How to Post a Collie Wanted Ad and Get Replies in the United States

Pet Wanted6 min read

A family on a sofa with a new dog bed, bowls and a leash ready for their first dog

To post a Collie wanted ad that gets good replies in the United States, say whether you want a Rough or Smooth Collie, a puppy or an adult, how far you can travel and what you can spend, and show that you know about the breed's eye exams and DNA tests. Then screen every reply: ask for health records and a video call, and never pay a deposit for a dog you have not seen.

In the US the Rough Collie and the Smooth Collie are one breed, judged by the same American Kennel Club standard; only the coat differs. Use both names in your ad if either coat would suit you, and make clear you want a Collie, not a Border Collie or a Shetland Sheepdog, which are separate breeds.

Key points

Name the coat, age, sex, area and timing, and say a little about your home and routine.
A 2026 iHeartDogs survey puts Collie puppies at typically $700 to $1,600 by region; food adds about $30 to $60 a month.
Ask for both parents' DNA results for CEA, MDR1, PRA-rcd2 and dermatomyositis and the puppy's eye exam report.
Keep contact in the site's messages until you have checked the person, and never pay by gift card, wire or cryptocurrency.

What kind of Collie should you ask for?

Rough or Smooth. Same size and temperament. The AKC says a Rough needs a weekly brush down to the skin to prevent mats behind the ears and elbows, while a Smooth will not mat but needs extra brushing when it sheds its undercoat.
Puppy or adult. A puppy needs training, socializing and its eye exam paperwork; an adult's temperament is already known.
Color. The AKC standard accepts sable and white, tri-color, blue merle and white, with no preference. There is no health reason to pay more for merle.
Lifestyle. The AKC calls Collies people dogs that need regular aerobic exercise and company, and gives a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.
The right breed. A Collie stands 22 to 26 inches and weighs 50 to 75 pounds; a Shetland Sheepdog is 13 to 16 inches.

What should you put in a Collie wanted ad?

What to include and why
Detail	Example	Why it helps
Title	Wanted: Rough or Smooth Collie puppy, within 150 miles of Tulsa	Owners see the essentials at once
Coat and sex	Either coat; female preferred	Widens or narrows replies on purpose
Age	Puppy of at least 8 weeks, or adult up to 6 years	Rules out puppies too young to leave their mother
Health	Parents DNA tested for CEA, MDR1, PRA-rcd2 and dermatomyositis; puppy eye exam	Signals to breeders that you know the breed
Home	House with a fenced yard; someone home most days	Answers a careful owner's first questions
Budget and timing	Ready this summer; budget in line with local prices	Saves time on both sides

Keep your phone number and address out of the ad text. A friendly, specific ad attracts specific replies; a one-line ad attracts guesswork.

How do you set a realistic budget for a Collie?

iHeartDogs (July 2026) puts Collie puppies at typically $800 to $1,500 in the Northeast, $700 to $1,300 in the South, $700 to $1,400 in the Midwest and $800 to $1,600 in the West. It puts food at $30 to $60 a month and professional grooming at $50 to $100 a session. Add the AKC's general first-year costs for dogs, such as $50 to $300 for spay or neuter and $25 to $50 for a microchip.

A purebred Collie offered far below these prices, especially with shipping, is a common scam lure. For an adult, the Collie Rescue Foundation is the rescue the AKC and the Collie Club of America point to. Read how to buy a Collie puppy for the full checklist before you pay anything.

How do you post a Collie wanted ad that gets replies?

A family meeting a Collie puppy in a garden

Look at existing Collie wanted ads near you to see what others ask for.
Write your ad with the details above, using Collie, Rough Collie and Smooth Collie as they apply.
Add a photo of your yard, or of you with a past dog, so owners can picture the home.
Reply to every message promptly and politely, even to say no.

You can post a free wanted ad on PetzLover, and owners will reply through the site's messages. Save searches for Collies for sale and for adoption as well, so you hear about new litters and dogs as soon as they are listed.

How do you avoid scams when replies come in?

A wanted ad tells scammers exactly what you hope to find, so expect some fake replies. The FTC's advice for people looking for a pet online applies directly:

Insist on a visit or live video call with the dog and, for a puppy, its mother.
Reverse image search the photos; Lassie-style Rough Collie pictures are easy to copy.
Never pay by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or a cash app, and be wary of extra fees for crates, insurance or shipping.
Treat a young puppy 'arriving from abroad' as a red flag: the CDC requires dogs entering the US to be at least six months old.
Be wary of 'rare' merle or white puppies at a premium, and ask whether both parents were merle.

Use the Report Scam button on any message or listing that looks wrong, and report losses to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

What should you check before you take a Collie home?

For a puppy: both parents' DNA results for CEA, MDR1, PRA-rcd2 and dermatomyositis, and the puppy's own eye exam, which the AKC says should happen at 6 to 8 weeks by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist.
The puppy is at least eight weeks old; many states set that minimum, and the Collie Club of America bars members from releasing puppies earlier.
The MDR1 status for your vet: Washington State University estimates about 70 percent of Collies carry the mutation.
Not both parents merle: the AKC says about a quarter of merle-to-merle puppies are likely to be double merles, with eye and hearing risks.
For an adult: vet records, spay or neuter status, coat and skin condition, and how the dog behaves with strangers.
A written agreement, vaccination records and the microchip transferred to your name.

If you are on the other side and see someone's ad, how to respond to a Collie wanted ad explains how owners should check the person asking. Breeders replying to you will often follow how to sell Collie puppies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I post a Collie wanted ad?

You can post a free wanted ad on the site with your area, budget and the coat you want, and owners reply through its messages. Also use the Collie Club of America's breeder referral and the Collie Rescue Foundation.

Should I ask for a Rough or a Smooth Collie?

Choose by the coat you can look after. They are the same breed in the US, with the same size and temperament; a Rough needs weekly brushing down to the skin, a Smooth less, though both shed.

How much should I budget for a Collie puppy?

iHeartDogs (2026) puts Collie puppies at typically $700 to $1,600 depending on region. Add food at about $30 to $60 a month, grooming and first-year vet costs.

What health records should a Collie come with?

Ask for the parents' DNA results for CEA, MDR1, PRA-rcd2 and dermatomyositis, the puppy's eye exam report, vaccination records and the microchip number. For an adult, ask for its full vet history.

How do I avoid scams with a Collie wanted ad?

Insist on a visit or video call, check health records yourself, and never pay by gift card, wire, cryptocurrency or cash app. Be wary of cheap purebreds, premium 'rare' colors and puppies that must be shipped.