How to List a Border Collie for Adoption in the United States

Which homes should you look for when you list a Border Collie for adoption?

Set criteria for each dog, not for the breed. Border Collies range from intense young dogs that need a job to mellow seniors, and the right home differs.

Glen Highland, which places senior Border Collies, says it normally requires fencing and a home without small children; use rules like these only where your dog needs them, so you do not turn away good homes.

What adoption fee is fair for a Border Collie?

Base the fee on the dog's vet care and age. NEBCR charges $450 with an adoption contract and may add refundable deposits, for example $300 for a puppy that still needs to be spayed or neutered and $150 when extra positive-reinforcement training is a condition of adoption. Glen Highland charges no fee for its seniors. Shelters typically charge $50 to $300. A fee covers part of your costs and adds commitment; a refundable deposit is a fair way to make sure a spay, neuter or training plan happens.

What should a Border Collie adoption listing include?

• Age, sex, size, coat type and whether the dog is spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.
• Energy and drive: how much exercise it gets, what it loves to do, and how it settles at home.
• Herding habits: staring, stalking, chasing cars, bikes or cats, and nipping.
• Behavior with children, other dogs, cats and visitors, and any bite history.
• Health: vet history, any seizures, collapse during exercise, eye or hearing findings and MDR1 status.
• The home the dog needs, the fee and what your process involves.

List your Border Collie for adoption with recent photos that show the dog's size and expression, and keep your phone number out of the ad text. Look at other Border Collies for adoption to see how your listing will appear.

How do you choose the right adopter for a Border Collie?

1. Questionnaire. Ask what they plan to do with the dog each day, how long it will be alone, who lives in the home and what pets they have had. NEBCR's process centers on what the applicant plans to do with the dog.
2. References. Call their vet, and a trainer if they name one.
3. Call or video chat. Talk through the dog's quirks and listen for realistic expectations.
4. Home visit. NEBCR requires everyone in the household to be present; check fencing and where the dog will sleep.
5. Meet-and-greet. Let the dog meet the family and any resident dogs, on neutral ground first if needed.
6. Decision. Choose the best match, not the first applicant, and do not ship a dog to someone you have not met.

What should a Border Collie adoption contract say?

• The dog comes back to you if the adopter cannot keep it, at any age.
• No breeding, sale or transfer without your agreement.
• A spay or neuter date for a young dog; the Border Collie Society of America recommends waiting until at least 12 months of age.
• The adopter has read the dog's health and behavior disclosures, including MDR1 status. Washington State University lists drugs such as ivermectin and loperamide as risky for dogs with the mutation.
• Any training condition you agreed, such as a positive-reinforcement class.
• The microchip registration will be transferred and kept current.

What follow-up helps a Border Collie adoption last?

Check in at roughly three days, three weeks and three months, the milestones of the 3-3-3 rule many rescuers use for decompressing, learning the routine and feeling at home; offer help with training early, and remind adopters that the return clause is there to protect the dog, not to judge them. Rules for rescues and shelters vary by state, so check with your state's agriculture department or local animal control if you place dogs regularly.

Owners placing their own dog may prefer rehoming a Border Collie responsibly or giving one away for free without risk. Adopters get their own guide: how to adopt a Border Collie.