How long does a Border Collie live?

The listed lifespan for a Border Collie is 12–15 years.

How tall is a Border Collie?

The listed height for a Border Collie is 19–22 in (male), 18–21 in (female).

Is a Border Collie good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Border Collie is 3 out of 5.

When is a Border Collie full grown?

The growth size band for a Border Collie is up to 24 months.

Herding Group

Border Collie

Border Collie is a large dog in the Herding Group. Adult weight is 30–55 lb, height is 19–22 in (male), 18–21 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Energetic, Affectionate, Smart.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Border Collie dog — Photo: Karen Arnold · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–15 years

Weight30–55 lb

SizeLarge GroupHerding Group

Height

19–22 in (male), 18–21 in (female)

Energy

5 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about 0.9 years longer than the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 42.5 lb is about 16.7 lb lighter than the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is England/Scotland. The coat is described as wavy, double, medium. The AKC energy score is 5 out of 5, 0.9 points above the group average of 4.1 for the Herding Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 26 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked

Questions from the breed record

The verified adult weight for a Border Collie is 30–55 lb.

Sources

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All Herding Group breeds

Bearded Collie
45–55 lb · 12–14 years
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Canaan Dog
45–55 lb (male), 35–45 lb (female) · 12–15 years
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Finnish Lapphund
33–53 lb · 12–15 years
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Australian Cattle Dog
35–50 lb · 12–16 years
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Azawakh
44–55 lb (male), 33–44 lb (female) · 12–15 years
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Blue Picardy Spaniel
50–55 lb (male), 45–50 lb (female) · 11–12 years
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40–55 lb · 12–15 years
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30–55 lb · 12–15 years
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