Borador Information & Dog Breed Facts

The Borador dog breed may have existed naturally over the years, but designer breeders started intentionally mixing Border Collies and Labrador Retrievers in the early 2000s, likely in North America. To create a smart, family-friendly dog, breeders began to cross-breed the two parent breeds. Both of them are working and herding dogs, and when combined, the result is a small, affectionate puppy. Their popularity quickly increase, so breeders continued to produce Boradors.

Furthermore, the Borador hybrid will generally be a medium-sized dog with a fairly flat skull, although those that take after the Labrador may have a squarer muzzle while those that favour the Border Collie will have a muzzle that is thinner and more tapered at the front. Both parent breeds have strong, straight legs and long tails, therefore the hybrid will have strong, straight legs and a long tail that hangs down when relaxed. They will also have a two-layer coat, with a short thick undercoat protected by a layer of straight, lustrous guard hairs.

However, to be able to understand the history of the Borador, we need to look at the history behind the parent breeds. To begin with, the Border Collie is thought to be the supreme herding dog. The name derives from the breed’s ancestors, who came from the Anglo-Scottish border. The breed originated in Northumberland, which borders England and Scotland. The history of this working dog is estimated to date back to the first century B.C. The Romans carried their herding dogs with them when they invaded England. The Roman Empire eventually fell apart, allowing Viking raids to invade the area.

These Vikings brought a little Spitz-like herding dog with them, which eventually crossed with the larger Roman herding dogs. The result of the cross-breeding was a very clever, hardworking, and nimble herding dog capable of corralling sheep. Although these dogs didn’t become popular until the 19th century, they were loved by many people such as Queen Victoria because of their amazing herding abilities and intelligence. Afterwards, the first time their name was used was around 1915 when James Reid, the secretary of the International Sheep Dog Society, named the breed in order to be able to register it next to the other Collie breeds. At the very end of the 20th century, in 1995, the Border Collie was officially registered by the American Kennel Club.

The Labrador Retriever, on the other hand, is a classic waterdog of Newfoundland, that has long been used as a duck retriever and fisherman’s friend. In the 1700s, the breed was known as the St. John’s Water Dog, named after the capital of Newfoundland. They assisted fishermen with their nets and retrieved any fish that had gotten away from them. The Labrador Retriever was later renamed after the Labrador Sea, which was the geographical location of the breed’s development. According to experts, this diligent dog, or its first direct ancestor, was exported to England in the 1820s.

The second Earl of Malmesbury was one among the first to own one, and they quickly became popular as a result of their ability to retrieve during hunting. The dogs were first referred to as Labrador Retrievers by the third Earl of Malmesbury. The Malmesbury family and a few English breeders saved the breed from extinction in the 1880s. Sadly, in Newfoundland, the breed disappeared because of strict government restrictions and tax laws. Families were only allowed to keep one dog, and owning a female was highly taxed. As a result of this, female puppies were culled from the litter. Thankfully, the breed survived in England and got officially recognized in 1903. In the 1920s, British Labs were imported to the United States to establish the breed there. The Labrador Retriever topped American Kennel Club registrations for the first time in 1991 and has reigned as America’s favourite breed ever since.