Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | Border Collie | Rottweiler |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $39,035 | $39,348 |
| First year | $5,781 | $7,125 |
| Monthly average | $248 | $309 |
| Puppy price | $1,000 to $2,500 | $1,500 to $3,500 |
| Routine care, yearly | $2,657 | $3,251 |
| Expected health cost | $0 | $0 |
| Documented conditions | 18 | 18 |
| Median lifespan | 13.1 yrs | 10.6 yrs |
| Adult weight | 30 to 55 lb | 80 to 135 lb |
| Daily food | 2.7 cups | 5.4 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $284 | $250 |
| Risk profile | Moderate | High, mid life |
| Biggest single risk | Skin disease | Digestive disease |
Health risks compared
What tends to go wrong in each breed, how often, and what it costs to treat.
| Condition | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skin disease | 36% | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30% | $354–$954 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15% | $281–$756 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 13% | not priced |
| Ear infection | 10% | $100–$270 |
| Periodontal disease | 9% | $246–$663 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7% | $84–$226 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 4% | $169–$455 |
| Arthritis | 3% | $281–$756 |
| Lipoma | 3% | not priced |
| Elbow dysplasia | 2% | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Hip dysplasia | 2% | $1,200–$3,500 |
| Epilepsy | 2% | $1,485–$3,999 |
| Urinary incontinence | 1% | $118–$318 |
| Persistent diarrhoea | 1% | $354–$954 |
| Skin (cutaneous) cyst | 1% | not priced |
| Unspecified tumour/cancer | 1% | $3,415–$9,194 |
| Patellar luxation | 0% | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Expected total | $0 | |
| Condition | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Digestive disease | 30% | $354–$954 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 12% | $281–$756 |
| Skin disease | 11% | $252–$679 |
| Periodontal disease | 9% | $246–$663 |
| Cancer | 8% | $3,415–$9,194 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7% | $84–$226 |
| Ear disease | 6% | $100–$270 |
| Cruciate disease | 5% | $2,468–$5,640 |
| Arthritis | 4% | $281–$756 |
| Lipoma | 4% | not priced |
| Skin (cutaneous) cyst | 3% | not priced |
| Elbow dysplasia | 3% | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Hip dysplasia | 3% | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 2% | $169–$455 |
| Otitis externa | 2% | $100–$270 |
| Bone cancer/tumour | 2% | $3,415–$9,194 |
| Patellar luxation | 1% | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Congenital heart disease | 0% | $534–$1,438 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 0% | not priced |
| Bloat | n/a | $3,709–$9,986 |
| Expected total | $0 | |
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Common questions
Is a Border Collie or a Rottweiler more expensive?
The Border Collie is cheaper by about $313 over a lifetime. Border Collie: $39,035. Rottweiler: $39,348. The gap comes mostly from health costs rather than routine care.
Which lives longer, a Border Collie or a Rottweiler?
The Border Collie has the longer typical lifespan. Border Collie: 13.1 years. Rottweiler: 10.6 years.
Which is healthier, a Border Collie or a Rottweiler?
Both figures below are what it costs to own the dog, not what it costs if something goes wrong. The Border Collie's biggest single risk is skin disease, seen in 36% of the breed. For the Rottweiler it is digestive disease, at 30%.
How we calculated this
Both breeds run through one model, so the comparison is like for like. Full method.