The Borderhuahua, Bordhuahua, Chi-Collie or the Border-Chi, take your pick for this unusual mix breed!
The border collie chihuahua mix is gaining popularity fast, but it’s a rather surprising size difference, don’t you think? (explained below).
This special mix blends ultimate cuteness with ultimate intelligence, and the result is quite amazing. Borderhuahuas can range from being super tiny, to a regular small-sized dog.
Let’s explain everything owners must know about this mix before considering one. And of course, I’ve found plenty of adorable photos of borderhuahuas and plopped them throughout.
Borderhuahua History: The Basics 🐶
The border collie chihuahua mix was likely developed during the 1990s as were most “designer” dog breeds. During the ’90s there was a boom in mixing popular breeds to create fascinating mutts.
However, each individual breed also has quite an extensive history.
Border collies are considered the best herding dog and have long been considered the world’s most intelligent breed. Talk about brains!
The Chihuahua on the other hand is a cute, yet sassy lap dog that has a somewhat unclear history surrounded by Aztec mystery. They are, however, named after the Mexican state, Chihuahua.
Border Collie Chihuahua Mix Stats 📈
The key breed information on Borderhuahuas or Chi-collies!
➡️ Height: 7-22 Inches
➡️ Weight: 5-35 Pounds
➡️ Names: Borderhuahua, Bordhuahua, Chi-Collie, Border-Chi, Collie Chihuahua
➡️ Recognition: Mixed breed (not officially recognized by AKC)
➡️ Lifespan: 10-17 years
➡️ Coat color: White, Black, Gray, Fawn, Light Brown
➡️ Eye color: Brown
➡️ Intelligence: Very high
➡️ Trainability: Easily trained
➡️ Exercise: Very active with moderate exercise needs
➡️ Friendliness: Friendly with loved ones but aloof to strangers
➡️ Suitable for: Active families & couples with a lot of time at home
Borderhuahuas bring a lot of energy, playfulness and affection with them, and will certainly liven up any home. Owners must be ready for a challenge despite their high trainability, as these pups need constant stimulation and attention.
3 Reasons Not to Get a Border Collie Chihuahua Mix ❌
Despite being off the charts when it comes to cuteness, the truth is that this mix isn’t for everyone. I’ll be honest and explain why this mix might not be appropriate for you.
They have high attention needs
Borderhuahuas get extremely attached to their owners and are fairly high on the neediness level. And this isn’t suitable for those that are out of the house much or aren’t used to dealing with a clingy kind of dog.
It’s crucial to understand that this is part of their personality and character, and isn’t something that can easily be “trained against” or changed. In instances like this, it’s more about finding the right owner, rather than trying to change the dog.
They don’t do well left alone
Borderhuahuas hate being left alone. Both individual parents do not handle being left home alone very well at all, and this doesn’t change with the Chi-collie.
Owners that have busy work schedules and find themselves out of the house for several hours per day, is going to find it hard with this mix. Borderhuahuas that spend too much time alone will end up highly stressed, disobedient, anxious, destructive, and ultimately unhappy.
Not the friendliest with kids
This is something that can be trained and altered with sufficient socialization, but in general, the borderhuahua isn’t as naturally kid friendly as other breeds.
Both border collies and chihuahuas have a tendency to get highly stressed around kids and can be unpredictable. Still, as I mentioned, this CAN be avoided with training and ample socialization, but it’s something owners must be aware about first.
5 Reasons Why Borderhuahuas Are Awesome 🙌
Let’s not pretend these pups aren’t awesome, there are many reasons why owners will LOVE this pup, here are 5 of them.
Extremely intelligent ✅
Borderhuahuas would put some people to shame on an IQ test. These pups are outstanding clever, and when you look at them, it’s like you both know exactly what each other is thinking. There are many perks to owning a dog that’s naturally smart.
High trainable ✅
Border collie chihuahua mixes are highly trainable and with some consistent command training will be one of the most obedient dogs you’ve ever come across. Having a dog that actually listens and obeys your commands when you say them, makes dog ownership a whole lot easier.
Absolutely adorable ✅
Who said looks don’t count? These pups are beautiful and are serious head-turners when in public. Whether you end up with a fun-sized borderhuahua, or one that’s a little larger, their blend of facial features, coat colors and fur results in a gorgeous-looking dog you always want to snuggle.
Happy and playful ✅
Borderhuahuas have a playful happy-go-lucky attitude about life, and this certainly rubs off on everyone in the house. These little pups bounce around with joy and are ready to play and interact with you at any given moment.
Healthy with long lifespans ✅
Both border collies and chihuahuas individually are generally healthy and have good lifespans, but when you mix them together, it only improves. The borderhuahua is a very healthy dog that has a high lifespan. Vet visits will be infrequent with this pup.
Side note: This does depend on the chihuahua used to breed. Apple Head Chihuahuas aren’t so fortunate and are a brachycephalic breed. Their short stumpy snout negatively impacts their breathing and this can have an effect on their health.
Related article: How long do border collie mixes live!
How Big Are Border Collie Chihuahua Mixes? ⚖️
Borderhuahuas can either be very small like their chihuahua parent, or as big as the average “small” sized breed like a beagle. They will never get as big as a purebred border collie.
➡️ Average height: 7-22 Inches
➡️ Average weight: 4-35 Pounds
Usually, it’s a male chihuahua that’s bred with a female border, to prevent birthing issues due to the obvious sizing differences.
And this does usually result in the offspring being larger in size.
