Did you know that the world’s smartest dog was a Border Collie named Chaser who knew the names of more than 1000 objects?
Needless to say that the popularity of Border Collies is on the rise since they are easy to train due to their high intelligence. This has considerably raised the price of these dogs, which is why potential owners must know about the financial commitment involved before bringing home one.
This guide discusses exactly how much a Border Collie can cost to buy along with the monthly and annual costs of raising it.
How Much Does a Border Collie Cost?
Border Collie puppies from reputed breeders can cost anywhere from $500 to $2000.
The first-year cost of keeping one comes to, on average, $2247 – excluding the puppy’s purchase price.
The annual cost of raising this smart dog comes to $1629 for most pet parents.
Since Border Collies live for almost 10-14 years, the lifetime cost of owning one can be over $25,000.
How Much is a Border Collie Puppy in the USA?
Our team analyzed over 110 ads to find the exact price of a Border Collie:
- We found the average cost of a Border Collie puppy to be around $545.
- The maximum cost of a Border Collie puppy from a reputed breeder was $2500 – mostly for pups with superior pedigrees. Show-quality Border Collies are even sold in the range of $3000-$5000.
- We found some Border Collie puppies selling for $180 however these were mostly from pet shops or websites like Craiglist. Such pups tend to be from backyard breeders or puppy mills and often have health and temperament issues. Therefore, it may be best to steer clear of them.
- Adopting a Border Collie could be a lot cheaper – most animal rescue shelters charge around $300-$400 for rehoming dogs. The price might also cover the cost of spaying/neutering, deworming, flea-tick prevention, etc.
Price of Basic Tools and Equipment for your Border Collie
Your Collie puppy will need some basic equipment such as food bowls, a leash, a collar, some grooming tools, a basic medical kit, and toys. It will also need a bed and a crate to rest.
Most dog owners spend around $200-$400 on basic equipment for their dogs. Here are the costs of these items:
| Bed and blankets | $50-$200 |
| Crate with liner | $50-$400 |
| Toys for outdoor play | $10-$40 |
| Chew toys and Kong toys | $10-$30 |
| Basic grooming tools – shampoo, brush, nail clipper, etc | $30 to $60 |
| Bowls for food and water | $10-$40 |
| Collar, leash, harness | $10-$40 |
| Basic medical kit | $20-$40 |
| Total price range | $190-$800 |
Border Collie Medical Costs
- Your puppy will need several vaccinations in its first year to thwart diseases like parvovirus, parainfluenza, etc. Most pet owners spend $170-$200 on vaccines in their puppy’s first year.
- Spaying or neutering – $100 to $500.
- Routine medical checkups by a vet can cost between $45 to $100.
- Dental cleaning costs can come to $100-$300
- Flea and tick prevention comes to $150-$200 a year
- De-worming and internal parasite prevention – $8 to $55 per dose. Your dog will need at least 3-4 doses a year. The first-year deworming costs come to $50-$150 for most dogs.
Total medical cost estimate – $800 in the first year and around $500 per year after that.
Border Collies are prone to issues like Collie Eye Anomaly, Multi-Drug Resistance, joint issues, etc. These can cost thousands of dollars to diagnose and treat. You can always consider pet insurance to help you cover some or all of these costs. Pet insurance typically costs $20-$50 a month or around $300-$600 a year.
Training Costs for a Border Collie
Border Collies need firm training and handling. Obedience training is especially important for these dogs. They have a strong tendency of herding children and small pets. They could even nip kids’ feet. To prevent this, you must invest in training. Here are some options and their costs:
- At-home training using online videos or books from the local library – $0-$50
- Private training with an expert dog trainer – $45 to $150 per session.
- Group training with other dogs – $10-$80 per class.
- Dog training at places like PetCo/PetSmart – $129 to $150 for 6 weeks.
- Special training for specific behavior – $400-$1000 per package.
- Doggy boot camp training – $500-$2000 per week.
The national average dog training cost in the USA is $80/session for private sessions and $50 for group sessions. These prices vary greatly based on your location.
Dog Food Costs for Border Collies
Your busy-minded and hyper-intelligent Border Collie needs premium dog food to stay healthy. If your pet is a working dog, then nutrition is of utmost importance to protect its joints and repair worn-out muscles.
The average size of a Border Collie adult dog is 38 to 40 lb. For dogs this size, you need at least 29 lb. of dog food per month. There are various options in commercial dog food for your pet. Here are their approximate price ranges:
- Budget dog food costs $1.75 per pound. This will bring your monthly costs to $50 to $75.
- Mid-range dog food costs $3 a pound bringing your costs to $80-$100 a month.
- Premium dog food costs $5 a pound bringing your monthly costs over $145.
- Dog treats can cost around $10-$40 a month.
Most Border Collie owners spend between $600-$1850 a year to feed their pets.
Other Costs of Owning a Border Collie
Emergency Vet Bills
No one likes to think of these but accidents can happen or your pet could fall sick or swallow something accidentally. Emergency vet bills could come to $150-$2000 a year. Some pet insurance plans could help cover these.
Dog Boarding
If you travel, dog boarding can cost between $40-$280 a year depending on how often you board your dog.
Dog Walking
Dog walkers can charge between $100 and $300 a month bringing your annual expense to over $1200.
Grooming
Border Collies do shed moderately so you will need some de-shedding tools to keep the fur off your furniture. If you choose to get your dog professionally groomed, then expect to pay between $40 and $150 per year.
Pet Deposits
Landlords charge around $200-$400 for potential pet damage. This cost varies from place to place.
Summary and Key Takeaways – How Much Does a Border Collie Cost?
The average price of a healthy Border Collie puppy from a top breeder is around $545 although some breeders are known to charge almost $1200 for pedigree puppies having AKC papers. Show-quality Border Collie pups can even cost around $3000.
The first-year cost of raising this dog can come to $2247 although this might not include the puppy’s purchase price. After that, most Border Collie parents spend an average of $1620 on their dogs but this can increase to over $5000 if you choose to feed your pet premium dog food.
The lifetime cost of owning a Border Collie can come to $25,000 but can easily go over $35,000 depending on your dog’s health, your location, as well as your lifestyle.
