Harlequin Pinscher vs Bordoodle - Breed Comparison

Known also as a Borderpoo or Borderdoodle, the Bordoodle is a designer- or hybrid breed which hails from the United States of America.

Both the dogs used in the development of this cross-breed are the Poodle and the Border Collie, and both these dog breeds have their own lengthy histories.

The history of the Bordoodle is short, as it is a modern crossbreed which has been purposefully bred by breeders to bring about a dog with certain looks and temperament.

This toy-sized dog is a type of Miniature Pinscher originating in Germany. The dog was developed by crossing traditional Miniature Pinschers with other toy-sized short-haired terriers. He falls into the Terrier category.

The dog was used to kill rats, but has always been a devoted pet at the same time. They nearly became extinct after World War II, but the breed was once again restored. Today it is an established breed, but it isn’t recognized by any of the major kennel clubs.

In fact, The Harlequin Pinscher Association is the only breed club that recognizes the Harlequin Pinscher. It can be registered with the Harlequins Pinschers Association or with the American Canine Association.

The Bordoodle isn’t a purebred dog but is a cross between a Poodle and a Border Collie.

He has a soft, medium length coat which is inclined to be wavy. Colors are essentially black and white but chocolate, cream, fawn, merle and grey are also seen.

He is a medium sized dog standing at between 38cm and 55cm and weighing between 13kg and 27kg. The long tail is feathery, the ears floppy or semi-erect and the brown eyes are bright and intelligent. The muzzle is medium to long.

As with any mixed breed dog, the Bordoodle can take after either parent dog but generally the Borderdoodle will be a medium sized dog.

Temperament:

With the Bordoodle you can expect nothing less than a highly intelligent dog. That is because both the Poodle and the Border Collie are super intelligent dogs so the Bordoodle is guaranteed to have got a good portion of this intelligence from both breeds.

It makes training and socialization easy for the dog. It is important for your Bordoodle to be trained and socialized if you want him to be obedient and relaxed around strangers and other pets. As it is, his amicable nature makes the hybrid dog of yours a great family pet – getting on well with other pets in the home as well as with children.

Apart from being such a smart dog, the Bordoodle is active, playful, loving and devoted – everything a serious dog owner wants in a pet. This is a dog that doesn’t really know the meaning of the word aggressive.

This is a small compact dog standing at 25 – 33cm in height and weighing about 3kg to 4 or 5kg. He has dark eyes and ears which are set high and which are erect with just the top of them folding forwards.

The legs are straight and thin with small cat-like shaped paws. The tail is traditionally cropped, but these days the tail is left longer. He has a short coat which is available in a range of colors – black, brown, red, fawn patterns of merle, brindle or piebald. The Harlequin Pinscher is like a Bambi or a small deer, especially when they're a bit long in the leg.

Temperament:

Alert and inquisitive, the Harlequin Pinscher is a feisty, devoted little dog, brave and loyal and he has a lot of energy. He is intelligent too and with training and socialization, he becomes such a pleasure to have around, obedient and responding well to instructions.

He is known to be good with other pets as well as with children, so long as the children have been taught to respect animals. As always, a dog pretty much turns out the way the owners are, and with training and firmness while being patient and fair, you don’t have to worry about your Harlequin turning into a ‘small dog syndrome’ animal – whining, snappy and disagreeable. He is actually described as a big dog in a tiny dog's body.

The Harlequin Pinscher is a social dog and wants to be with you wherever you go.

Bordoodles have two great dog breeds to thank for the way they turn out. When you think of the Border Collie and Poodle, you know you’re going to get a dog that is friendly, social, playful, loving and devoted – the ideal family pet.

Intelligent, he is easy to train too, and with excellent care, you’re going to have a most wonderful family pet and companion, full of fun and life.

The Harlequin Pinscher may have once been good at catching rats but these days they are much more sought after for their ability to be a splendid companion and pet.

