Border collies have been around for a long time, and they continue to be among the most popular dog breeds. This is due to the fact that they have a near limitless supply of energy, love to play, and can even be put to work if you have tasks for them to complete.
That said, if you live in a NYC apartment or anywhere else in the state, understanding how big a border collie gets is essential before you welcome one into your family.
So, how big does a border collie get? The short answer is that they’re medium-sized dogs, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Read on to learn more about border collies and their sizes.
How Big Does a Border Collie Get? Is Size an Issue in New York?
Male border collies tend to be around 18 to 22 inches tall (at the shoulder), and they weigh around 30 to 60 pounds. Female border collies, on the other hand, are smaller; they weigh 25 to 45 pounds and reach 18 to 21 inches at the shoulder.
This puts them right in that medium-sized category, and you’ll find that they can be suitable in many areas of New York. However, they may have issues in small apartments or if you don’t have enough time to care for them.
Factors to Consider for Border Collies in New York
When it comes to getting a border collie in New York, location is everything. Whether you live in a New York City (NYC) apartment or out in the suburbs on Long Island, lots of factors determine if a border collie is right for you. Learn more about them below.
Are Border Collies Suitable for NYC?
When it comes to apartments in NYC or any of the boroughs, you’ll find that this can be a challenging situation for you and your border collie. If you have an apartment that’s around 500 square feet, for example, they won’t have enough room to run around and play. However, you may be able to work through this if you bring them to dog parks frequently, and NYC has a few good ones.
That said, you also need to worry about barking. Border collies like to communicate with their humans, and this can be a headache for other tenants. Therefore, you’ll need to work on this behavior with them. Of course, you’ll also need to check with landlords to see if they even allow pets to begin with.
Are Border Collies Suitable for Long Island?
As one of the first suburbs in the United States, Long Island continues to thrive. It’s a suburban sprawl that’s loaded with small towns, some rural areas, and plenty of single-family homes and apartment structures. So, is a border collie a good dog to have on the island?
Well, as long as you bring them on walks, run with them on the beach, or find other ways to expend some of their energy, you shouldn’t have any issues. That said, a backyard also helps, and having more than 800 square feet is the sweet spot to prevent them from bouncing off the walls (sometimes literally).
Are Border Collies Suitable for Upstate?
Upstate New York is like a mix of Long Island and NYC. If you live in Albany, for example, you’ll have the same issues as NYC. However, if you live in Oswego County, it’s more suburban, like Long Island.
The key difference is that upstate has a lot more rural areas and room to roam. Therefore, border collies tend to be a better fit for people upstate than they are for the city and the island. Plus, there are plenty of great hikes to bring them on, like Storm King.
How Big Does a Border Collie Get? Our Verdict for Border Collies in New York
So, how big does a border collie get? And are they a good fit for New York? At the end of the day, they’re only medium-sized dogs, so the size isn’t what matters the most. Instead, it’s how much space you have for them to play and train.
You also need to consider the time and energy commitment that comes with handling a border collie: hours of exercise, training, and playing each week to keep them happy.
As long as you can keep them happy and healthy, you can make it work almost anywhere in New York with a border collie. And if you’re ready to take the leap and purchase or adopt a border collie, Dog Academy will help you find border collie puppies for sale in New York.