Border Collie Characteristics
Life expectancy: 12 – 15 years
Adult weight: 35 – 50 lbs.
Adult height: 22 – 28 in.
Origin – Scotland
Border Collie Price: How Much Does a Border Collie Cost?
Border Collies are intelligent, energetic, and highly trainable dogs, making them a popular choice for many pet owners. But before welcoming one of these furry friends into your life, it's important to consider the costs involved. This guide will break down the typical costs associated with Border Collie ownership, including buying or adopting, monthly expenses, and one-time costs.
Buying vs. Adoption Costs
The initial price of a Border Collie can vary depending on whether you choose to buy from a breeder or adopt from a shelter.
Buying from a Breeder: Expect to pay anywhere from $700 to $2,500 for a Border Collie puppy from a reputable breeder. The price can be influenced by factors like the breeder's reputation, the puppy's pedigree, coat color (blue merle Border Collies can be more expensive), and overall health.
Adoption: Adopting a Border Collie from a shelter or rescue organization is a more affordable option. Adoption fees typically range from $100 to $300 and often cover spaying or neutering, microchipping, and some vaccinations.
Monthly Border Collie Costs
Owning a Border Collie goes beyond the initial adoption or purchase fee. Here's a breakdown of the ongoing monthly expenses you can expect:
Dog Food: Border Collies are active dogs with high energy levels. They need to be fed high-quality, vet-recommended dog food. Depending on their age and activity level, expect to spend $60 to $80 per month on food.
Grooming Expenses: These dogs come in two coat types: rough and smooth. Regardless of coat type, brushing with a pin brush once or twice a week, regular nail trimming, teeth cleaning, and a bath once a month will suffice. You can do this at home for around $50 per month for brushes, shampoos, and other grooming supplies. Professional grooming sessions, recommended 2-3 times a year, can cost an additional $50-$80.
Medical Costs: Regular veterinary checkups and preventive care are crucial for your Border Collie's health. Budget around $400 to $700 annually for vet visits, vaccinations, and parasite prevention. This cost can increase if your dog develops any health issues.
Training Expenses: While Border Collies are highly trainable, training can be necessary to manage their barking and prevent boredom-induced destructive behaviors. Puppy classes for agility, discipline, or flyball training can be helpful. These could cost you $30-$50 per session.
One-Time Expenses for Your Border Collie
In addition to monthly costs, there are some one-time expenses to consider when welcoming a Border Collie:
Initial Supplies: New dog owners will need essential items like a bed, dog toys, ID tag, dog crate, carrier, food and water bowls, leash and collar, and a harness. Getting these items could cost you around $400-$500.
Vaccinations: All Border Collies need core vaccinations like distemper, parvovirus, and rabies. These can cost around $150-$200. Additional non-core vaccinations recommended by vets may add another $130-$150.
Microchipping: Microchipping your Border Collie is a one-time cost of around $50 (may vary by state) and can significantly increase the chances of finding your pet if they get lost.
Miscellaneous: Other expenses may come up throughout your dog's life, such as dog clothes, urine cleaner, poop scooper, poop bags, dog walkers, or pet sitters. These could cost another $100 depending on the quality of the items you purchase and how often you repurchase them.
Expert Insights From Spot
According to Spot’s internal data, the claims most often submitted for Border Collie are preventive care claims for heartworm and flea medications, rabies and Bordetella vaccinations, and special diets, foods, or dog supplements. Spot has received over 300 claims from pet parents of Border Collie for heartworm and flea medications, over 500 claims for Bordetella and rabies vaccinations, and almost 200 claims for special diets, foods, or supplements. If you do decide to add a Border Collie puppy to your family, we hope that this information will help give you an understanding of the kinds of veterinary services the breed may need during their life.
Lifespan of a Border Collie
The average lifespan of a Border Collie is typically between 12-17 years old. So, while 14 years old is certainly on the older side for this breed, it's not uncommon for some Border Collies to live that long or even longer. With proper care and nutrition, some Border Collies can even reach 18 years of age.
Key Takeaways
Border Collies are wonderful companions, but they come with a financial responsibility. By considering both adoption and purchase costs, budgeting for monthly expenses, and planning for one-time fees, you can make an informed decision about welcoming a Border Collie into your life. Remember, the cost of pet ownership goes beyond finances – it's a lifelong commitment of love and care.
How can Spot Pet Insurance help?
Spot accident & illness pet insurance plans offer a wide variety of coverages from microchip implantation to surgeries and prescription food and supplements prescribed to treat your pet’s unexpected accidents and illnesses. (Prescription food and supplements used for general health or weight management are not covered). For an extra cost, Spot plans offer preventive care coverage add-ons to help cover the costs of certain routine vaccinations, annual wellness exams and other preventive care treatments. You can view the add-on preventive care coverage options. Get in touch with us to learn more!
