How Much Does a Bearded Collie Cost in 2024?

Characteristics of a Bearded Collie

The Bearded Collie – a 16^th-century herding dog from Scotland is now a popular family companion. While there are multiple stories about its origin the most popular is that the ancestors of these Polish lowland sheepdogs were abandoned on the shores of Scotland, and bred with native herding dogs, creating this interesting breed. Hundreds of years later, their herding instinct remains strong, endowing them with a high level of energy, intelligence, and diligence, making the Bearded Collie a favored choice as a family companion.

Characterized by a friendly and outgoing demeanor, coupled with intelligence and a strong desire to please, they create an ideal combination for easy training. These dogs excel in various competitions, including obedience, rally, agility, and other dog sports. Given their high energy levels, pet parents should have a fenced yard, but rest assured, their extreme loyalty and affectionate nature mean they aren't likely to stray away.

Let’s get into the costs of adopting and caring for these beautiful dogs.

What is the price of a Bearded Collie? 

Several factors influence the price of a Bearded Collie. These include the dog’s age, the breeder’s reputation, the dog’s bloodline, and their coat color. Once your new puppy is home, several monthly costs come with caring for them; we have provided estimates below.

Buying: $1000 – $3000  

The Bearded Collie is a beautiful, highly energetic, and affectionate dog breed. The average price of a puppy can be in the range of $1000-$3000 if you choose to purchase your puppy from a reputable breeder.¹

If you want to bring home a Bearded Collie but want to avoid the high cost, adopting your puppy from a shelter is a great option. Hundreds of shelters pet shelters home puppies that are ready for new homes. Call shelters in your area to see if they have any Bearded Collies you can come meet. Bearded Collies aren't a rare dog breed, so you may have luck finding one at a shelter near you. Adoption fees typically range between $50 - $500.¹ If you do decide to adopt, take a look at our dog adoption checklist as you prepare to bring your new family member home.

Monthly costs for a Bearded Collie

Diet: $50-$80

These are medium-sized, highly active dogs. We recommend getting your puppy a high-quality, vet-recommended dog food to support their energy levels and make sure their nutritional needs are being met. A dog usually needs 1-3 servings per day depending on their size. Looking at the market for pet supplies, your average spend on food monthly would be in the range of $50-$80 depending on the brand and type of food you choose for your pet.¹

Grooming: $50-$100

As you might guess, Bearded Collies need a lot of grooming. Just look at their beautiful hair! It needs daily brushing to help keep from becoming matted.² Apart from that, visiting a professional groomer 6-7 times a year is highly recommended. This typically includes washing and shampooing, applying hair care products, brushing and styling, teeth brushing, nail trimming, or eye & ear cleaning. Expect to spend between $50-$100 or more on each visit.

Grooming your pet at home could help save you a lot of money after the initial purchase of the grooming supplies. A puppy's first grooming appointment can be a scary experience. Here are a few tips for your puppy's first grooming appointment.

Medical Costs: $200-$350

During the initial year, you'll need to schedule 3-4 veterinary visits for regular check-ups, tests, and examinations to evaluate their overall health. Everything considered, these visits may cost between $200-$350.

In addition to routine check-ups, your dog may potentially encounter specific conditions and diseases throughout its lifetime, such as hip dysplasia, epilepsy, collie eye anomaly, and hypothyroidism.² The potential treatment expenses for these conditions could cost about:

One-time costs for a Bearded Collie

Initial Costs: $400-$500

Before bringing your puppy home, it's important to create a welcoming environment for them. This includes purchasing supplies like; food and water bowls ($15), a collar and leash ($30), a bed and crate ($200), toys ($50-$60), odour spray, a first aid kit for pets ($30), and a carrier ($50). Altogether an expense of $400-$500 can be expected here. Some of these expenses might be recurring.

Microchipping: $50-$70

Microchipping your pet increases your chances of finding and reuniting with them. If your breeder has not already microchipped your pet, then it may cost you around $50 to have them microchipped by your vet and another $20 to register their microchip with a database. Most pets adopted from a shelter will be microchipped before they are allowed to go home with you.

Vaccines: $280 - $350

There are 5 core vaccines that every dog must be administered; rabies, parvovirus, distemper, leptospirosis and infectious canine hepatitis. Nowadays, you get 5 in 1 vaccine which includes parvovirus, distemper, adenovirus, canine parainfluenza and leptospirosis. You can expect to spend around $80-$100 for these depending on the type of facility you choose.

Apart from these, some non-core / optional vaccines include Lyme disease, Canine influenza and Bordetella. Each of these could cost you around $30-$40. The breeder or shelter from where you choose to adopt typically administers the initial set. However, after the first set of vaccines, your dog would need a booster throughout its life. Expect to spend about $150-$200 here.

Miscellaneous

There will consistently be certain unforeseeable expenses such as dog walking, training, dog sitting, travel, park visits, and more. You should allocate approximately $300 to $350 per year for these, depending on your specific choices.

Lifetime Bearded Collie Cost

The monthly expenses for a Bearded Collie can fluctuate between $120 and $150. As the dog ages, some costs may decrease while others increase; for instance, insurance premiums might rise, but routine vet visits may decrease. Considering these factors, the annual expenses are estimated to be around $1500 to $2000, depending on individual choices and circumstances. With an average lifespan of 15 years, the total cost over the dog's lifetime is projected to be approximately $21,600 to $27,000. Adding one-time costs and adoption fees brings the overall expenditure to around $28,000 to $30,000. This encompasses a comprehensive estimate of the expected lifetime expenses, excluding medical costs.

Conclusion

The Bearded Collie, a Scottish herding dog breed, is known for its high energy and playful nature. Keeping up with your pet's enthusiasm may feel like an investment of more energy than money at times. However, the joy it brings, especially when interacting with other dogs at the park, makes it all worthwhile.

It's important to be aware that medical treatments for our beloved canine companions can incur significant costs.

Happy Parenting to you and Lots of Love to your Pup!