Frankly, as one of the most popular and in-demand dogs, the Border Collie breed comes with a relatively high purchase and maintenance cost.
However, this pooch is worth more than your investment if you’re keen on owning one. In this article, I will answer the pressing question, “How much does a Border Collie cost?”
To help you weigh in on the costs associated with owning a Border Collie, we’ve listed down everything you need to know. Here, we’ve covered the upfront and annual costs, other various factors, money-saving tips, and more.
The Average Cost of a Border Collie Puppy
The price of a Border Collie puppy ranges between $700 and $1,500 from a reputable breeder. This price can go as high as $3,500 upwards for a top-quality Border Collie puppy. The cost varies depending on the dog’s age, gender, pedigree, and breeder’s location.
If the puppy comes from a champion bloodline and holds the standard of the Border Collie pedigree, the cost could go even higher at $4,500. This is quite a high price tag compared to most other dog breeds.
Whether you are a first-time paw parent or not, owning a Border Collie should be suitable and convenient for you since they are very easy to train.
But if you are looking for a well-trained premium Border Collie to own, get ready to spend as much as $7,500.
If you think having a Border Collie as a pet will drain your pockets, then read on to discover if it’s true or not. We’ll dive into the details to help you determine if your budget fits this wonderful dog breed.
Factors Affecting the Cost of a Border Collie Puppy
Owning a Border Collie puppy is both a lifestyle and a financial choice. Different aspects play a role when it comes to the average Border Collie price, so it’s important to do your research beforehand.
Below are the major factors affecting the cost of a Border Collie puppy:
Age: Generally, the price of a Border Collie puppy is higher than an adult Border Collie and senior dogs as most people want to get their dogs at a younger age. They also have more expenses to cover, such as vaccinations. But if you are wary of the higher cost it comes with, you can opt for an older Border Collie.
Gender: Female Border Collies are often marked up by 10 to 20 percent and cost more than male puppies because of their breeding capabilities. In some cases, male Border Collie puppies tend to cost more if they participate in shows and competitions. In owning a Border Collie, it is wise to figure out which gender suits your budget and preference.
Appearance: If you are selective of a Border Collie’s color, you should bear in mind that the cost may be higher if the trend and the interest for a specific coat color rise. While these trends can change quickly, Border Collies with uncommon coat colors and markings tend to have higher market prices.
Bloodline: Usually, purebred Border Collie puppies cost higher than mixed dog breeds. And if the dog’s bloodline is from a champion lineage, the cost will be even higher. This guarantees that the puppy displays the highest quality of the Border Collie breed.
Breeder’s Reputation: Border Collie puppies from reputable breeders cost higher as they invest a lot of money, time, and effort to make sure that the pooch is guaranteed healthy before they switch homes. With plenty of breeders that you can go to these days, finding a reliable Border Collie breeder can be tough.
Registration Papers: The price of a Border Collie increases if it’s registered with kennel clubs such as the American Kennel Club (AKC), American Border Collie Association (ABCA), or Border Collie Society of America (BCSA). Registered dogs come with Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) certifications, DNA tests, and the like. As a kennel club member, you can also have access to the organization’s network and services once you’re a member.
Health Guarantees: All reputable breeders will include up-to-date medical records of their dogs. Besides this assurance, their breeding dogs undergo several medical evaluations for different health conditions. Although this drives the cost higher, it lessens the risk of getting an unhealthy pooch.
Training and Socialization: A Border Collie price increases if the pup is trained and socialized. Breeders often charge more for a trained 12-week-old puppy, while for worker dogs, the cost will depend on how long they have been trained and if they require more training.
The list above may seem overwhelming, but the price you need to pay for a Border Collie puppy is not just about money. It is also your commitment to providing your pooch what it deserves.
Moreover, some factors in the list, such as training and socialization, are beneficial for your dog’s overall well-being.
Joining dog obedience training schools, search and rescue classes, group training, and other skill-building activities will improve your pup’s life.
How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Border Collie From a Rescue?
If you’re looking for a way to minimize the cost of your purchase, adoption is the way to go.
