Quick Links: Table of Contents
- How Long Border Collies Live. Border Collie Life Expectancy
- Lifespan of the Border Collie Compared to Other Dog Breeds
- Common Causes of Death in Border Collie, and how to Prevent Them.
- How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Border Collies
- How Old is Your Border Collie in Human Years
- How Long Do Border Collies Live in Human Years?
- More Ways to Make Your Border Collie Live Long
- Conclusion on Border Collie Life Expectancy
How Long Border Collies Live. Border Collie Life Expectancy
Generally, the lifespan of the Border Collie is from 12 to 15 years.
Moreover, a few years back, British Veterinarinan researchers performed a scientific study to determine the lifespan of the Border Collie. In this study, the scientists collected data on how long 106 pet Border Collies lived.
From the study, it was found that Border Collies have a average lifespan of 12.2 years. Furthermore, the study found that Border Collies can live for as long as 17.3 years.
Furthermore, researchers from the University of Georgia conducted a study to find out what are the top causes of death in Border Collies.
According to the study, the top 5 causes of death in Border Collies are:
- Neoplastic Disease: Issues involving tumors
- Trauma: Issues involving injury
- Musculoskeletal Disease: Refers to any problems with bones or muscles
- Neurologic Disease: Refers to problems with the brain, nerves, and spinal cord.
- Hematopoietic Disease: Problems having to do with platelets, blood vessels, or clotting factors.
In this article, we will explain each of these diseases and discuss how to prevent the early occurence of each in your Border Collie to make your Border Collie live a longer.
Also, in this article, we will discuss other things you can do to ensure that your Border Collie have a longer than average lifespan.
Do you want to know how old your Border Collie is in human years? Then, check out our Border Collie age to human years calculator
Lifespan of the Border Collie Compared to Other Dog Breeds
See in the table below how the lifespan of the Border Collie compares to the lifespan of other dog breeds.
| Dog Breed | Average Lifespan (Years) |
|---|---|
| Bearded Collie Lifespan | 13.50 |
| Norwich Terrier Lifespan | 13.30 |
| Yorkshire Terrier Lifespan | 12.60 |
| Border Collie Lifespan | 12.20 |
| Dandie Dinmont Terrier Lifespan | 12.10 |
| English Springer Spaniel Lifespan | 12.00 |
| German Shorthaired Pointer Lifespan | 12.00 |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Lifespan | 11.30 |
| Sussex Spaniel Lifespan | 11.10 |
| Gordon Setter Lifespan | 11.00 |
| Boston Terrier Lifespan | 10.90 |
| Basset Fauve de Bretagne Lifespan | 10.40 |
| Havanese Lifespan | 10.20 |
| Boxer Lifespan | 10.20 |
| Estrela Mountain Dog Lifespan | 9.75 |
| Komondor Lifespan | 9.13 |
| Rottweiler Lifespan | 8.92 |
| Greenland Dog Lifespan | 8.46 |
| Bullmastiff Lifespan | 7.46 |
| Black Russian Terrier Lifespan | 1.79 |
Common Causes of Death in Border Collie, and how to Prevent Them.
We will now discuss the common causes of death in Border Collie, according to scientific research. Also we will provide you advice on how to prevent these problems in your Border Collie.
Here are the causes of death, starting from the most common cause
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Neoplastic Disease in Border Collies
Neoplasms, or tumors, can be benign (like a lipoma), or malignant (cancer).
Neoplastic Disease is responsible for 26.1 percent of all deaths in Border Collies.
Causes of Neoplastic Disease in Border Collie
Neoplasms in dogs, just like in people, are caused by either a genetic predisposition (like some breast cancers), an environmental factor (like smoking in humans), or a combination of both.
How to Prevent Neoplastic Disease in Border Collies
Just like in humans, there is little you can do to prevent cancers that are caused by genetic factors. You can, however, reduce the environmental risks that are associated with cancer. The `environmental` causes of neoplasia are chemical agents, infectious agents, and physical agents. An example of a chemical agent that could cause cancer in Border Collies (and humans) is asbestos. An example of an infectious agent that could cause cancer in Border Collies is the virus called canine adenovirus. An example of a physical agent that can cause cancer in Border Collies is UV radiation from the sun, just like in humans.
Another way to prevent neoplasms in Border Collies is to vaccinate them against harmful viruses, such as canine adenovirus (DHPP vaccine at 8 and 12 weeks and then once a year, every year). As in humans, early diagnosis is the key to supporting Border Collies with neoplasms, so talk to your veterinarian if you find any new lumps, bumps, or discoloration on your Border Collie. You should also talk to your veterinarian if your Border Collie`s gums look pale.
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Trauma in Border Collies
These includes cuts, bites, bruises, broken bones, wounds, scratches, and more.
Trauma is responsible for 17.5 percent of all deaths in Border Collies.
