The Collie Price: Cute, Hairy Puppy for an Affordable Cost

If you grew up watching Lassie on TV, then you’ve probably always wanted to bring a Collie home.

But how much does one of these beautiful pups cost?

The good news is, the Collie puppy price is typically very affordable, at between $400 and $600.

Because the purebred Collie price is so minimal, you won’t even save much on an adoption or rescue.

Rescues typically charge between $300 and $500 as a donation, which goes toward saving other Collies.

Shelters usually charge around $150 for minimal care – but good luck finding a Collie at the shelter, unless he’s a mixed-breed.

Let’s learn a little bit more about the Collie (including his temperament) before making a rash purchasing decision.

The Collie, Up Close

The Collie is a herding breed who originated in Scotland as a sheepherder in the late 1800s.

Have you ever had a puppy who nipped at your ankles? The Collie is one of those breeds who will do that.

Some people get confused on whether there are any differences in Rough or Smooth Collie temperament.

The good news is that no, the “rough” or “smooth” refers only to the dog’s coat.

The temperament of both dogs, back when they originated and today, has nothing to do with the same and is entirely the same for both breeds.

Collie Temperament and Personality

When you’re interested in buying a particular breed of dog, it’s a good idea to get to know the breed a little better before jumping in with both feet.

On that note, here are some things you may want to know about the Collie before you buy.

He’s Highly Trainable

Collies are very intelligent dogs and thus are very trainable.

Housetraining in particular should be easy-peasy for a Collie.

However, because they’re so smart, you need to keep them on their toes by giving them a challenge every once in a while.

He’ll go insane with boredom if he has to do the same things day in and day out.

For instance, while taking him on a walk, vary up the route once in a while.

Or, for backyard play, one day play fetch with a ball, the next day with a Frisbee.

He’s Sensitive

The Collie may very well be the most sensitive dog breed even known.

Because of this, they have a strong desire to please, which can account for why they do so well when performing in dog shows.

However, this also means that the Collie is super-sensitive to tensions at home, which can manifest as physical issues.

For instance, some Collie owners have noticed their dogs have digestive issues after witnessing their family members fight.

Angry words shared between members in the household can upset a Collie for days. So, if you must fight, try to do it quietly and away from your Collie.

He’s Clingy

Because the Collie is so sensitive, Collie owners have noted their dogs are incredibly clingy.

They feel shy when they’re around people they don’t know, and so they rely more heavily on feeling comforted by those they do know.

So, if you’re trying to entertain company, and the Collie has never met this person before, you may find yourself endlessly distracted by your dog.

To combat this, you must socialize your Collie frequently while he’s still young.

Take him to the dog park and for long walks around the neighborhood so he can get to know more people.

And with a dog this beautiful parading around, you bet you won’t have to look far for attention for your little pup!

He’s Active

Collies enjoy moderate exercise – around 30 to 60 minutes a day, with some variety.

If you can up the intensity on the weekends, even better!

Collie puppies in particular may engage their shepherding instinct and, especially with younger children, chase family members around, nipping at their ankles.

The pup should outgrow this over time, so help your children understand and have patience with your Collie until he matures a bit.

You should be able to train him out of this too. While it may be cute while he’s a puppy, it’s no fun to have a full-grown dog nipping at your heels.

Collie Size

Experts consider a full-grown adult Collie a medium-sized dog.

Adult Collies weigh 50 to 60 lbs. and grow to a height of 24 inches tall.

If the Collie’s size sounds like it may be too large or too small for your needs, then this is a good indicator that you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Collie Price – How Much Do Collies Cost?

The Collie average price range is from $400 to $600 if you buy directly from a breeder.

If you would rather rescue, the Collie dog price runs somewhere around $300 to $500, which is a “donation” that goes toward helping other Collies.

And you can always adopt a Collie from your local shelter for around $150, but the odds of finding a purebred Collie are incredibly slim.

In that case, you’re much better off resigning yourself to finding a mixed-breed pup who’s half Collie.