Rescue groups and adoption centers usually charge fees between $200 and $500, which usually covers the rescue costs, rehoming fees, and primary care.
The cost varies depending on the rescue center, the puppy’s medical needs, and location.
The cost of spaying, neutering, deworming, flea treatment, and other veterinary treatments and assessments are often included in the adoption fee.
Dogs from shelters are also typically older than puppies from breeders, which is not ideal for those who don’t want to miss the puppyhood stage.
There might be slim chances of finding purebred Border Collies since most shelters offer Border Collie mixes. If you look around enough, surely you will go home with an adorable fur companion.
Initial Cost of Border Collie Ownership
Whether you plan on purchasing or adopting a Border Collie, you need to understand that as a paw parent, there are necessities that you have to provide for your fur baby.
From dog food and other essentials down to veterinary visits and health-related procedures, we’ve come up with a guide before you jump into a shopping spree.
Here are the initial expenses for a Border Collie:
Food and Treats: To fuel your pooch’s high energy, they need more calories in a day compared to other breeds. Feeding a Border Collie with a balanced diet includes high-quality dog food and dog treats. Set aside around $80 to $100 for these meals that are up to your dog’s liking.
Food and Water Bowls: A stainless steel bowl would be suitable for daily use as it is lightweight and easy to clean. Choose the ones with non-slip rubber as the base to keep the bowl from moving too much. You can buy these bowls for $10 to $30 from a pet store or online.
Bed: Border Collies love being active. That’s why they also need enough sleep to recharge their energy. Select a comfortable bed with a high-quality cushion and covers that are removable or easier to wash. Dog beds will cost you between $40 and $180.
Crate: The recommended crate size for this dog breed is about 36 to 42 inches, depending on the size of your Border Collie. Border Collies see their crates as a safe space, so make sure it is warm and inviting. The price for dog crates usually ranges from $50 to $370.
Leashes and Collars: Get your Border Collie a training collar and leash to teach them proper behavior such as walking and behaving calmly. You may also use a soft and adjustable collar or any regular collar that is a good fit and comfortable. Various kinds of leashes and collars may cost around $15 to $50.
Toys: Known for being playful, Border Collies enjoy a wide array of toys such as squeaky and chew toys, textured toys, and puzzles, to name a few. The ideal toy to keep them entertained is the interactive one as they usually love problem-solving and physical activity. A set of Border Collie toys will run you between $30 and $40.
Grooming Essentials: Keep your Border Collie tidy with the right grooming essentials. There are different brushes to consider for detangling and drawing out loose hair, gathering loose hair from the dog’s undercoat, and eliminating dirt and dust from the outer coat. Anticipate spending around $40 to $160 for your dog’s grooming needs.
Deworming, Flea, and Tick Medication: Worms, fleas, and ticks can invade your Border Collie’s body, so it is important to do preventive medication to keep your dog healthy. Make sure your dog is dewormed and treated for fleas and ticks. Allot around $50 to $200 for these procedures.
Initial Vet Visits: In ensuring your Border Collie’s health, visiting the vet for a check-up is beneficial. Prepare between $100 to $300 before your trip to your trusted vet.
Initial Vaccine Shots: Though it is your choice whether to vaccinate your Border Collie puppy or not, leaving your pup unvaccinated is not worth taking the risk. If your pooch hasn’t received its initial rounds of vaccines yet, you will need to bear the expenses ranging from $75 to $200.
Neutering or Spaying: If your Border Collie is still intact, consider neutering or spaying if you are not planning on breeding your dog. These surgical procedures also have health, mental, and physical benefits for your Border Collie, besides preventing unwanted puppies. Expect to shell out between $50 and $500 for these.
Dog License: There are a lot of benefits when your dog has a dog license, from medical to security reasons. License fees also provide the funding for animal-friendly programs, shelters, and rescues. By spending around $10 to $20 for a dog license, you will not only help your dog and yourself but others too.
Microchip: Based on statistics, one in three pets become lost at some point in their lives, and more than 80 percent of missing pets are never found. Protecting your dog from loss and theft is one of the major reasons to get it microchipped. This will cost you between $40 and $60.