Causes of Trauma in Border Collie
One of the most common causes of trauma in Border Collies is getting hit by cats. Another common cause is bites and scratches from fighting or play with other dogs.
How to Prevent Trauma in Border Collies
The best way to keep your Border Collie from getting hit by a car is by having them on a fixed leash. Veterinarians do not recommend retractable leashes for dogs. This is because, oftentimes, dogs on retractable leashes will bolt into the road before their owners can lock the leash and get hit by cars, even though they were technically on a leash. Having a normal, fixed leash is also a good way to prevent your Border Collie from bolting on walks and getting into fights with other dogs before you can lock the leash.
Here is a good fixed leash that can save your Border Collie from traumatic accidents.
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Musculoskeletal Disease in Border Collies
Musculoskeletal diseases are the common problems associated with bones and muscles. These include arthritis, vertebral issues, loss of skeletal muscle mass, hip dysplasia, trauma and breakages, and more.
Musculoskeletal Disease is responsible for 14.3 percent of all deaths in Border Collies.
Causes of Musculoskeletal Disease in Border Collie
The causes of many musculoskeletal issues have to do with age, breed, and weight. Older Border Collies are more prone to musculoskeletal issues, as are large breed dogs, and overweight dogs. Just like people, Border Collies can get arthritis and other joint-related issues as they get older. Large-breed dogs tend to be prone to a condition called hip dysplasia, which essentially means that their hip joints degrade and get very painful. Overweight dogs tend to put more pressure on their joints, which can cause unnecessary wear and tear as well as serious damage to tendons and ligaments.
How to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disease in Border Collies
One way that you can help improve your Border Collie`s musculoskeletal health (especially if they are old is by giving your Border Collie joint supplements like this one. You can also help prevent hip dysplasia and slipped discs by not allowing your Border Collie to jump too much, even if they are a puppy. Consider buying young Border Collies a box or stool like this to help them get on the couch or bed, instead of letting them jump all the way from the ground. The most important way that you can keep your Border Collie`s muscles and bones healthy is by not letting them get overweight. You should avoid letting your Border Collie eat table scraps and make sure that they get plenty of exercise. If your Border Collie is overweight and you know that you are strict with their diet and exercise, you should talk to your vet; they might have hypothyroidism, which is very common. If your Border Collie is overweight and you think you should try managing their diet a little more closely, you can start your Border Collie on a weight-management diet like this to help them get back to a healthier body condition.
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Neurologic Disease in Border Collies
These problems include canine cognitive disfunction, dementia, stroke, Lyme disease, and more.
Neurologic Disease is responsible for 12.4 percent of all deaths in Border Collies.
Causes of Neurologic Disease in Border Collie
Neurological issues can be caused by vascular disease, inflammatory disease, infectious disease, metabolic disease, cancer, and developmental disorders.
How to Prevent Neurologic Disease in Border Collies
Some neurological problems can be caused by infectious agents, like Lyme disease. You should always get your dog vaccinated with the course recommended by your veterinarian.
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Hematopoietic Disease in Border Collies
Normally, the body can regulate its own blood pressure and fluid volume without outside help. However, issues in hematopoesis can cause high or low blood pressure, blood clots, edema (fluid where it`s not supposed to be, like in the lungs), and even shock.
Hematopoietic Disease is responsible for 11.8 percent of all deaths in Border Collies.
Causes of Hematopoietic Disease in Border Collie
The causes of hematopoietic problems usually involve inflammation and immune responses gone wrong. This can cause congestion, hemorrhage, and many more problems.
How to Prevent Hematopoietic Disease in Border Collies
Talk to your veterinarian if your dog`s gums or skin look very pale or very red. It`s also a good idea to talk to your vet if your dog is experiencing exercise intolerance. Many parasites can cause internal bleeding, so you should have your dog on flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives all year round. Here is a good flea and tick prevention medication (buy the box associated with your pet`s weight!).
How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Border Collies
Every dog breed has a set of genetic problems to which it is predisposed, and the Border Collie is not an exception.
These disease will reduce your Border Collie`s qualilty of life. Also, these diseases can shorten your Border Collie`s lifespan.
The good news is that these diseases can be prevented in Border Collie offsprings by only breeding Border Collie that have been screened and cleared of genetic defects.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is one the organizations that keep records of which disease to which a dog breed is genetically prone.
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 and live long, 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.
If you do not know if your Border Collie has been screened for genetic health problems, then your can use an at-home genetic screening kit like this one to check your Border Collie for genetic health problems at home. This might help you in deciding whether to get your Border Collie a pet health insurance.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Border Collies for:
How Old is Your Border Collie in Human Years
The table below shows your human years equivalent age of your Border Collie. This table is based on a dog-to-human age study conducted by researchers from Purdue University.
Learn more about how old your Border Collie is in human years here.
