other pets, especially if they are raised with them.
The Shollie loves to play and this is one of their personality traits that makes them great with children. They provide hours of fun for both themselves and your small people. However, all dogs, need to be trained well to avoid any accidents.
How to train a Shollie
Like both the Border Collie and the German Shepherd, the Shollie is easily trainable. They respond very well to reward-based training. If that training involves lots of tasty treats they will be even more responsive. Using treats is also a fantastic way of ensuring your dog is getting all the nutrition it needs. Many owners will even mix training times with feeding times. This can help slow down your Shollies eating and helping to avoid the chance of them experiencing bloat.
Training your dog from early puppyhood will give them the best start. Puppy training classes can be a great resource for this. A quick google will be able to show you any puppy classes that go on near you. The kinds of classes also provide some much needed early socialization.
Socializing your Shollie right from the beginning will help eliminate the possibility of human or dog triggered reactivity. Border Collies themselves are a sensitive breed and can exhibit extreme reactivity if you do not make effort to get them out and about from the beginning.
The Border Collie German Shepherd is incredibly intelligent, so training should be a breeze. However, do not be concerned if they seem a little stubborn at times. Their intelligence can sometimes breed moments of an ‘I know best’ attitude. Consistent training and keeping yourself from getting frustrated with your dog will see you both sail through these stubborn periods.
How much do Shollies cost?
Although many Border Collie designer breeds can cost a pretty penny. Shollies are still a relatively new breed and not in as high a demand as some other designer breeds. This is great news for your pockets as the Shollie may cost less than you think.
Usually, you can find Shollies anywhere from $475 to $900. These prices can increase depending on where in the country the puppies are bred, the reputation of the breeder, and even their lineage.
It is possible to Border Collie German Shepherds in pound and breed-specific rescues. If you do decide to go with a breeder you need to ensure they are ethical breeders and have health tested the parents.
Conclusion
The Border Collie German Shepherd is a fantastic choice. Especially if you are looking for a dog that is active, loyal, and affectionate. Shollies are great for both families and child-free people.
This breed really is an all-round winner.
As long as you can keep up with their exercise needs and grooming, the Shollie might be the dog for you.
