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A Detailed Comparison of the Poodle and the Border Collie.

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Poodle versus Border Collie

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Poodle Versus Border Collie: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Poodle and the Border Collie? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Poodle and the Border Collie better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Poodle and the Border Collie.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Poodle and the Border Collie is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Poodle and for the Border Collie. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Poodle and the Border Collie.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Poodle or the Border Collie.

Note that there are 3 types of Poodles:

  • The Standard Poodle
  • The Miniature Poodle
  • The Toy Poodle


  • However, these 3 poodle `types` are basically the same. The only difference between them is size. Standard Poodles are big, toy poodles are small, and miniature poodles are medium-sized.

    Read more about the subtle differences between the standard poodle vs. miniature poodle here and the toy poodle versus miniature poodle here.

    In addition, we have articles on the detailed comparisons of the poodle to every other dog breed. Check out our articles on poodle versus other dog breeds here.

    Poodle versus Border Collie

    Poodle versus Border Collie: Overview

    A very important difference between the Poodle and the Border Collie is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Poodle is a large-sized dog while the Border Collie is a medium-sized dog.

    Furthermore, the Poodle belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

    On the other hand, the Border Collie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

    Poodle versus Border Collie: Comparison Table

    The table below compares the Poodle to the Border Collie based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

    When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

    Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

    However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

    Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Poodle and the Border Collie

    FactorPoodleBorder Collie
    Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
    Does NOT Shed5/53/5
    Does NOT Drool5/55/5
    Easy To Groom1/53/5
    Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 15 years
    General Health2/52/5
    Low Prey Drive4/53/5
    Does NOT Bark or Howl4/54/5
    Tolerates Cold Weather3/54/5
    Tendency NOT to Wander3/53/5
    Calmness/ Low Vigor3/53/5
    Weight
  • Standard Poodle: 38 to 70 pounds
  • Miniature Poodle: 10 and 20 pounds
  • Toy Poodle: 4.8 to 11.6 pounds
  • 30 to 45 pounds
    Easygoing2/51/5
    Tolerates Hot Weather4/54/5
    Dog Friendly4/53/5
    Friendly Toward Strangers4/55/5
    Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/53/5
    Does NOT chew on things2/53/5
    NOT Rambunctious2/51/5
    Minimal Exercise Needs2/51/5
    Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/52/5
    Good For Novice Owners5/52/5
    Affectionate With Family5/55/5
    Kid-Friendly5/54/5
    Easy To Train5/55/5
    Intelligence5/55/5
    Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
    Height
  • Standard Poodle: 24 to 27 inches
  • Miniature Poodle: 10 to 15 inches
  • Toy Poodle: less than 10 inches
  • 18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder
    Average Lifespan13.5 years13.5 years
    Average Price
  • Standard Poodle: $1980
  • Miniature Poodle: $2500
  • Toy Poodle: $2760
  • $1000
    Price Range
  • Standard Poodle: $1400 – $2500
  • Miniature Poodle: $1500 – $3000
  • Toy Poodle: $1894 – $3500
  • $600 – $1250
    Temperament Score87.2 percent82.4 percent
    Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Collie Eye Anomaly
  • Congenital Deafness
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination, recommended annually until age 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis
  • Shoulders
  • TNS Info
  • Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds636
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)21
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Poodle in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Border Collie. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Poodle is 88 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Border Collie is 80 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Poodle is a better pet than the Border Collie. So, you should get a Poodle!

    Poodle versus Border Collie

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Poodle and the Border Collie

    Below is a list of where the Poodle and the Border Collie are most different:

  • Poodles adapt well to apartment living. However, Border Collies do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Poodles are good for new dog owners. However, Border Collies are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • The Similarities Between the Poodle and the Border Collie

    The Poodle and the Border Collie are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Poodle and the Border Collie are most similar:

  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie are very easy to train.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Poodle and the Border Collie are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Poodle versus Border Collie

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Poodle and the Border Collie.

