The Lab Collie mix comes about when the parent dogs are a Rough Collie and a Labrador. This can be a rough collie black lab mix, or a lab of any other coat color. These dogs are playful, friendly and are great companions. The resulting mix should be a medium to large dog in various colors.
People Often Ask…
- Is the labrador collie mix a good family dog?
- What is a designer dog?
- How is the lab collie personality?
- What does vigor refer to in mix breeds?
What’s In This Guide
- Lab Collie At A Glance
- In-depth Breed Review
- Lab Collie Training And Care
- Pros And Cons Of Getting A Lab Collie
Lab Collie: Breed At A Glance
- Popularity: Increasingly popular but no figures available at the moment
- Purpose: Family dog, companion
- Weight: Based on the parent breeds between 50lbs to 80lbs
- Temperament: Playful, attentive with a good nature
Lab Collie Breed Review: Contents
Lab Collie Breed Review: Contents- History and original purpose of the Lab Collie
- Lab Collie appearance
- Lab Collie temperament
- Training and exercising your Lab Collie
- Lab Collie health and care
- Do Lab Collies make good family pets
- Rescuing a Lab Collie
- Finding and raising a Lab Collie puppy
Origins of the Lab Collie Mix
The Lab Collie is what’s known as a designer dog. We’ll come back to that a little bit later. Interestingly, this particular designer dog is not yet registered in the International Designer Canine Registry. We’re not sure who first decided to make a lab and collie mix. This means that information is pretty limited on when and why the Rough Collie Lab mix originated.
To provide a little more background into this interesting mix, we will look at the origins of each parent breed.
The Labrador
The Labrador, contrary to its name, actually originates from Newfoundland, Canada (not Labrador). This hardy dog is a descendant of the St John’s water dog, which was the dog of Newfoundland fishermen. It worked alongside the fishermen, in the water as often as on land, helping haul nets and lines, and retrieving fish.
The hunting and sporting community in the UK began to fall in love with these Labradors in the late 1800s and early 1900s thanks to their tireless energy, wonderful temperament and ability to work. The Kennel Club in England recognized the Labrador Retriever in 1903. The American Kennel Club followed suit 14 years later, in 1917. The Labrador is the most popular pet dog in the US and the UK today, and is the most popular working retriever in the world.
To read more about the amazing history of this beautiful breed, please check out this article: Where Do Labradors Come From – History and Origins of The Breed.
The Rough Collie
The Rough Collie is believed to have originated in the Highlands of Scotland in the 18th century, where it was bred as a sheepdog for herding and guarding the flock. It became a show dog in England in the 1860s, and the first English Collie was brought to the US in 1879. The Collie Club of America was founded in 1886, making it one of the oldest specialty clubs in American existence.
There are two different varieties of Collie – the Rough and the Smooth. They are identical except for their coat.
What to expect from a Lab Collie Cross
A Collie Lab Cross could end up with the physical appearance of either parent breed, or a combination of the two. In fact, this doesn’t only apply to their physical characteristics, but their personalities too. It’s not really possible to say which traits the mix will inherit from either breed. So, to describe the potential Rough Collie Lab mix we need to look at both of them first
Lab Collie Mix appearance
With the above in mind, we’re going to take you through both the Collie and the Lab’s appearance before looking at how the two might combine. First up, the Rough Collie.
Collie Appearance
If you’re familiar with the famous Lassie from movies or television, then you know what a Rough Collie looks like. The Rough Collie has a long rough coat everywhere except the head and the legs. This Collie comes in four different colors. Sable is the most popular, as it’s Lassie’s coat.
The Collie is considered a medium to large size dog, typically ranging 50 – 65 pounds for a female and 60 – 75 pounds for a male. Average height is 22-24 inches for the female and 24-26 inches for the male.
Collie Colors
While Sable is the most popular color, you may find a Collie in more colors. These include
- Black, white and tan
- ‘Blue Merle’, which is anything from a pale, silvery blue to a darker gray color, with black spots on the body
- White, potentially with some markings of one of the other options, usually on the head
Regardless of which color coat your Collie has, it will likely have a white collar, chest, legs, feet, tail tip, and sometimes a blaze, or white markings, on its face.
Labrador Appearance
Labradors are also considered a medium to large dog. Male Labradors tend to range in size from 65 to 80 pounds, and 22.5 to 24.5 inches tall. Females range from 55 to 70 pounds and 21.5 to 23.5 inches tall.
Labradors have an undercoat, and a short, dense, water resistant top coat sometimes called a Guard coat. These dogs also have a distinctive “otter” tail.
Lab Colors
Labradors come in three solid colors: brown, black and yellow.
