Last Updated on November 11, 2023 by Linda Richard
Mixed breeds can have a varying lifespan and health, so – what is the Border Collie Lab mix life expectancy and how does it compare to other breeds? Is this a dog that will be by your side for a long time or is the Borador breed one of those mixes that suffer from too many health problems?
We’ll go over the main points about the Border collie Lab mix life expectancy below and all surrounding key issues such as health, prevention, genetics, and more.
Table of Contents
What Is The Average Border Collie Lab Mix Life Expectancy?
When talking about mixed breeds, we are typically looking at first-generation dogs. This means dogs that are the direct result of a Border Collie and Labrador mixing and not of two Boradors.
And, as with most other mixed breeds, the average life expectancy of Borador puppies falls right in the middle of the average lifespan of the two parent breeds. For purebred Labrador Retrievers, the average lifespan is 12.5 years, and for Border Collies it’s 13.5 years. So, the life expectancy of a first-generation Borador pup will be ~13 years.
Now, if your Border Collie Lab mix takes more from its Lab parent, the average life expectancy can be a bit closer to that of a lab – 12.5 or 12 years. Vice versa, if your dog takes more from its Collie parent, the life expectancy can be higher than 13 years.
First-Generation vs Second Generation Lab Retriever Border Collie Mix Life Expectancy
The Borador mixed breed is relatively new, at least as a popular mix. These dogs only started becoming popular – and therefore bred more regularly – in the late 90s. So, we don’t really have a lot of large-scale statistics on second or third-generation Boradors and onward.
However, as the life expectancy difference between Labradors and Border Collies isn’t that significant anyway, there’s no reason that continuous Borador breeding will result in any major life expectancy changes
What Health Issues Can Affect The Border Collie Lab Mix Life Expectancy?
When talking about lifespan expectancy, it’s important to remember that we’re only talking about averages. A dog with good genetic predispositions, good health, and adequate care can outlive its life expectancy by many years. On the other hand, an unlucky dog that’s befallen by certain health concerns often won’t reach its breed’s average lifespan.
This is why it’s crucial to always take good care of your dog. Routine vet check-ups are a must even for a healthy dog – our recommendation is 2 vet visits per year. Here are the main health issues you should watch out for:
- Cancer
- Obesity
- Hip dysplasia
- Arthritis
- Osteochondritis
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Collie eye anomaly
- Primary lens luxation
- Congenital deafness
Some of those issues can be avoided with a proper diet, exercise regime, and prevention. Others are a matter of luck but can be treated or managed if caught early. This makes routine vet visits even more important. Many are a matter of genetics too and we’ll touch more on that below.
All in all, the Border collie Lab mix health is pretty average compared to other breeds – this isn’t the “healthiest” dog out there but it’s not especially sickly either.
How To Pick Borador Puppies With The Best Possible Life Expectancy?
One of the best ways to ensure that you’re buying/adopting a healthy pup is to look at its genetic predispositions. This is much easier than it sounds – all you need to do is:
- Make sure you’ve picked a reputable breeder
- Ask for health certificates for the future pup and its two parents
Admittedly, figuring out which breeders are reputable and which are not can be a bit complicated. You’d do well to go over quite a bit of research before making your pick.
Read more about: Do Labradors Shed A Lot and How Can You Deal With That Challenge?
Borador Health Certificates
Asking for a health certificate is also a good way to judge the reputability of a breeder. If they don’t give you health certificates for either the pup or its parents, you should just walk away.
It’s also a good idea to ask to see the pup’s litter and parents in person. The rule of thumb is to always pick a “middle-of-the-road” pup from the litter – neither the smallest and weakest pup nor the biggest and most dominant one.
Whatever you do, however, don’t buy your Borador pup from a pet store. Not only won’t you be given a health certificate but these pups tend to come from puppy mills. This means that their breeders have likely had no regard for genetic diversity and health.
How To Properly Look After Labs Mixed With Border Collies?
Both Labradors and Border Collies are very active and playful dogs, and the same goes for the Borador mix. Especially if your pup is more closely related to its Collie parent, you can expect to have a highly energetic dog on your hands.
This means that you’ll need to give your Borador a lot of exercise and playtime. The bare minimum is one hour of jogging and playtime outside every day, a couple of hours in an enclosed yard, and some indoor playtime as well.
Limiting your Borador’s exercise will eventually result in various health risks and concerns, obesity being the first and most common one.
Naturally, you should also feed your Border Collie Lab mix well with high-quality and nutritious food. That, together with regular vet check-ups should minimize your Borador’s health risks and maximize its life expectancy significantly.
How Does The Border Collie Lab Mix Life Expectancy Compare To Other Dogs?
The standard Border collie Lab mix life expectancy is pretty much in line with that of other mid-to-large-sized dogs. In the canine world, smaller dogs always have a longer life expectancy than larger ones so it’d unfair to compare the Borador with something like a mini Dachshund or a giant Great Dane.
However, as far as other breeds in the same size range are concerned, the Borador has a very good life expectancy overall.
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