    Poodles come in three main size categories. These three size categories are referred to as the three varieties of the poodle. Poodles of different varieties are basically the same except for their size differences. The poodle varieties based on size categorization are:

  • Standard Poodles: Standard Poodles are the biggest of the poodle varieties. Adult Standard Poodles are 24 inches to 27 inches tall and weigh between 38 pounds and 70 pounds. To learn more about Standard Poodle Growth, Weight, and Height, check out our article on Standard Poodle growth, weight and height.
  • Miniature Poodles: Miniature Poodles are mid-sized poodles. An adult miniature poodle grows to weigh between 10 and 20 pounds (4.5 kg to 9 kg) and stands between 10 to 15 inches tall (25.4 cm to 38.1 cm). To learn more about Miniature Poodle Growth, Weight and Height, check out our article on Miniature Poodle growth, weight and height.
  • Toy Poodles: The Toy Poodle is the smallest official member of the poodle club. Although there is a smaller poodle variety that is smaller than the toy poodle. This tiny poodle variety is called the micro/teacup poodle. However, this micro/teacup poodle size category is not recognized by the official poodle association, The Poodle Club of America. Adult toy poodles are no more than ten inches tall withers. In weight, a toy poodle will grow to be about 4.8 to 11.6 pounds in weight. To learn more about Toy Poodle Growth, Weight and Height, check out our article on Toy Poodle growth, weight and height.
  • There is another variety of poodle that is not recognized in the USA but is recognized in Europe. This poodle size variety is called the Moyen Poodle. In size, the Moyen Poodle is smaller than the Standard poodle but bigger than the miniature poodle.

    See below the figure that compares the different poodle sizes:

    Poodle Sizes

    On the other hand, Border Collies weigh 30 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Border Collies are 18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Poodle Versus the Border Collie

    The Poodle has a better temperament than the Border Collie.

    This is because the temperament score for the Poodle is 87.2 percent while the temperament score for the Border Collie is 82.4 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 87.2 percent, the Poodle has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 82.4 percent, the Border Collie has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Poodle and the Border Collie by measuring the temperaments of 266 Poodles and 312 Border Collies.

    Price of Poodle versus Price of Border Collie

    The average price of the Standard Poodle puppy is $1980. The price of the Standard Poodle typically ranges from $1400 – $2500. However, the price of a Standard Poodle can be as low as $200 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 2524 Standard Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.
    The average price of the Miniature Poodle puppy is $2500. The price of the Miniature Poodle typically ranges from $1500 – $3000. However, the price of a Miniature Poodle can be as low as $350 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1190 Miniature Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.
    The average price of the Toy Poodle puppy is $2760. The price of the Toy Poodle typically ranges from $1894 – $3500. However, the price of a Toy Poodle can be as low as $450 and as high as $9835. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 872 Toy Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    To know about standard poodle prices and standard poodle buying advice, check out our article on standard poodle cost.

    To know about miniature poodle prices, check out this article on miniature poodle price.

    To learn more about toy poodle price and for toy poodle buying advice, check out this article on toy poodle price.

    The average price of the Border Collie puppy is $1000. The price of the Border Collie typically ranges from $600 – $1250. However, the price of a Border Collie can be as low as $100 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1009 Border Collie puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Poodle is more expensive than the Border Collie.

    Poodle Border Collie
    Average Price $2260 $1000
    Price Range $1500 to $2800 $600 to $1250

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Poodle and Border Collie. For different price points, the charts show how many Poodle puppies or how many Border Collie puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Poodles. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Poodles. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Border Collies

    A breakdown of the prices of Border Collies

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Poodle puppy or the Border Collie puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Poodle versus Border Collie

    Adopting the Poodle versus Adopting the Border Collie

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Poodles and many Border Collies are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Poodle named Java that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Poodles like Java on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Poodles, Border Collies are also available for adoption. For example, Finch is a Male Border Collie that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Border Collies like Finch that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Poodle and the Border Collie can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Dudley is the name of another Poodle (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Sparrow is an adorable Male Border Collie on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Poodles and Border Collies are always available for adoption. Images and image labels from petfinder.com

