The Whippet Border Collie Mix is a high-energy, charming dog, making it one of the most loved Whippet mixes of all time. Collie Whips are excellent family dogs, thanks to their affectionate, gentle, and sweet personality.
Whippet Border Collie Mix is a dog produced by crossing a purebred Border Collie and a Whippet. The mix of these two energetic breeds makes attractive and highly adaptable puppies for individuals and families.
If you are considering a Whippet Border Collie mix, this article will help you understand the crossbreed, including their appearance, temperament, care and maintenance, and more.
Whippet Border Collie Mix History
Whippet Border Collie Mixes are a crossbreed of Collies and Whippets. The main aim of breeding these two was to produce a dog breed that was to tap into the intelligence of the Border Collie.
Border Collies History
Thanks to their intense stare, strong instincts, and skillful maneuvering, collies were bred as herd dogs. Additionally, their strong reflex response to commands made them ideal watchdogs.
They originated as shepherd’s dogs in the Highlights of Northern Scotland. They worked as all-purpose farm dogs working to protect livestock during herding. They grew in popularity in the nineteenth century across England, becoming some of the most sought-after Shepherd dogs.
In the 20th century, Collies transitioned from farm dogs to family dogs, with their popularity growing in the United States. This followed recognition by the American Kennel Club between 1885 and 1886.
In 1995, the American Kennel Club recognized the Border Collie as a breed. Today, Collies are recognized as family dogs, thanks to their friendly nature towards pets, kids, and adults alike.
Whippets History
Whippets, on the other hand, were bred for hunting and racing. They were nicknamed the ‘poor man’s racehorse’ from how their masters used them to compete in coursing games. Their excellent speed and quick response to command made them ideal for hunting and racing.
They originated in England as Sighthound dogs as descendants of Greyhounds. They are believed to have been a result of crossing Grehounds and Terriers.
Whippets were recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club in 1888, and after that, they were recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1891.
Today, both Collies and Whippets are family companion dogs and are rarely used for hunting or herding like in the old times. The mix has a loving and friendly personality, and their energetic demeanor makes them exciting dogs for active families.
Like many other crossbreed dogs, Whippet Collies are yet to be recognized by kennel clubs. However, the parents, the Whippet and Border Collie, are recognized by major leading clubs, including the American Kennel Club.
Appearance
The appearance of the Whippet Border Collie mix varies based on the appearance of both parents. That said, Collie Whips typically take the colors of Border Collies and the physique of Whippets.
Whollies are considered small-sized dogs, weighing an average of 25 to 55 pounds and standing at 18 to 22 inches high. They have an athletic build, an average of the Border Collie’s short, stockier body, and the Whippet’s tall, leaner physique.
Coat Type and Color
Collies come in two types of coat; smooth and rough. The inner coat is softer and silkier, while the outer is rough-textured and tough. On the other hand, Whippets generally have soft-textured, sleek, and smooth coats.
The mix of the two results in a medium-sized coat ranging from smooth and soft to rough and coarse.
Both Whippets and Collies come in a range of colors; therefore, it can be hard to predict the color of the mix. Depending on the dominant gene, your Whippet Border Collie mix may lean more towards the Collie or the Whippet.
Temperament
The Whippet Border Collie Mix has gentle, loving, and charming temperaments, one of the most sought-after family dogs. Whippets, one of the sighthounds, has a strong prey drive and will run after anything interesting.
Whippets are very affectionate and enjoy human attention and interaction. They start a little distant, but they get closer and friendlier once they spend time with you and know you.
Whippets love to cuddle and spend a reasonable amount of time lounging, but they are not necessarily couch potatoes. They enjoy walks and will often sprint during exercise, which exhausts them adequately to want a few naps during the day.
On the other hand, Border Collies are attentive, loyal, and exciting family dogs. Since they were bred as working dogs, they have bouts of energy and often need to expend it. They are also brilliant, needing mental stimulation and entertainment more than other breeds.
They have strong instincts and a high herding drive, hence why they are popular among farmers with livestock. Their high endurance, intelligence, and alertness keep them out and about finding anything interesting.
The mix, Whippet Collies, is a balance of the two breeds. They are high energy as Whippets and intelligent as Collies. They have an even temper, are friendly, and have an interactive personality making them ideal for a family.
Collie Whips can be your sweet couch potato to cuddle and snuggle with and an active furry friend to accompany you during walks.
Care and Maintenance
It is essential to understand your dog’s needs to ensure you provide the best environment for them to thrive and give back to you. Whippet Collies are pretty easy to care for, thanks to their adaptable nature. Even so, they need a wholesome diet, regular grooming, and exercise.
Nutrition
Whippet Collies are highly energetic; therefore, they need a diet that meets their energy needs. You need to ensure your dog is getting adequate, highly-nutritive food to match the energy levels while maintaining a healthy weight.
The amount of food your dog needs depends on their age as their needs change as they grow. Puppies need a specific diet to help them and grow and develop well. Adult dogs need a diet that caters to their energy levels, while seniors need one that nourishes and preserves their health.
