Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | Border Collie | Shih Tzu |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $39,035 | $39,131 |
| First year | $5,781 | $5,855 |
| Monthly average | $248 | $255 |
| Puppy price | $1,000 to $2,500 | $1,000 to $2,500 |
| Routine care, yearly | $2,657 | $2,731 |
| Expected health cost | $0 | $590 |
| Documented conditions | 18 | 15 |
| Median lifespan | 13.1 yrs | 12.8 yrs |
| Adult weight | 30 to 55 lb | 9 to 16 lb |
| Daily food | 2.7 cups | 1.1 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $284 | $720 |
| Risk profile | Moderate | Moderate |
| Biggest single risk | Skin disease | Periodontal 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Periodontal disease | 10% | $246–$663 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7% | $84–$226 |
| Skin disease | 36% | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30% | $354–$954 |
| Hip dysplasia | 22% | $1,200–$3,500 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15% | $281–$756 |
| Umbilical hernia | 12% | $621–$1,671 |
| Elbow dysplasia | 11% | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Ear disease | 6% | $100–$270 |
| Skin (cutaneous) cyst | 5% | not priced |
| Anal gland/sac impaction/blockage | 3% | $84–$226 |
| Hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorder | 3% | $629–$1,694 |
| Lipoma | 2% | not priced |
| Patellar luxation | 2% | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Chronic Itching | 2% | $629–$1,694 |
| Unspecified Eye | 2% | $224–$604 |
| Intervertebral disc disorder | 2% | $3,776–$10,168 |
| Expected total | $590 | |
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Both breeds carry surgical risk, and premiums are priced by breed
Expected vet costs are $0 for the Border Collie and $590 for the Shih Tzu. Every policy excludes anything already diagnosed, so this is worth sorting out before you pick either dog.
Placement reserved — insurance-primary
Common questions
Is a Border Collie or a Shih Tzu more expensive?
The Border Collie is cheaper by about $96 over a lifetime. Border Collie: $39,035. Shih Tzu: $39,131. The gap comes mostly from health costs rather than routine care.
Which lives longer, a Border Collie or a Shih Tzu?
The Border Collie has the longer typical lifespan. Border Collie: 13.1 years. Shih Tzu: 12.8 years.
Which is healthier, a Border Collie or a Shih Tzu?
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 Shih Tzu it is periodontal disease, at 10%.
How we calculated this
Both breeds run through one model, so the comparison is like for like. Full method.