    You can find more Poodles and Border Collies that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Poodle versus the Intelligence of the Border Collie

    Poodle Border Collie
    Intelligence Rank 2 out of 130 dog breeds 1 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Poodle has an obedience intelligence rank of 2 out of 130 dog breeds. The Poodle belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Poodles tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Border Collie has an obedience intelligence rank of 1 out of 130 dog breeds. The Border Collie belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Border Collies tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Border Collie is more intelligent than the Poodle.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Poodle versus Popularity of Border Collie

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Poodle and the Border Collie over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Poodle is more popular with dog owners than the Border Collie. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Poodle is 6 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Border Collie is 36 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Poodle

    Popularity of Poodle

    Popularity of Border Collie

    Popularity of Border Collie

    Year Standard Poodle Popularity Rank Border Collie Popularity Rank
    2013 8 44
    2014 7 40
    2015 8 38
    2016 7 38
    2017 7 38
    2018 7 35
    2019 6 33
    2020 6 32
    2021 5 31

    Health Problems of Poodle versus Health Problems of Border Collie

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Poodle and the Border Collie are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Border Collie is prone to more genetic health problems than the Poodle.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Border Collie than for the Poodle.

    4 health tests are recommended for Poodle while 13 tests are recommended for the Border Collie.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Poodles and in Border Collies.

    Poodle Health Problems

    Poodles are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Poodle puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Poodle puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Poodle breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Poodles for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Poodles here.

    Border Collie Health Problems

    Border Collies are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Border Collie puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Border Collie puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Border Collie breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Border Collies for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Collie Eye Anomaly
  • Congenital Deafness
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination, recommended annually until age 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis
  • Shoulders
  • TNS Info
  • Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Border Collies here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Poodles and Border Collies

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Poodle Breed is Basic Cardiac problems.

    This is because the Poodle ranks 1 out of 16 dog breeds for Basic Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 270 Poodles, 2 of them had Basic Cardiac problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Poodles, and how common these diseases are in Poodles relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Basic Cardiac problems: Rank 1 out of 16 Dog Breeds
  • Neonatal Encephalopathy W/Seizures problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Sebaceous Adenitis problems: Rank 1 out of 2 Dog Breeds
  • Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems: Rank 3 out of 5 Dog Breeds
  • Rcd4 Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 4 out of 8 Dog Breeds
  • Von Willebrands problems: Rank 7 out of 15 Dog Breeds
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 11 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 14 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 21 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 49 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 57 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 61 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 73 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 84 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 88 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 100 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 127 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Border Collie Breed is Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems.

    This is because the Border Collie ranks 2 out of 3 dog breeds for Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 102 Border Collies, 1 of them had Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Border Collies, and how common these diseases are in Border Collies relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems: Rank 2 out of 3 Dog Breeds
  • Baer Hearing Test problems: Rank 11 out of 21 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 13 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 14 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 30 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 49 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 116 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 117 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 132 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 135 out of 182 Dog Breeds

  • The table below lists the common health problems in Poodle and in Border Collie and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Poodle and the Border Collie:

    Disease Poodle Rank Border Collie Rank
    Basic Cardiac problems 1 out of 16 dog breeds Not Common
    Neonatal Encephalopathy W/Seizures problems 1 out of 1 dog breeds Not Common
    Sebaceous Adenitis problems 1 out of 2 dog breeds Not Common
    Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems 3 out of 5 dog breeds Not Common
    Rcd4 Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 4 out of 8 dog breeds Not Common
    Von Willebrands problems 7 out of 15 dog breeds Not Common
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems 11 out of 40 dog breeds Not Common
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 14 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 21 out of 49 dog breeds 30 out of 49 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems 49 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 57 out of 70 dog breeds 13 out of 70 dog breeds
    Patella problems 61 out of 145 dog breeds 132 out of 145 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 73 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 84 out of 115 dog breeds 49 out of 115 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 88 out of 144 dog breeds 117 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 100 out of 198 dog breeds 116 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 127 out of 182 dog breeds 135 out of 182 dog breeds
    Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems Not Common 2 out of 3 dog breeds
    Baer Hearing Test problems Not Common 11 out of 21 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 14 out of 22 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Poodle versus Border Collie

    Poodles do not like to be left alone.