The best approach is to talk to your vet and seek advice on the type of food to give your Whippet Collie. You want to ensure you provide your dog with nourishing food but at safe amounts to prevent obesity, among other weight-related health issues.
Grooming
Whippets do not shed much; however, Collies are known to shed all year around. The mix balances this out and sheds moderately, requiring grooming after a week or two. They also need light brushing daily or every other day to minimize the shedding.
Since they are shedding dogs, investing in a high-quality vacuum will cut cleaning time and ensure the surfaces are as clean as possible. They also need a bath at least once a month to clean the thick coat.
Exercise
Whippet Collies are high-energy dogs, full of life, and highly interactive. Remember, they are bred from a working dog, the Collie, and a sighthound, the Whippet. They need something to keep them engaged and expend their energy to maintain their mental and physical health.
Whippets need about 60 minutes of exercise daily, while Border Collies need 90 minutes to 2 hours of exercise. Therefore, a Whippet Collie will require about 1 to 2 hours of daily activity.
Younger puppies will need less strenuous exercise, while older ones will need more. However, senior Whippet Collies will need less, more like puppies need due to their depleting energy levels.
The idea is to ensure your Whippet Collie gets at least an hour of exercise each day. This could be a walk around the neighborhood, playtime at the park, or a light hike. Regular exercise will prevent your dog from developing destructive behavior resulting from build-up energy.
Training
Your Whollie requires proper training to adapt to situations better and relate to everyone properly. Training a Whippet Collie is not challenging, thanks to the highly trainable and intelligent trait from their Border Collie parent.
The best way to train your Whollie is to ensure the sessions are fun, interactive, and highly engaging. Curating the training sessions like playtime will make it easy for your Whollie to pick up commands and follow them.
During training, use treats and praises to motivate your dog to follow commands and cues. The idea is to ensure you socialize your Whippet Collie for better interaction with other dogs and people.
Socialization is essential to help your dog adapt to different environments. Take your dog to parks or doggy daycares to meet and interact with other dogs. Playing and sharing toys will help your Whippet Collie accommodate and interact better with other dogs.
Health Issues
It can be hard to point out specific health issues that affect Whippet Collies. Like other crossbreed dogs, Whippet Collies present health issues similar to their parents.
Whippets are prone to allergies, sinus problems, eye disease, dog hemangiosarcoma, and deafness. Collies are susceptible to glaucoma, epilepsy, hearing loss, Collie collapse, and elbow dysplasia.
The best way to reduce the risks of these health issues is to get your Whollie from a reputable breeder or rescue center. Some puppy mills produce substandard crossbreeds, which can be challenging to manage their health and wellness.
The bottom line is to ensure you stay on top of your vet’s appointments for regular checkups. Ensure your Whippet Collie is up to date with jabs, has a healthy diet, and exercises regularly. Check in with your vet immediately for prompt treatment if they develop symptoms.
FAQs
Are Whippet Border Collie Mixes Registered anywhere?
Whippet Border Collie Mixes are not registered as independent breeds; however, the Whippet and Border Collie parents have been registered as breeds by the American Kennel Club.
How Long Do Whollies Live?
A Whippet can live for 12 to 15 years, while a Border Collie can live for up to 17 years. That said, a Whippet Collie can live for 10 to 17 years. How long your dog lives depends on how well you care for it, including the food you give, exercise, and overall health and wellness routines.
Are Whollies good family dogs?
Whollies are excellent family dogs, thanks to their charming, friendly, and loyal personality. They are perfect for active families and outdoors people as they prefer being outside more than indoors. Additionally, they relate well with kids and enjoy playtime with the whole family.
Whollies need space to exercise both physically and mentally. Their high intelligence requires regular mental stimulation; therefore, providing stimulating toys and setting up exciting and interactive activities for your dog is essential.
Their playful, high-energy characteristics make them best suited for an active lifestyle, therefore suitable for families that enjoy exploration and adventures. They are easy to care for and easily blend into a busy routine, consequently great for different family dynamics.
Are Whollies Hypoallergenic?
Whippet Border Collie mixes are not hypoallergenic; however, a Collie mix sheds lower than a purebred Collie. Whippet Collies are therefore a better option, but if you suffer from pet allergies, you might want to skip them.
Border Collies have a long coat that frequently sheds even with regular grooming. On the other hand, Whippets have a shorter coat but shed still—the mix of the two results in a dog with a moderate shedding coat.
The good thing is if you have mild allergies to dogs, a Whippet Collie may not trigger as many allergic reactions as other dogs. Some mixes take after their Whippet parent and have a shorter coat.
The best approach to dealing with this is grooming your Whippet Collie regularly to reduce shedding. Ultimately, a healthy, well-groomed coat will reduce the amount of dander you are exposed to, managing your allergies better.
Final Thoughts
Whippet Border Collie Mixes are the best of both worlds. You get a dog that you can take to your walks and adventures and a couch potato you can cuddle with on a cold evening. They are friendly and enjoy interacting with other pets and humans, making perfect family dogs.