Labrador Collie Cross
While similar in size, the face shape, coat type and coloring of these two parent breeds are very different. You might find a black lab collie mix, or any other combination of lab and collie mix. As you can see, there are many possible physical combinations that a Labrador Collie cross could end up with due to this.
Lab Collie temperament
The temperament of an individual puppy can never be guaranteed, which is why proper socialization and training is always very important. However, we can look at the general temperament of both parent breeds to get a better idea of which characteristics Labrador cross Collie puppies are most likely to exhibit.
Labrador Personality
Labradors are an incredibly popular dog, and one of the reasons for this is their remarkable temperament. Labs tend to have very friendly, outgoing, and playful natures. They are high energy, very active dogs that typically get along with others, whether human or animal.
As sporting dogs, Labs are known for their instincts in woods and water and tend to love to swim. Labrador Retrievers have a reputation for being tireless and incredibly social, with stable, even temperaments.
Collie Personality
Lassie embodied the ideal temperament of a rough Collie: a dog who is proud, graceful, and completely devoted to its human family. These dogs are moderately active and incredibly intelligent. Collies have long been considered ‘family dogs’ that tend to be very good with children and require lots of human interaction and contact.
Collies have a tendency to be vocal and bark, but are not generally aggressive dogs. However, a recent research study in Sweden did find that Rough Collies commonly had fear-related problems, which they believe to be genetic.
Labrador Collie Mix Personality
With a healthy puppy from a good home, proper socialization and training, this interesting mix is likely to result in a very social, loving and active dog. The labrador collie mix temperament and personality should be amicable and stable.
Lab Collie socialization
Of course, socialization of any dog is important. Some dogs might take more work than others but even with friendly dogs, it is vital that you take proper care to familiarize them with new people, places and other animals. Fortunately for this mix breed, both parent breeds are friendly, outgoing and playful and loyal. Make sure to check out our guides on socialization of both puppies and older dogs.
Training and exercising your Labrador Collie Mix
Labradors are high energy dogs built for endurance. Collies are medium energy but still fairly active dogs that will enjoy and benefit from long walks.
Labradors are in the Sport Group of dogs and tend to excel at running, hunting, fetching, and swimming. Collies tend to excel at agility and herding; often enjoying and excelling at obedience and obstacle training courses that incorporate these skills. This means that regardless of whether you have a Black Lab Collie mix, a Chocolate Lab Collie mix, or a Yellow Lab Collie mix, your puppy is likely to need a fair amount of daily exercise. If this exercise includes mental stimulation such as teaching tricks, even better!
Proper training is important to ensure your pet is a well-adjusted and well-mannered companion. Thankfully, a Labrador Collie mix will likely be intelligent and eager-to-please, which should make training relatively easy, compared to more stubborn breeds.
Labrador Collie mix health and care
Labrador Health
Two common health conditions in Labrador Retrievers are hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. What this means is that the joint and ball socket are not properly formed. As a result, they may rub and grind together, causing pain and wearing down the bone. Ultimately this can lead to a loss of mobility.
It’s important to be aware of this potential issue in order to catch it early. Studies have shown that treatment done before your dog reaches 2 years old tends to be more successful. When buying a Lab or Lab mix, please ensure that both parents have good hip and elbow scores. This will lower the chance of your puppy having dysplasia. Unfortunately, a significant factor relating to hip dysplasia is body weight, and Labradors also commonly face weight issues.
Weight Issues in Labradors
A 2015 study found that Labrador Retrievers are more food obsessed than other breeds. However, one year later, a different study suggested Labrador obesity may actually be linked to a genetic trait rather than just food obsession. Regardless of the cause, Labradors have an increased likelihood of obesity. This, combined with their increased likelihood of hip dysplasia, can result in serious medical complications if your puppy is unfortunate enough to inherit both traits.
Other common health concerns of Labradors are:
- Eye problems, such as cataracts
- Increased risk of immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA)
- Aortic Stenosis
- Lumbosacral Stenosis
- Exercise-induced collapse
Collie Health
While generally considered a healthy, sturdy breed, Collies are known to have certain health issues more often than others.
One common health concern for Collies is Collie Eye Anomaly. This is an inherited eye problem that will be present at birth. However, it is not necessarily something an average vet can diagnose in a young puppy. Therefore, the Collie Club of America recommends having any Collie puppy of 5-6 weeks old checked by a qualified Board Certified Ophthalmologist.
In addition to an eye test, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends a Multiple Drug Sensitivity test. Collies have shown some sensitivity to certain drugs, including Ivermectin, which is a common drug for heartworm control. It is recommended that unless you have had this testing completed and you know your dog is safe, never give your Rough Collie Lab mix any heartworm medication or heartworm preventative that contains active Ivermectin.
