How Much Does a Border Collie Cost? (2026 Full Cost Breakdown)

The Border Collie is a medium, athletic dog, and its running costs reflect that. Food comes to US$216–432 a year, more than a small breed but well below the giants, and an active working line at the top of its exercise needs will sit toward the higher end. Routine vet care runs US$480–720 for the annual exam, vaccines and preventatives.

The double coat needs regular but not intensive care. It sheds seasonally and benefits from frequent brushing plus a few baths a year, so grooming sits at US$300–450, mid-range for a dog. Most of that can be done at home, with the salon reserved for the heavier shedding periods when the undercoat comes out in quantity. Between the big sheds the coat is fairly self-maintaining, so the yearly figure reflects a handful of tidy-ups rather than a standing booking, with the nails and leg feathering needing the most attention.

Insurance carries the breed's medium risk tier. Border Collies are prone to hip dysplasia, epilepsy, collie eye anomaly and the MDR1 drug sensitivity that affects some herding lines and changes how certain medications are dosed. Adult premiums land near US$674–1,259 a year, up from US$539–1,007 as a puppy and rising to US$1,708–2,697 in the senior years.

Hip dysplasia surgery, quoted at US$1,200–7,000, is a one-off exposure held outside the annual and lifetime totals. First-year setup adds US$420–1,675 for desexing, microchip, vaccinations and supplies. The low purchase price of US$400–1,200 and the moderate running costs keep this breed toward the affordable end for a medium dog.