    Poodles, by nature, are companion dogs. They like and thrive on human companionship more than most dog breeds. Poodles do not like to be left alone. Leaving a poodle alone for more than 4 hours day after day will cause separation anxiety and isolation distress in a poodle. If you plan to get a poodle, make sure you can be around your poodle most of the time, or arrange for a dog walker.

    See our article on how long you can leave a poodle alone.

    Border Collies do not like to be left alone.

    Do Poodles shed more than Border Collies?

    Poodles do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Although all dogs shed, and poodles are no different in this regard. But poodles shed less than many other breeds of dogs. However, if you own a poodle, you will not have the problem of having balls of dog hair on your couch and over your house. This is because the curly coat of the poodle traps the hair and other things that the poodle sheds. Therefore, people that are allergic to dogs tend to tolerate poodles better.

    Check out our articles to learn more on why poodles do not shed, and on standard poodle shedding, and on shedding in toy poodles

    Border Collies shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Poodle or the Border Collie?

    Poodles require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    To learn more about how to properly groom a poodle, check out our article on how to groom a poodle.

    Learn more on how to take care of a poodle here.

    Border Collies are moderately easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Poodle or the Border Collie?

    Poodles get along very well with other dogs.

    Poodles get along very well with other dogs. Poodles are very friendly. However, it is up to the other dog to reciprocate the friendliness. Some dog breeds are just unfriendly and aggressive.

    Read this article to learn about the dog breeds that get along well with poodle and the dog breeds that do not along with poodles.

    Border Collies get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Poodles good family dogs? What about Border Collies?

    Poodles are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Poodles make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.

    Learn about standard poodles as family dogs here, and about how family-friendly are toy poodles here..

    Border Collies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Poodle Easier to Train than the Border Collie?

    Poodles are very easy to train.

    Poodles are easy to train because they are intelligent and eager to please their owners. However, it is important that you begin training a poodle to make the most out of their natural intelligence. Moreover, training your Poodle should be based on positive reinforcement and repetition. Be sure to give your Poodle praise when he obeys a command and ignores your poodle`s bad behavior.

    To learn more, check out our article on how to train a poodle.

    Border Collies are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Poodle or the Border Collie

    Poodles do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Border Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Poodles and Border Collies?

    Poodles get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Border Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Poodle Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Border Collie?

    Poodles have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Border Collies have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Poodles Bark and Howl? What about Border Collies?

    Poodles are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Border Collies are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Poodles Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Border Collies Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Poodles can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Border Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Poodle vs. Border Collie

    Poodles have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Border Collies have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Poodles Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Border Collies Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Poodles can tolerate hot weather.

    Border Collies can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Poodle Better for Apartment Owners than the Border Collie?

    Poodles adapt very well to apartment living.

    Border Collies do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Poodle or the Border Collie?

    Poodles are very good for new dog owners.

    Border Collies are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Poodle Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the poodle compares to other breeds aside from the Border Collie. So, see below the links to the comparison of the poodle to other breeds:

    poodle versus Tibetan Terrier     poodle versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     poodle versus Australian Cattle Dog     poodle versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     poodle versus Coton de Tulear     poodle versus Pyrenean Shepherd     poodle versus Schipperke     poodle versus Black Russian Terrier     poodle versus Maltese     poodle versus Brussels Griffon     

    Conclusion: Poodle versus Border Collie. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Poodle and the Border Collie better suits you and your family.