Miscellaneous Supplies: Aside from the items mentioned above, your pooch will need other dog supplies such as poop bags, poop scoopers, potty pads, dog gates, vitamins, inducers, and more. Allocate around $15 to $30 for your Border Collie’s miscellaneous needs.
Here’s a list of all your initial expenses for your Border Collie puppy:
As you can see, there are plenty of things to take into account and spend on for your Border Collie puppy. You’ll need around $605 to $2,240 for your pup’s initial expenses.
You can also get freebies from reputable breeders or join online pet shop giveaways if you want to minimize your costs. You can also look for discounted items or promo deals when shopping for your dog’s needs.
Annual Cost of Owning a Border Collie
As a future owner, you need to understand the recurring necessities you need to provide, whether you look at purchasing or adopting a Border Collie.
Here’s a rundown of your annual expenses for a Border Collie puppy, excluding the cost of the puppy itself:
By looking at the table, it would seem like the cost of owning and taking care of this dog breed is surprisingly expensive.
Don’t let this dishearten you right away, as this range is comparable with the expenses for other medium-sized dogs.
Aside from dog foods and dog treats, a large chunk of your recurring expenses will be dedicated to pet insurance, ranging from $500 to $900.
This is optional but highly recommended since pet insurance covers a variety of vital services such as diagnostics, hospitalization, therapies, and more.
Take time to search for dependable pet insurance companies and find one that fits your budget and liking.
A big portion of the recurring expense goes into routine veterinary care. You’ll need at least one trip to the vet every two months. Expect to spend around $200 to $400 on vet visits annually.
Take note that the costs listed in this guide may vary depending on different aspects, such as demand, location, and the services’ reputation.
Given that a Border Collie’s lifespan is relatively long, these expenses are valuable to support your dog towards a healthier, longer life.
Other Potential Expenses
Some Border Collie owners tend to overlook the other needs of their dogs once they have settled the basics. This is why we listed down other unforeseen expenses to anticipate when taking care of a Border Collie.
Here’s a list of other potential expenses for a Border Collie:
Pet Daycare: For frequent travelers, this comes in handy. If there’s no chance to bring your pup wherever you may be, you may leave your Border Collie at a pet daycare. Expect to shell out around $20 to $30 for this.
Pet Sitter Fee: Usually cheaper than leaving your dog in a daycare, pet sitters often charge $10 to $20 per day. Find a dog sitter you can trust and establish a long-term working relationship with them so you won’t struggle when you need one during emergencies or sudden activities.
Kennel Club Registration: You can register your Border Collie for $50 to $200 with the Border Collie Society of America or the American Kennel Club. This is recommended if you want your pet to be eligible to join in their sporting activities and dog shows. Registering your pup to kennel clubs is also a way to understand its lineage.
Emergency Medical Treatment: Another thing to worry about besides the health of your pup during emergencies is the unplanned medical expenses that come with it. Emergency treatment for a Border Collie will cost you between $1,000 and $5,000.
Grooming Services: Border Collie has a certain set of grooming needs but is considered low maintenance. However, it is also recommended for dogs to be groomed by a professional every 4 to 6 weeks. The average price of a professional dog grooming session costs around $40 to $75 and may vary depending on the size of your Border Collie and the shop’s location.
Apart from the medical expenses, the items mentioned above are optional. Carefully considering these expenses will allow you to prioritize what you might need and what you can leave out if you’re on a tight budget.
Places to Find Border Collie Puppies for Sale and Adoption
Whether you are looking into buying a puppy online or going to breeders and rescue centers, you have to be careful of the breeder or rescue’s reputation.
But don’t fret! We’ve rounded up some reputable breeders where you can look for your fur baby.
Here’s a list of reputable breeders where you can find Border Collie puppies for sale:
Shadewood Farm and Kennel – The Border Collies from this kennel are well-socialized and are up-to-date on their medical care. They are known for their energetic dogs that garnered AKC titles in conformation, agility, obedience, and herding. This breeder’s location is in Charles City County, between Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia.