If you have any concerns about this, or any other potential health issues with Lab Collie cross puppies, please consult your veterinarian.
Lab Collie Mix Health Issues
As Lab Collie mix puppies could inherit the health issues of either parent breed, it is important to have them tested for both. When considering a Rough Collie lab mix puppy, make sure you inquire into its parents’ health as well, particularly the hip and elbow scores. Also ensure your puppy has had an eye exam completed by a qualified registered professional.
Designer Dog Controversy
A first generation mixed breed is called a “designer dog.” It’s referring to the intentional crossing of two purebreds in order to ‘design’ a new breed.
Is A Designer Dog Healthier?
One of the most commonly cited arguments for mixed breeds is that they are supposedly healthier than purebreds. But is this really true? It’s actually impossible to prove that all of the hundreds of thousands of mixed breeds are healthier than the over 300 different pure breeds.
On the other hand, it is possible to make some general statements about the comparison of the two.
Hybrid Vigor and Reduced Vigor
For instance, research has shown that purebreds have reduced vigor when compared to mixed breeds. ‘Reduced vigor’ simply means that purebreds tend to not live as long. They also have a lessened ability or likelihood to procreate. This does not necessarily mean they have more health issues.
Research has also proven that inbreeding (which is how you get purebreds) reduces the size of the gene pool for the breed. A smaller pool means less chance of variation, which some people see as a positive trait. However, less variation means all genes, including unhealthy or damaged ones, are more likely to be passed down to puppies from their parents.
All in the genes
In other words, once a disease or health problem gets into the genetics of the breed, it is more likely to be carried on and harder to try to get rid of it or ‘breed it out’. Despite these facts, please keep in mind that if you’re comparing any one purebred puppy with any one mixed breed puppy, either dog could end up being the healthier one.
Your dog’s health should be your top concern, no matter if it is a purebred, a designer dog, or a fourth-generation mutt that you’re considering.
Lab Collie Life Expectancy
The life expectancy of a Collie tends to be 12-14 years. The average life expectancy for a Lab is 10 to 12 years. So, you can expect your Labrador Rough Collie mix to live anywhere between 10 and 14 years. These are averages ages of course and will depend on the dogs’ general health and living conditions.
Lab Collie mix Shedding
Both the Labrador and the Collie shed seasonally. This means that they generally need more grooming during the winter months than when they are sporting their ‘summer coats.’
Lab Collie Grooming
Collies should be brushed once every week or two when they have their full rough coat; it can be a bit less in the summer. Labradors do not need bathing or grooming as often as some other breeds due to their low-maintenance, coarse coat. Collie lab cross puppies could end up with the coat and care requirements of either breed.
Do Lab Collie mixes make good family pets
Both Labradors and Collies are generally loving, social animals that do well in homes with small children and other pets. Labradors and Collies will enjoy prolonged periods of exercise outside, but not alone.
If Collies are kept outside for extended periods of time without human contact they will become bored and lonely, which could result in behavioral problems. In other words, Lab Collie puppies will do best in a home with a family that will take them out to suitable natural environments regularly for exercise and will be home often to provide social contact.
Similar Breeds
Here are some other dog breeds and mixes you might want to consider
Now let’s talk about rescue dogs!
Rescuing a Lab Collie mix
There are many positives to rescuing a dog. First of all, rescuing a dog from a shelter is a great way of giving an older dog a new lease on life. Not only that but there are other benefits. Good shelters will provide health testing so you will know all about the health of a rescue dog before deciding to take her home.
Another great benefit of rescuing a dog is that each dog rescued is one less dog bought from a pet store or highly problematic puppy mill.
Lab Collie Breed Rescues
We can’t find any rescues specific to this breed but here is a list of Labrador and Collie rescues. If your heart is set on a Lab Collie mix, get in touch with one of these centres and they may be able to help.
USA
- Lab Rescue LRCP
- Labrador Retriever Club Rescue Organizations
- Freedom Collie Rescue
- Collie Rescue Foundation
UK
Canada
Australia
Do you know any other great rescues? Let us know in the comments.
Finding a Lab Collie puppy
Since Collie x Lab Puppies are not purebred and are not on the International Designer Canine Registry, it may be challenging to find breeders. When searching for Collie Lab puppies, make sure you’re getting the breed mix you’re expecting, and not a Border Collie Lab puppy.
If you’re considering getting a puppy from someone other than a registered breeder, it is also very important to ensure your puppy is coming from a reputable source. Pay attention to the type of living conditions the puppy is in. Ask about both parents and get as much information as you can to understand the background of your puppy. This will help predict any potential issues or areas for concern. Make sure you don’t miss our Puppy Search Guide.
