Dog breeds / Large breeds

What a Collie really costs

Collies are one of the better values among large herding breeds: puppies often sell for under $1,700 and hips are unusually sound. The main money traps are the Rough coat, which mats without weekly brushing to the skin, and the MDR1 gene that most Collies carry, which makes a DNA test and careful drug choices non-negotiable.

Size: Large, 50–75 lb
Life expectancy: 12–14 years
Grooming: Moderate
Insurance risk: Average
Puppy price: $1,000–$2,500
Food a day: About 1,380 calories

Lifetime cost$46,800 First year $6,460Then about $3,280 a year

Where the money goes each year

A typical adult year for a Collie with mainstream food, a groomer, no insurance, in an average-cost area. That's $290 more than the median breed.

Illness and injury (average)$763
Food$713
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$451
Grooming$365
Checkups, vaccines and tests$330
Toys, beds and everyday supplies$280
Dental cleanings$213
Treats and chews$143
License$20
Typical year$3,280

Most years land between $2,180 (budget food, home grooming, lower-cost area) and $4,620 (premium food, groomer, insurance, big city). Dogs over about 6 add about $180 a year for senior checkups.

The first year

Buying a puppy front-loads the bill: the price, gear, puppy shots and spay or neuter.

Bringing a puppy home

Breeder price$1,750
Crate, bed, leash, bowls and gear$700
Spay or neuter$620
Microchip$50
Puppy or basic obedience class$149
Upfront$3,270

Running costs in year one

Food$713
Treats and chews$143
Puppy vaccines and checkups$738
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$451
Grooming$365
License$20
Illness and injury (average)$763
Year-one running costs$3,190

First-year total: $6,460. Adopting instead brings it to about $3,980.

Health costs to plan for

Collie eye anomaly is very common but rarely costly, MDR1 is managed by testing and avoiding certain drugs, and OFA hip (3.2% dysplastic) and elbow rates are low, so overall claims risk looks about average for a large dog.

Condition	How it affects Collies	Typical treatment	Cost
Collie eye anomaly	OFA DNA testing found 41.3% of Collies tested affected and 25.7% carriers (416 dogs), and 76.7% of Collies seen in OFA eye exams had an abnormal finding, the highest of any breed. Source	Ophthalmologist exam to diagnose; no treatment exists, and most dogs keep functional vision (Embrace's optic nerve coloboma cost range)	$100–$300
Degenerative myelopathy	OFA DNA testing found 7.3% of Collies at-risk and 23.4% carriers (726 dogs). Source	Diagnosis and supportive care (Embrace's DM cost estimate); no cure	$2,000–$4,000
Epilepsy	Embrace lists the Collie among the breeds most affected by epilepsy; no prevalence figure was found in the sources checked. Source	Yearly anticonvulsant medication and monitoring	$200–$5,000

The yearly estimate already includes an average allowance of $763 for illness and injury. A single surgery can cost several times that, which is the case for an emergency fund or insurance.

What drives the cost of a Collie

Get an MDR1 test (or ask for the parents' results) before your vet uses ivermectin, loperamide or certain sedatives; WSU estimates about 70% of Collies carry the mutation.
Rough Collies need weekly brushing down to the skin; owners who skip it pay for professional dematting or a shave-down.
Smooth Collies are much cheaper to groom; choose the variety with your grooming budget in mind.
At 50–75 lb, a Collie is large-dog priced for food, preventives and boarding.
OFA reports only 3.2% of screened Collie hips dysplastic, so orthopedic surgery is less of a budget risk than in German Shepherds or Corgis.

Breeder or rescue

Reputable breeder: $1,000–$2,500
Rescue or shelter: $200–$500
Lifetime, from a breeder: $46,800
Lifetime, adopted: $44,400

AKC Marketplace Collie listings sampled in October 2026 were among the least expensive herding breeds: median about $1,200, with most between $1,000 and $1,700 and a few at $2,500–$3,500 (22 listings with a stated price). AKC says puppies should have a CEA eye check by a board-certified ophthalmologist at 6–8 weeks. Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois charges $425 for adults, $500 for puppies and $200 for seniors.

Adopting vs buying: the full cost comparison

Similar-size breeds by yearly cost

Weimaraner$3,190 a year
Dalmatian$3,190 a year
Bull Terrier$3,220 a year
Australian Shepherd$3,270 a year
Chow Chow$3,300 a year
American Bully$3,400 a year
Compare all breeds

Common questions

How much does a Collie puppy cost?

A Collie puppy from a reputable US breeder typically costs $1,000–$2,500. Adopting one through a rescue usually costs $200–$500.

How much does a Collie cost per year?

After the first year, a Collie costs about $3,280 a year, or $273 a month, for food, vet care, preventives, grooming, supplies and average illness costs. Depending on food, grooming, insurance and where you live, a typical year ranges from about $2,180 to $4,620.

How much does a Collie cost over its lifetime?

About $46,800 over a 13-year life when bought from a breeder, or $44,400 if adopted, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Prices are averages from the sources above and the cost baselines on our methodology page, in 2026 US dollars. Your vet, groomer and city will differ. Updated October 14, 2026.