Gold Creek Ranch Border Collies – Located in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana, Gold Greek Ranch has been breeding top-quality Border Collies registered with the American Border Collie Association. Raised in a ranch situated in the Rocky Mountains, their dogs are well socialized, excelling in herding, agility, service, and as therapy and family dogs.
Midnight Border Collies – If you are looking for Border Collie pets that excel in rally, obedience, search, and rescue, then you can find them at Midnight Border Collies. Their Border Collies are not from a herding breed, so they do not recommend them as such. So if you want a pup as a family pet or companion, then they got you covered.
For more options, you can head over to our guide on places to find Border Collie puppies for sale.
If adopting a Border Collie is the route you wish to take, then here are a few rescues to look into:
Arizona Border Collie Rescue (AZBCR) – Known for being a health-oriented rescue organization, AZBCR ensures humane treatment of the Border Collies they foster. They cover rehabilitation, dog training, spaying or neutering, deworming, vaccination, grooming, microchipping, and more. AZBCR’s adoption process often takes several days to weeks.
All Border Collie Rescue – This rescue organization is a passionate group of Border Collie lovers who happened to befriend each other through past rescue efforts. Their goal is to rescue, in some cases rehab, and suitably match their Border Collies to forever homes. Their fees range around $330 for dogs and puppies and $220 for seniors and special needs dogs.
Come Bye Border Collie Rescue – This Illinois-licensed organization devotes its efforts to saving Border Collies and creating a sanctuary for homeless dogs. Their adoption process is easy to follow, with a step-by-step guide on their website. Their adoption fee costs around $300.
If you want to explore more options, read our article on the 10 best Border Collie rescues for adoption.
You may also want to assess the reviews and feedback of owners first before getting your pup from a reputable breeder or a rescue.
A dog’s behavior is often a reflection of its environment, so make sure that you get yours from a trusted source.
Money-Saving Tips for Border Collie Owners
Owning a dog is undoubtedly an amazing experience, but it can get quite expensive. Even the random knick-knacks you buy for your pet will add up. And before you know it, you’re drowned in shopping expenses.
Luckily, there are ways to be cost-effective on dog-related expenses without compromising your pup’s health.
Below are some money-saving tips and life hacks for Border Collie owners:
Purchase high-quality essentials. It’s better to prioritize the quality and longevity of an item when you own a Border Collie. Buying cheap things will only cost you more as you probably will have to replace them with better ones. High-quality essentials are also safer and widely available.
Prepare homemade dog food. Another budget-friendly tip is to pour your love for your pup into your own cooking. In this way, you’ll get to save money while nourishing your Border Collie with the right ingredients. There are lots of healthy dog food recipes that are accessible online.
Visit the vet regularly. Regular check-ups can help prevent your Border Collie from any health conditions or diseases common to the breed, such as Collie Eye Anomaly and Hip Dysplasia. Early detection and prevention are important so you can prepare both financially and emotionally. This can also save you from medical expenses that might come your way.
Grooming your Border Collie at home. You can also pamper your pups at home with your own grooming skills. However, you might have to teach yourself the basics first. Don’t worry, as there are plenty of DIY tutorials on dog grooming that you can watch and follow. Check out this video for tips on grooming a Border Collie:
Grooming a Border Collie<a href="https://youtu.be/M72XH0tQmaQ" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FM72XH0tQmaQ%2F0.jpg" alt="Grooming a Border Collie" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
These four tips are just a start because surely, you can think of ways on your own.
Remember that even saving a little can help you on your paw parenting journey. If you want to save more, keep on being resourceful, creative, and economical.
Final Thoughts
Getting a Border Collie can be costly, but for a justifiable reason. This dog is wanted by many, so you should expect that owning one is quite precious and worth it.
The cost of owning a Border Collie is reflected in its expenses. You might find the prices high, but overall, the cost to own a Border Collie is fair and sensible.
We know that it takes a lot to be fully equipped to be a dog owner. Hopefully, this guide has helped you better understand the Border Collie price and expenses.
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