Still, it is possible (thanks to science) for the female to be a chihuahua. Artificial insemination and C-sections help avoid difficult births.
Are Border Collie Chihuahua Mixes Good With Other Dogs? 🐕
When sufficiently socialized, yes! Borderhuahuas can learn to be very friendly and get on just fine with other dogs and pets.
But it’s important to emphasize socialization. Without sufficient socialization, this mix can be a tad aloof and find it a little difficult to make friends at the dog park.
Do Chihuahua Border Collie Mixes Shed? 🐶
Yes, border collie chihuahuas are considered heavy shedders.
We can thank the border collie parent for the heavy shedding, as the chihuahua is typically a low-shedding breed. You could be extremely lucky with a low-shedding borderhuahua, but this rarely happens!
Border collie chihuahua mixes shed all year with an increase in spring, and sometimes just before winter. But the severity of the shedding can change depending on things like the climate where you live, their diet, age, health and genetics.
Don’t Miss This >> Border Collie Mix With Australian Kelpie! 😲
Temperament 😊
Border collie chihuahua mixes are playful, loyal, highly intelligent and very affectionate.
Regardless of whether the borderhuahua has more collie or chihuahua, they are known to bond easily with their owners and human family. Owners with borderhuahuas note their good energy and fun-loving spirit.
Training ✋
Bordhuahuas need consistent training from the start. Not because they’re naturally disobedient, but because they crave mental stimulation and want to appease their owner.
Remember, this breed is highly intelligent, and always awaiting your next command. While this mix is a little more relaxed than border collies alone, they still crave training and feeling useful.
Exercise ⚽
Borderhuahuas are active dogs and have a lot of energy for their size. They need anywhere between 30-60 minutes of exercise per day depending on how big they get.
If your borderhuahua is on the smaller side and has inherited more chihuahua genes, then a 30-minute walk will usually be sufficient. If they’re larger and more like a collie then 45-60 minutes will be necessary.
Mental stimulation 🧠
When one of your parents is the smartest breed in the world, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! And that’s the case with this mix.
Mental stimulation is crucial for border collie chihuahua mixes and comes in the form of training, socialization, puzzle toys, nose work games, exploring new environments, and even general interaction from yourself.
I can’t stress enough how important this is. This breed has a lot of pent-up energy, and physical exercise alone isn’t enough to keep them calm, content and happy.
Without daily command training, socialization, and puzzle toys, owners can expect this mix to become bored, frustrated, and ill-behaved.
Socialization 🐕
Aloofness and suspicion is quite fairly high in this mix breed, and that comes from both parents (more so the border collie).
In order to have a calm, friendly, and approachable mix, owners must prioritize early-on socialization and bring the pup around as many new dogs and people as possible.
Building these social skills will greatly impact their behavior and ability to be friendly with strangers and new dogs. This is crucial for this mix and can’t be overlooked!
Grooming 🧹
Brushing at least every other day for 10-15 minutes at a time is advised to keep on top of their shedding, especially during spring.
Brushing little and often is the key when it comes to managing shedding properly. Borderhuahua owners recommend a slicker brush or an undercoat rake for the most effective brushing routine.
Border collie chihuahua mixes are generally odor-free dogs and only need bathing once every two to three months with a natural ingredient dog shampoo.
Ears 👂
Chihuahua Border Collie mixes can have either standing or floppy ears. But from what we’ve seen the vast majority have standing ears.
It might take several weeks to a few months before you see their ears successfully standing as teething and their general growth impact ear development quite a bit!
It’s very important to keep the ears clean and free from too much wax to avoid ear infections and general irritation. This is more of a problem with those that have floppy ears, but still relevant to those with standing ears.
Diet 🍗🥦
Bordhuahuas thrive on a diet moderate to high in protein, moderate fat, and low in carbohydrates. This kind of macronutrient ratio is most like a wild diet and digests the best for most breeds.
This mix is known to have sensitive stomachs so it might be worth sticking to a food that avoids common allergens and has limited ingredients in general.
✅ When choosing a kibble aim for:
- Low carbs
- Whole or fresh meats close to their natural state
- Healthy and whole first 3-5 ingredients
- High in omega 3s or fish oil
- Avoid grains, fillers, soy, wheat, corn, and other allergens
- The less outsourced the ingredients, the better!
- Zero artificial preservatives, colors, flavors
Thankfully we have a detailed article listing five of the healthiest kibbles on the market.
Health 🏥
Chihuahua Border Collie mixes are generally very healthy dogs, but they are still prone to some health issues that their parents suffer from.
While mixes are less likely to inherit diseases than purebreds, it’s still something owners must consider and be aware of.
👩⚕️ Border collie chihuahua mixes can suffer from the following health issues:
- Hip dysplasia
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Patellar luxation
- Spinal injuries
- Epilepsy
- Hypothyroidism
Keeping up to date with health checkups, and ensuring your pup has screening for these health problems while they are young is advised.
Should You Get a Border Collie Chihuahua Mix?
This mix is most suited for those with a lot of time on their hands without busy work schedules. Assuming this, a bordhuahua will likely be a great fit for you and your family.
Due to their activity and exercise needs it’s important that owners enjoy being active themselves, as this will be a perfect fit for the bordhuahua. This breed isn’t suited to inactive families or couples.
I’ve known many people over the years with collie mixes and the only difficulty they’ve had is handling nerves and anxiety when out of the house too long, but apart from that it’s a gleaming report for all mixes.