In 1997, researchers from Purdue University developed a method for converting a dog`s age to its human age. Their method was based on the 1953 work of the French Veterinarian, A. Lebeau that we discussed above.
Researchers from Purdue University took Lebeau`s work further by taking into account two important factors to develop a more accurate method for converting a dog`s age into its human equivalent age:
- The size of the dog: Smaller dog breeds live longer than larger breed dogs
- The lifespan of the dog: Dog breeds that live longer lives will age slower than dog breeds that live shorter lives
The average lifespan of the Border Collie is 12.2 years.
Border Collies are medium-sized dogs. Border Collies weigh 30 to 45 pounds.
The method developed by the Purdue University veterinarian researchers took into account the lifespan and size of Border Collie in converting Border Collie age to human age.
The researchers used data on the lifespan and weight of 5,608 mixed breed dogs and 17,927 purebred dogs to develop their method for converting the ages of dogs (of different breed sizes and lifespans ) to their equivalent human ages.
The calculator below lets you convert your Border Collie`s age to its human age based on the Purdue University method. Just enter your Border Collie`s age in the calculator and it will compute your Border Collie`s human age. If you do not know your Border Collie`s exact age, enter an approximate age in the calculator.
Also, the table below shows how old your Border Collie is in human years based on the method developed by the researchers.
Note that your Border Collie`s human age changes day by day. Therefore, always check back to use the calculator to find your Border Collie`s up-to-date human age.
Border Collie Age to Human Age Calculator (Purdue Uni. Method)
Below is a Border Collie age to human age calculator that is based on the methods developed by researchers from Purdue University.
The calculator will tell your Border Collie`s human age based on your Border Collie`s dog birthday. Also, the calculator will tell you which day is your Border Collie`s human birthday! Try it out!
| Border Collie Age (Years) | Human Age (Years) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 14 |
| 2 | 21 |
| 3 | 26 |
| 4 | 32 |
| 5 | 37 |
| 6 | 42 |
| 7 | 46 |
| 8 | 50 |
| 9 | 54 |
| 10 | 58 |
| 11 | 62 |
| 12 | 66 |
| 13 | 71 |
| 14 | 75 |
| 15 | 80 |
| 16 | 85 |
How Long Do Border Collies Live in Human Years?
The average lifespan of the Border Collie is 12.2 years. In human years, the Border Collie lives for 67 years.
How Old is 2-year-old Border Collie in Human Years?
A 2-year old Border Collie is 21 years old in human years.
How Old is 3-year-old Border Collie in Human Years?
A 3-year old Border Collie is 26 years old in human years.
How Old is 5-year-old Border Collie in Human Years?
A 5-year old Border Collie is 37 years old in human years.
How Old is 7-year-old Border Collie in Human Years?
A 7-year old Border Collie is 46 years old in human years.
More Ways to Make Your Border Collie Live Long
Here are more things your can do to make sure your Border Collie live a long life:
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Regular Exercise: Research studies have shown that one of the very effective ways to make a dog live long is to ensure that a dog is in good shape. Adequate exercise will make your Border Collie fit and make it live longer.
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Good Diet: A poorly-fed, underweight Border Collie does not have a good chance of living a long life. Similarly, an overweight Border Collie will have a shorter lifespan than a Border Collie that is of normal weight. Therefore, it is important that your feed your Border Collie high-quality dog food without overfeeding your Border Collie. Check out our Border Collie feeding guide here. Learn how you can prevent your Border Collie from being overweight here.
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Proper Hydration: Water is essential for your Border Collie existence. Therefore, you should make sure your Border Collie has access to clean water whenever your Border Collie needs water. However, too much water is bad for your Border Collie. See our Border Collie water drinking guide to learn more on how to properly hydrate your Border Collie.
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Spaying/Neutering: Sterilizing your Border Collie might prolong its life. Check out this guideline to know when it is the best time to spay/neuter your Border Collie.
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Routine Vet Care: Regular preventative visits to the vet can help catch diseases early.
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Vaccinations: Always make sure your Border Collie is up to date on its vaccination.
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Dental Hygiene: Your Border Collie’s teeth can get infected, and if the infection goes unnoticed, that infection can spread to other parts of the body and become systemic. This could lead to a shortened lifespan. You must have your Border Collie teeth cleaned professionally at your vet’s office a couple of times in its lifetime. Talk with your vet about the best ages to have these cleanings done.
Conclusion on Border Collie Life Expectancy
We hope the information we have provided will help your in increasing your Border Collie`s life expectancy.
Tate Ackerman contributed to this article. Tate is a second-year veterinary student at Kansas State University. Tate is also a concurrent Ph.D. student. She has a lot of experience reading scientific literature and communicating that information to a non-veterinary audience. Tate was a veterinary technician for a companion animal practice before she applied to veterinary school.