He is such an entertaining, social little dog, wanting to spend as much time with you as possible. He is fearless, energetic, playful, confident, loving and intelligent and those who have owned them say they are courageous way beyond their size.

He is strong willed, stubborn and confident and this larger-than-life dog is just waiting to show you what a wonderful friend he can be to you too.

Bordoodles, when well cared for, can live to be 12-15 years of age. There aren’t going to be many health issues to contend with with your Bordoodle as there are no known health problems in this robust breed.

Nonetheless there are some common dog illnesses that you need to be aware of such as progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism.

With hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland in the neck of your pet produces a hormone known as thyroxine that controls metabolism, but the disease hypothyroidism makes it that the gland doesn’t make enough thyroxine. Signs that your dog has this illness includes a dull coat, inflamed skin and even hair loss.

Get him to the vet immediately who will do blood tests and provide treatment. Mercifully it isn’t something that is life-threatening.

Harlequin Pinschers, just like other dog breeds, have health issues that they are prone to such as epilepsy, dental issues, obesity and Patellar Luxation.

Epilepsy or Seizures:

Some seizures in dogs are genetic or related to illness. A dog could have ingested something poisonous while a head injury can also cause seizures in dogs. If your pet has a seizure you may notice foaming at the mouth, drooling or twitching of the legs.

After a seizure you could see your dog walking in circles and bumping into things. It is important to get your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

Grooming:

The Bordoodle is a dog which doesn’t shed that much so his grooming requirements are low and he is considered as a hypoallergenic dog.

He will need to have his coat brushed at least twice a week to keep it shiny, soft and smooth. Depending on how your Bordoodle turns out, he may even require trimming at a professional groomer.

Make time to check his ears inside and out and learn how to clean the inside of his ears to avoid infection and wax build-up.

Dental hygiene is also imperative in dogs, and neglecting to do this will mean food particles and bacteria accumulating along your pet’s gumline, resulting in gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Exercise:

Every dog will require regular exercise and you can get your Bordoodle to join you in your walks. He is the kind of dog that can happily adjust to city or country life, but he will still need to have some ball games and other activities to keep him busy and happy.

He isn’t a dog that can be left alone day after day in the backyard. He is social and playful and loves the companionship of his human family.

Diet:

If you feed your Bordoodle kibble from some of the top quality commercially produced foods, always research the dog food and take a good look at the ingredients.

The pet food you choose plays an important role in the longevity of your pet. There are commercially manufactured foods that have such poor ingredients that they can actually shorten your pet’s lifespan and cause stress to the kidneys and liver.

If in any doubt about what to feed your Bordoodle, speak to your vet. Cooked brown rice, cooked vegetables and cooked chicken can sometimes be mixed into your pet’s kibble. Raw meat should also occasionally be added in to ward off skin allergies.

Clean, cool water in constant supply is also imperative.

Grooming:

The short, smooth coat of the Harlequin Pinscher is easy to maintain, shedding little. With such a small, nimble dog, you can even take a damp cloth and wipe him down. You can brush him down once or twice a week to keep his coat healthy and shiny.

Dogs can develop dental problems such as tartar and plaque build-up. and this can lead to canine dental problems which can turn life-threatening as bad teeth affect the heart, kidneys and the liver.

You need to brush your pet's teeth 2 or 3 times a week making use of canine toothbrush and toothpaste. Never use regular human toothpaste for your dog as it can be poison to him. It is why dry kibble is better than soft food as the soft food sticks to the dogs teeth.

Diet:

Your Harlequin Pinscher is also a member of the toy breed group and he has high energy levels. Always choose a high quality kibble for a small dog breed and also which is in keeping with his age and activity levels. He will do well on a high quality dry commercial food, some raw meat or home-cooked food such as chicken, brown rice, pasta and vegetables. If your dog is an energetic dog, he will benefit from a diet rich in protein.

It will be tempting to feed your little pet tasty treats such as chocolate, nuts, coffee and milk but be careful as these can cause severe digestive problems with your dog.