Lab Collie Mix Breeders
Remember that it’s unfortunately impossible to guarantee your labrador collie mix temperament temperament. This is why proper socialization and training are so important. Good breeders will also work to ensure their dogs and pups are well socialized.
Also remember that you could end up with any aspect of either dog breed. Your puppy could also end up having a medical condition not seen in either parent. This is why health testing is very important, particularly for issues that are known to impact both parent breeds, such as hip and elbow dysplasia and eye problems.
A good breeder will be happy to any questions you have and will have carried out all the relevant health tests. If you are unsure about a breeder, feel free to walk away and try somebody else. Many people seek out designer dogs. So beware of any unscrupulous breeders trying to make fast cash.
Labrador Collie Mix products and accessories
We have a whole bunch of product and accessory reviews to help you with choosing everything from beds to toys to food. A lot of these reviews are specifically geared towards Labradors but will be suitable for Lab Collie mixes too.
Is A Lab Collie Mix Right For Me?
To summarize, let’s take a look at the Pros and Cons of getting a Lab Collie mix
Cons
- This mixed breed will likely require a good amount of exercise so might not be suitable if you don’t have space or access to big spaces to play in.
- It may be difficult to find a Rough Collie Labrador mix
Pros
- This should be a really friendly mixed breed that will get on well with animals and children.
- Lab Collie mixes don’t require much grooming and don’t shed a lot.
- The two parent breeds are clever and loyal and will make a great companion.
Your Lab Collie Mix
Do you have a Lab Collie Mix, a rough collie black lab mix, or any other permutation? We’d love to hear all about them in the comments below. We have extensively revised this article in 2019.
References And Resources
- Gough A, Thomas A, O’Neill D. 2018 Breed Predispositions to Disease In Dogs and Cats. Wiley Blackwell
- O’Neill et al. 2013. Longevity and Mortality of Owned Dogs In England. The Veterinary Journal
- Adams VJ, et al. 2010. Results of a Survey of UK Purebred Dogs. Journal of Small Animal Practice.
- Schalamon et al. 2006. Analysis of Dog Bites In Children Who Are Younger Than 17 Years. Pediatrics
- Duffy D et al. Breed differences in canine aggression. Applied Animal Behavior Science 2008
- Strain G. Deafness prevalence and pigmentation and gender associations in dog breeds at risk. The Veterinary Journal 2004
- Packer et al. 2015. Impact of Facial Conformation On Canine Health. PlosOne
- Arvelius, P., Eken Asp, H., Fikse, W. F., Strandberg, E., Nilsson, K., Genetic analysis of a temperament test as a tool to select against everyday life fearfulness in Rough Collie. Journal of Animal Science, 2014.
- Beuchat, C. The myth of hybrid vigor in dogs…is a myth. The Institute of Canine Biology, 2014.
- Burgess, K., Moore, A., Rand, W., Cotter, SM. Treatment of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs with cyclophosphamide. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2000.
- Mukherjee, M.. Jones, J., Yao, J. Lumbosacral stenosis in Labrador retriever military working dogs – an exomic exploratory study. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2017
- Oberbauer, A., Belanger, J., Bellumori, T., Bannasch, D. Famula, T. Ten inherited disorders in purebred dogs by functional breed groupings. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2015
- Patterson EE, et al. A canine DNM1 mutation is highly associated with the syndrome of exercise-induced collapse. Nature Genetics, 2008
- Raffan, E., Smith, S.P., O’Rahilly, S., and Wardle, J. Development, factor structure and application of the dog obesity risk and appetite (DORA) questionnaire. PeerJ. 2015
- Raffan, E. et al. A Deletion in the Canine POMC Gene Is Associated with Weight and Appetite in Obesity-Prone Labrador Retriever Dogs. Elsevier Inc. 2016
- Smith et al. Lifelong diet restriction and radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis of the hip joint in dogs, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2006
The Labrador Site Founder
Pippa Mattinson is the best selling author of The Happy Puppy Handbook, the Labrador Handbook, Choosing The Perfect Puppy, and Total Recall.
She is also the founder of the Gundog Trust and the Dogsnet Online Training Program
Pippa's online training courses were launched in 2019 and you can find the latest course dates on the Dogsnet website
I have owned Silver labs for 10 yrs. I have breed my silver lab with a chocalate lab and got beautiful puppies. Then I breed with a silver lab and once again beautiful puppies.
I just had my first littler of silver lab/ rough collie, The puppies are so beautiful. I also have another litter due end of August/ early September.