Border Collie Size Guide (Teacup, Mini & Standard)

The Border Collie is a purebred dog originating from the Anglo-Scottish border, hence the name. There are three sizes of Border Collie that breeders refer to including Teacup, Mini and Standard. Most Border Collies are standard-sized however it is becoming increasingly popular to miniaturize the breed into the teacup and mini size.

If you are interested in Teacup, Mini or Standard Border Collies keep reading this article to find out the all the answers to your questions about these sizes!

Table of Contents

Teacup Border Collie

What Is A Teacup Border Collie?

Teacup Border Collies are the smallest size of Border Collie however they are an unofficial size. They originate from a cross between two Standard Border Collies that are on the lower end of the normal size range. Breeders usually take the runts of two different Border Collie litters and breed them together until they get the Mini Border Collie size and then breed Mini Border Collies together until they get the Teacup size.

Overall, the breeding practice is unnatural and many breeders do it to have a marketing edge. Often, the Border Collies that are selected for breeding are smaller than normal because of a medical condition or a birth defect, leading to further health risks with each successive generation. Luckily, they are very rare as not many breeders miniaturize their dogs to this extent.

Teacup Border Collie Size

Teacup Border Collies get to a height of 14 to 16 inches (35.6cm to 40.6cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 12 and 20 pounds (5.4kg to 9.1kg) when fully grown. They are the smallest Border Collie size.

Once your puppy is fully grown you’ll need to start investing in dog products that you’ll keep for their whole life such as:

A full size dog crate so they have their own cozy den to sleep in – consider a dog crate pad to make it that much comfier!
An adult sized dog raincoat to keep them dry during wet weather
An adult sized dog life jacket to help with swimming in lakes and oceans
An adult sized dog jacket for cold winter weather
A dog cooling vest if you live in a hot climate
High quality no-pull dog harness to reduce stress on their neck while walking
And other similar products

Teacup Border Collie Temperament

Teacup Border Collies have very similar temperaments to Mini Border Collies. They are an intelligent, hard working and high energy dog. Many people think that Teacup Border Collies are more suited to city living because of their smaller size but this isn’t always the case as they still have their herding instincts. They aren’t that suited to be a farm dog as they are so small however they definitely need a large back yard to run around in. Teacup Border Collies can also easily become bored and destructive if they are left alone with nothing to do for hours on end so it’s important to play with them and give them lots of exercise each day.

Teacup Border Collie Lifespan

Teacup Border Collies have a lifespan of 9 to 12 years. Their lifespan is significantly shorter than Standard Border Collies as they are much more likely to suffer from size-related health issues. This is because the Border Collies that are selected for breeding Teacup Border Collies are likely to be smaller than normal because of a medical condition or a birth defect, leading to further health risks with each successive generation. This isn’t always the case but can happen when Teacup Border Collies are not bred ethically.

Mini Border Collie

What Is A Mini Border Collie?

A Mini Border Collie is a slightly smaller version of the Standard Border Collie. They originate from a cross between two Standard Border Collies that are on the lower end of the normal size range. Breeders usually take the runts of two different Border Collie litters and breed them together until they get the Mini Border Collie size.

Mini Border Collies are not that common but they are starting to become more popular with people living in cities who would like a more manageable size of Border Collie. If you are considering getting one, be aware that the breeding process can be unethical and that it is often done as a marketing edge.

Mini Border Collie Size

Mini Border Collies get to a height of 16 to 17 inches (40.6cm to 43.18cm) and weigh between 20 and 30 pounds (9.1kg to 13.6kg) when fully grown. They are one size smaller than the Standard Border Collie.

Mini Border Collie Temperament

Mini Border Collies are an extremely hard working and high energy dog. They are also very intelligent. For these reasons, Mini Border Collies do very well in mentally and physically challenging environments such as farms as they can run around and herd livestock. Many people think that Mini Border Collies are more suited to city living because of their smaller size but this isn’t always the case as they still have their herding instincts that make them great farm dogs like Standard Border Collies. For these reasons, they really need a large backyard to run around in.

As Mini Border Collies are so intelligent, they pick up tricks very quickly and are relatively easy to train. They should be socialized from a very young age, especially around young children otherwise they may be inclined to herd them. They can also easily become bored and destructive if they are left alone with nothing to do for hours on end. Overall, if they are trained well and given lots of exercise each day, they will be a fantastic family pet!

Mini Border Collie Lifespan

Mini Border Collies have a lifespan of 10 to 14 years. This is slightly shorter than Standard Border Collies. The reason why Mini Border Collies sometimes don’t live as long as Standard Border Collies is because the Border Collies that are selected for breeding may be smaller than normal because of a medical condition or a birth defect, leading to further health risks with each successive generation. This isn’t always the case but can happen when Mini Border Collies are not bred ethically.

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Standard Border Collie

What Is A Standard Border Collie?

Standard Border Collies are the normal Border Collie size. They are a medium sized herding dog breed that is considered to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds out there. Most Standard Border Collies have a smooth or rough double coat that is black and white in color. That being said, Border Collies can come many other coat colors such as black tricolor, liver and white, red tricolor, brindle and many merle coat variations.

Standard Border Collie Size

Standard Border Collies get to a height of 18 to 22 inches (45.7cm to 55.9cm) tall and weigh between 30 and 55 pounds (13.6kg to 24.9kg) when fully grown. They are the most common and largest Border Collie size.

Standard Border Collie Temperament

Standard Border Collies are a high energy, intelligent and extremely hard working dog. For these reasons, Standard Border Collies do very well in physically and mentally challenging environments such as farms where they can herd livestock and run around a lot. Standard Border Collies require a lot more exercise per day than other breeds. If your household can’t provide them with lots of play and exercise, they may become destructive out of boredom.

Standard Border Collies are very intelligent so they pick up tricks very quickly and are quite easy to train. They should be socialized from a very young age, especially around young children otherwise they may be inclined to herd them.

If given enough exercise each day and are well trained, Border Collies make a great family pet and are a joy to be around!

Standard Border Collie Lifespan

Standard Border Collies have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. There are many factors that affect the lifespan of a Border Collie including size, gender and whether they are desexed or intact. These variables mean they can have shorter or longer lifespans than the average. You can give a Border Collie the best chance of living a long life by giving them plenty of daily exercise, feeding them healthy food and keeping on top of vet appointments.