Demand

Collies were incredibly popular back in the days of Lassie in the ’50s and ‘60s.

Their popularity has waned since then, which may help explain why you may have difficulty finding one of these beautiful dogs today.

Still, the AKC puts them at 38 of 195 in most popular dog breeds in the country, so that’s nothing to sneeze at!

Considering how difficult they are to find, and how popular they remain, their smaller price tag is actually surprising and impressive!

Collie Rescue and Adoption

If you’re interested in rescuing a Collie, there are several sources online that can help you out.

For instance, CollieRescue.net can provide you with more information on how to rescue one of their beautiful dogs.

A donation of $300 to $500 for each pup ensures the organization can keep doing the good work they do in saving and re-homing local Collie pups.

As mentioned earlier, you can try to adopt a Collie from your local shelter for a cost of around $150, but you’ll have a difficult time finding a purebred.

If you’re okay with a mixed breed, let the shelter know, and they can call you when one comes in.

The problem with mixed breeds, though, is the shelter may not always know the history of the dogs they bring in.

You’re probably better off going down to the shelter and taking a look on occasion to see if there’s a pup there who stands out to you.

Collie Cost of Ownership

Along with the price tag, there are other costs involved in owning a Collie that you should know about before-hand.

This way, you can better prepare in case a health concern comes up, or if you need help in the early days with training.

Grooming might also prove to be a chore you simply cannot keep up with – especially with a Rough Collie.

Here are some of the expenses you can expect to pay as a proud Collie owner.

Cost of Food

For a mid-size dog, the cost of food isn’t terrible. About $35 a month should do it.

Check with your vet for what food to feed your Collie and how much.

You certainly don’t want your dog to suffer from obesity, which can cause a host of additional health issues down the road.

Health Care Expenses

Something important to know about the Collie is that the majority of dogs in this breed are missing their MDR1 gene.

What does this mean exactly?

It means that Collies are more vulnerable than other breeds to certain health conditions, particularly their inability to deal with certain medications.

For Collies, some drugs are just as fatal as the condition they can come down with – like heartworm.

Most veterinarians worth their salt already know this, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to remind yours.

You can ask your vet to test your Collie to see which drugs in particular he is more sensitive to.

Some testing companies even issue certificates to warn Collie owners of which drugs not to give their dogs.

Breeders are trying to breed this trait out of Collies, but the process is a long and slow one – with projections of up to 30 years.

In the meantime, you’ll also need to keep an eye out for the following conditions, to which the Collie is particularly vulnerable:

• Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
• Congenital heart defects
• Eye issues like lens luxation or progressive retinal atrophy
• Hip Dysplasia
• Hypothyroidism
• Osteochondritis dissecans (a bone disorder)
• Seizures

Training Programs

Because Collies are so trainable, you probably won’t need help in this area.

But, on the off chance you do, it’s good to keep a couple of places and prices in mind, just in case.

Also, it’s not a bad idea to enroll your Collie in a group-setting obedience class for the chance to socialize if you have no other way of socializing him.

Grooming Costs

Another area you may want help with for your Collie is grooming, particularly if you have a Rough Collie.

You should be just fine regular brushings and a bath when you notice a smell.

However, Rough Collies tend to mat, so you’ll need to pay special attention to his ears and elbows while brushing him weekly.

Smooth Collies don’t have to worry so much about matting, though they too require frequent grooming due to their double coat.

Spaying your Collie can also affect how much he sheds.

For instance, spayed female Collies shed heavily once a year, while intact females shed every three months after their heat cycles have ended.

Male Collies tend to shed more around their birthdays.

If you think this may be too much for you to handle, then the cost of grooming may increase the price of a Collie for you overall.

Kailyn C.

Kailyn has worked as a professional freelance writer since 2012, and during that time she has written about nearly every dog breed imaginable. Her mother loved Collies, and so Kailyn grew up with three of them throughout her childhood – including a blonde one who was half-blind! Now her home belongs to her first official dog, Macho, a Dogo Argentino rescue.