I've seen quite a few of this cross around for sale/rehoming on the net lately. I would assume that this cross wold be good as an agility/flyball dog, are they an intentional cross or just people jumping on the 'designer dog' bandwagon? I have both breeds and I can see how you may get a lovely dog from them, but I'm sure you could possibly get quite a neurotic one as well
I know a dog of this cross. I believe they were intentionally bred, a working Springer crossed with a working bred Border Collie (great combo as a family pet! ). She is a lovely dog, very affectionate and real livewire but the owners have struggled with her. They have had pure Springers in the past too, they are not inexperienced. Not an ideal cross IMO because you often up with difficult traits of both breeds. I hate intentional crossbreeding, but (not that this justifies it) at least some breeds compliment each other quite well. Working Springers and working BC's do not compliment each other well...one being a gundog and the other a pastoral breed, bred to do entirely different things!
I see quite a few of these about, not intential breeding but they seem to show up in resuces quite a bit as you say they CAN be an amazing pet - but they also can be a high energy inteligent neurotic nightmare - really all the worst bits of a collie but with no off switch at all
mine is crazy and loving and I wouldnt change him for the world. I didnt intentionally go out to get that cross he was in the rescuse. he can clear a 5 ft fence open drawers and cuboards the lot. But he is well behaved if I had more time I think he would do really well at agility but he is happy to play tug and football. His downfall is he is to clever for his own good lol. ATD x
I'm curious - when out in the field ATD does he run/work like a springer or a collie? Louie (ESS x Lab) works like a springer - tail and nose down, tail furiously wagging and zig zagging.
He rounds us up and I could only let suki off lead once I got michael coz he went to round her up too. He looks rather than smells ATD x
I once met an owner with this cross and I said it must be high-energy and she said she gave it 4 hours of exercise a day! Must have a lot of time then I thought!
The more Michael gets the more hyper he gets can't actually tire him out lol swimming does but not for long 30 min kip and he ready to go agen ATD x
Which will totally backfire with many breeds/crossbreeds, because you physically can't tire them out but instead create an adrenaline junkie that won't settle....not a great idea!!
That's what I thought to be honest as I had a lot of friends with Collies and they all did a lot of work where they were tired mentally, such as obedience, agility and heelwork to music.
