There are lots of great reasons to bring a Shetland Sheepdog into a family. The breed is smart, devoted, and just plain gorgeous. Knowing how to differentiate prices for the breed can help families make the best choice for their home, but how much do Shetland Sheepdogs cost?
Shetland Sheepdogs cost anywhere between $500 and $2500. It is often cheaper to adopt a Shetland Sheepdog from a shelter than from a breeder. The cost of a Shetland Sheepdog will vary depending on the breeder and the parentage and color of the Sheepdog.
Investing in a Shetland Sheepdog has more nuances that go beyond the initial price. Knowing how to care for this breed year-round will help owners be as prepared as possible for the financial responsibilities they are taking on.
What is the Price of a Shetland Sheepdog?
The price of a Shetland Sheepdog varies based on whether it is bought from a breeder or is rescued. The cost of purchasing one from a breeder, especially one that is well-known or well respected, will be about $1500-$2500.
Well-known breeders can charge higher prices because of the care they take in making sure each dog is in full health. For example, one breeder in Utah ensures that all their puppies are free of hip dysplasia by the time they are 1 year old, their eyes are healthy, and that they have been checked by a vet.
Adopting a Shetland Sheepdog from a rescue shelter will be cheaper than purchasing one directly from a specialized breeder. While puppies tend to be more expensive across the board, adult and senior Shetlands may come at much lower prices from shelters. This is not only because of their age but because they are less likely to be the purebreds that come from careful breeders. A Shetland Sheepdog from a rescue will cost as low as $150 or up to $600.
Other aspects of cost when purchasing a Shetland Sheepdog include what pedigree or bloodline it comes from, where you are located, and whether or not the breed is popular in the area.
If a puppy comes from a prize-winning or well-known bloodline, it will be more expensive. If a breeder is located in an area where Shetlands are popular pets, the prices may shift to the high end of the cost spectrum.
What is the Average Annual Cost of Owning a Shetland Sheepdog?
The adoption costs are not the only costs associated with owning a Shetland Sheepdog because to keep them happy and healthy, you will need to pay for various items and services.
Food
Food for Shetlands comes in various recommendations, and the cost for one supply generally runs from $45 to $80. Under the assumption that a large bag of dog food lasts a month, then per year, food will cost an average of $780. Adding treats to the food cost can mean that there will be at least an additional $50 added to the overall cost each year.
The cost of food will mainly depend on the brand (AKC suggests feeding them high-quality dog food). Providing the best nutrition to your dog may not come cheap!
Health
Shetland Sheepdogs, while generally healthy, have specific health concerns that breeders, rescues, and owners should check for. These conditions include hip dysplasia, thyroid disease, eye diseases, dermatomyositis, von Willebrand's disease, gallbladder mucoceles, and epilepsy.
Dermatomyositis is an inherited disease found in Shetland Sheepdogs and a few other dog breeds. The disease is inherited and characterized by inflammation in the tissue of skin, muscles, and blood vessels.
Basic, routine health care for these dogs can cost between $200-$400. Adding on costs for pet insurance and vaccinations can add another $600 each year.
Pet insurance, while not cheap, is worth the investment in order to make sure that your Shetland has the best access to healthcare possible. While the AKC has stated that these dogs are generally healthy, that doesn't mean that their health shouldn't be consistently maintained through the best available services. Instead, it may mean that by keeping updated with their health needs, Shetland owners can keep health costs to a minimum throughout their dog's lives.
Shetland Sheepdogs have a fantastic coat that will need constant grooming. They shed frequently, and do so even more during shedding season.
Whether grooming at home or a local pet spa and salon, there are costs to grooming that range from brushes, to nail clippers, to shampoos. For this breed, grooming costs (including salons) can range from $100-$250 for a one-time appointment. Pet groomers tend to charge based on several factors, such as breed, temperament, and the condition of their coat. This cost may be slightly more unpredictable, as the costs will shift from different grooming services and groomers.
Toys
Shetlands are smart, active dogs, and should be provided with proper daily opportunities to exercise their minds and bodies. These dogs, as shown by their name, have been bred over time to be watchful dogs over herds of sheep.
Their intelligence can be stimulated by learning new tricks and commands, and through dog mental stimulation toys. This generally means puzzle feeders, which cost an average of $25. Giving them a few different puzzles to solve will help stimulate their minds in various ways.
Training
If a breeder has raised a Shetland puppy during its first year of growth and has taken the time to train it, this will factor into the cost of the puppy at the time of adoption and will increase it.
Additionally, training can be extended into their adulthood as a way to keep the dog's mental activity stimulated. While pet owners can certainly work to train their own dogs, many dog trainers can work with your Shetland Sheepdog.
The cost of training will depend largely on the intensity of the training, as group training sessions tend to be cheaper, while individual training or week-long training sessions cost more. These prices range from the low hundreds to upwards of $4000 for month-long training camps.
Other trainers charge based on what pet owners need their dog to work on. If pet owners find that private training exceeds their budget, then there are plenty of affordable books on training that they can purchase.
Cindy is a prolific writer and online researcher who can't imagine life without dogs. There is scarcely a dog topic she has not researched or written about. Her love for dogs and helping dog parents is evident by the thousands of dogtemperament.com visitors who read her articles monthly. Most of all, each topic Cindy writes on helps forge a stronger bond and understanding between her and her happy Catahoula Leopard Dog Jossie.
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