Have you ever wondered what it’ll be like to raise a hybrid dog? Not just any other dogs, but a cross between German Shorthaired Pointer and an ever-intelligent Border Collie.
The result?
A German Shorthaired Pointer and Border Collie mix, of course! Indeed, a mix of these two parent dogs will result in a productive and hard-working dog that may fall anywhere in the category of medium to large.
If you want to know more about what you can expect from this mix, you know you’ve landed on the right page! Apart from other information, in this article, you’ll find out-
- The appearance of German Shorthaired Pointer and Border Collie mix
- Why you should opt for a mix of these two breeds
- Are hybrid dogs the best options?
- Training and exercise for this mixed breed
Before getting into details, let’s get to know more about these two breeds closely!
German Shorthaired Pointer
Also referred to as the GSP, this hunting dog originated in Germany around the 19th century. With its size ranging from medium to large, this breed is tremendously energetic and excels in various dog sports!
Although GSPs come in several coat combinations, their general color is a mixture of white and liver. It has floppy ears and broad and strong muzzles with a generally straight profile.
Border Collie
This medium-sized British dog is also known to be a herding dog. These acrobatic, energetic, and intelligent Border Collies are being used as working dogs to herd livestock like sheep.
Among all domesticated dog breeds, this dog breed is known to be the most intelligent one. In fact, it’s known to be a great asset for people who are looking forward to adopting pets at home.
With a double coat that ranges from rough to smooth and the occasional curls, this breed commonly comes in a color pattern of black and white.
German Shorthaired Pointer Border Collie Mix Pictures
The appearance of German Shorthaired Pointer and Border Collie mix
Often referred to as a Shollie or Border Point, this mixed breed can come in varying appearances. That said, you can expect the result of this mix to look like one of the parent dogs or even a mixture of both the parents! Moreover, a Shollie is likely to be medium-sized with a sturdy bone structure.
When it comes to this hybrid dog, you should know that there’s not much documentation. So, we can pretty much assume that the resulting coat color of this mix might be tricolored, bicolored, or even merle. Further, you can expect the color combination to be in fawn, liver, white, and black, at the most.
If you’re wondering about the texture and length of the coat, you can expect it to fall anywhere between short and medium length. The best part is that this mixed breed’s coat is often soft at most times!
On the off chance that the breed takes on more features of its Border Collie parent, you may find its skull wide and flat, with its muzzles being of the same length as the skull! However, if it takes on more features of its German Shorthaired Pointer parent, the resulting breed may have a nose higher than its muzzle. Not only that, but it might come with a tapered tail and pendant-shaped ears.
Why you should opt for a mix of German Shorthaired Pointer and Border Collie
With plenty of other dog breeds available, you might wonder why you should be opting for a mix of these two breeds! In fact, you might even start to wonder what it’ll be like if you were to go for a German Shorthaired Pointer and Pitbull mix!
Well, for starters, you should know that a Shollie will, indeed, make for a great companion, especially when it comes to hunting or herding. After all, both these dog breeds are working dog breeds. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when the resulting breed takes on its parents when it comes to devotion to work!
However, in most cases, you can expect the multiple talents of this hybrid to vary from one parent to the other.
If you’re wondering whether this breed is appropriate for households, you have nothing to worry about! The fact that neither of these two breeds comes with dominant chase instincts means that the breed will be suitable even in homes with children and other small animals!
With the right training, you can even expect this breed to make for the best guard dogs! It’s all thanks to the focused and quiet behavior that both the parents possess!
Are hybrid dogs the best options?
You might have reason to believe that pure dogs are the best types of dogs compared to hybrid dogs. In fact, there are many controversies surrounding the mixing of pure-bred dogs. In the end, it all boils down to how you view this option and how much effort you’re willing to take care of your hybrid dog.
That said, you should also know that there are scientific reasons claiming that the mixing of dogs, or hybridization, is actually necessary and suitable for dogs. Out of the main reasons why it’s important is hybrid vigor.
Now, you may already be well aware that genetic diseases like elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, and allergies are common among all dog breeds. However, when you mix two breeds of dogs, you’ll find that the hybrid has a lesser chance of inheriting these disorders or diseases. Isn’t that a relief?
Of course, again, you should know that for the hybrid to not have a genetic disorder, one of the parents shouldn’t be affected by any of these diseases.
If you’re to think about the hybrid’s physical appearance, you know that it’s totally unpredictable! But isn’t that the whole fun of it? Imagine some cute little puppies with distinct features of both the parents! This will certainly be way cooler than the puppies inheriting one of the parent’s overall features!
Training and exercise for this mixed breed
When you own a mixed breed, that too a mix of German Shorthaired Pointer and Border Collie, it’s essential that you know how to take care of it. For this, you should be well-prepared to provide training and follow a regular exercise regime.
Thankfully, Border Points are known to be easily trainable! In fact, when you own one of these cute little hybrid puppies, you’ll find that it’s very productive and alert. You need to reward the hybrid with delicious treats while training it. With several constructive affirmations, you’ll find it willing to try its best to make you a proud dog parent!
One essential thing you need to keep in mind is that socializing the hybrid with other humans and animals is extremely crucial. Even though this mixed breed isn’t necessarily aggressive, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. After all, the last thing you want is for your dog to lash out in front at a park or even at a friend’s place!
If you want to train it to be a guard dog, you could do that, too! In fact, thanks to its alertness and wariness, you’ll find this hybrid to be excellent watchdogs at home while also keeping you and your family members safe.
When it comes to the exercise regime of these Shollies, you need to know that they tend to be hyperactive. So, if you live in a small apartment, you might want to reconsider raising one of these hybrids.
That said, you need to ensure that you spend at least 45 minutes to one hour a day on the dog’s physical and mental activity. These could comprise walking, running, and training the dog on a regular basis. The fact that both the dog parents are super intelligent means that combining physical and mental motivation becomes all the more helpful for the hybrid!
Conclusion
There’s no hard and fast rule that you need to own a mixed breed. However, if you do want to be a dog parent, it’s a given that a German Shorthaired Pointer and Border Collie mix will make for the best choice! And why not? These two breeds are one of the most intelligent and active ones among all breeds, making it even more tempting!
If you’re looking for a dog that will ultimately become your best friend, leave no stone unturned in adopting one! This implies that you need to provide undivided attention to your dog whenever possible. However, if you feel like this is something that you can’t accomplish, don’t take the risk. In the end, it’ll become more of a difficult task than an act of love and selflessness.
Make sure that you carefully go through the pros and cons of raising a Shollie before deciding on one. If the pros weigh more than the cons, you know you’re looking at an ideal relationship you could ever have!
