Border Collie Growth and Weight Chart (Male & Female)

Last Updated on April 19, 2023

Border Collie Growth Chart Guide

Originally, Border Collies were bred for herding sheep from the Scottish border. These dogs are highly energetic and playful.

As working dogs, they are forever ready for anything required of them. They are most intelligent, excelling in obedience but with plenty of energy to match.

If you are thinking of getting one of these dogs for your home, you are most likely wondering how big Border Collies grow and what you need to look out for as your puppy develops. 

We will cover all this and more in the article below so be sure to keep reading to discover everything you need to know about Border Collie puppies and their growth.

Overview: A Few Fun Facts About the Border Collie

A young, growing Border Collie

Border Collies excel in many ways, but the biggest yet is being your canine companion.

They are fiercely loyal to their human family so much, that their protectiveness can turn into aggression around strange dogs or even people. 

Although Border Collies love to cuddle, being so affectionate; they tend to bark as a way of communication, especially when they get stressed, fearful, lonely, excited, or playful. 

Because they are so overly active and energetic, they need a lot of open space, and they need to be part of an active family that is prepared to participate in play and games, go for walks, and live without ever a dull moment.

As their lifespan is 10 to 17 years, a Border Collie could be fun for quite a long time.

How big will my Border Collie puppy grow?

A Border Collie puppy running outdoors
A happy Border Collie puppy running

Border Collies are medium-sized athletic dogs that normally grow up to be about 18 to 22 inches (45 to 56 cm) tall at the withers, weighing around 30 to 55 pounds (13 to 24 kg).

An adult male will weigh 40 to 55 pounds (18 to 25 kg), and the female will weigh between 30 and 45 pounds (13 and 20 kg).

Generally, Border Collie puppies grow for about 15 to 18 months. The size of their paws can be a good indicator as to how big they will grow.

If your puppy has large paws compared to his legs and body, it might mean he is not finished growing yet. 

If you want to know how big your Border Collie will be as an adult, try reaching out to the breeder from which you bought your puppy.

The breeder may be able to give the measurements of the pup’s parents or their past litters.

What are the Average Sizes of the Border Collie’s Varieties?

A Border Collie Chihuahua mix dog
Source: @duck.in.disguise / IG

Border Collies have five breed sizes, the smallest being the Toy Border Collie, which is only 12 pounds (5.5 kg).

Small Border Collies weigh between 12 and 25 pounds (5.5 and 11 kg), and then the medium dogs from 25 to 50 pounds (11 to 22 kg)

The large Border Collies come next, weighing between 50 and 100 pounds (22 and 45 kg), and last but not least, you get the Giant Border Collie, which can weigh 100 pounds and over (45+ kg)

Miniature Border Collies may have been bred unethically or mixed with a toy. They might have dwarf-like features that are not acceptable for this breed.

Meet a miniature Border Collie puppy in this video: 

The Ultimate Border Collie Puppy Growth Chart by Weight

Below, you will find a Border Collie weight chart.

Calculate your dog’s current weight verse his current age, then scan the chart to get the likely weight gain until your pup is full-grown.

This chart is also an easy guide to ensure that the pup keeps up with what is typical for this dog breed.

A seven-week-old Border Collie puppy lying down on the grass
A seven-week-old Border Collie pup

Male Border Collie Puppy Growth (lb & kg)

The below growth chart can give you an estimated size of how big your puppy will be as an adult if you match it and compare it to your pup’s age and size.

Of course, keep in mind that male Border Collies are typically bigger than females.

Age Female Border Collie
Average Weight
1 month 3 to 5 pounds
(1.3 to 2.2 kg)
2 months 5 to 10 pounds
(2.2 to 4.5 kg)
3 months  10 to 15 pounds
(4.5 to 6.8 kg)
4 months 13 to 18 pounds
(5.8 to 8.1 kg)
5 months 17 to 22 pounds
(7.7 to 9.9 kg)
6 months 20 to 25 pounds
(9 to 11.3 kg)
8 months 28 to 33 pounds
(12.7 to 14.9 kg)
12 months 35 to 45 pounds
(15.8 to 20.4 kg)
2 years 40 to 55 pounds
(18.1 to 24.9 kg)

Female Border Collie Puppy Growth chart (lb & kg)

Border Collie females usually weigh significantly less than their male counterparts. Females also tend to be a bit shorter than boy dogs in this breed.

Age Male Border Collie
Average Weight
1 month 2 to 4 pounds
(0.9 to 1.8 kg)
2 months 4 to 8 pounds
(1.8 to 3.6 kg)
3 months  8 to 12 pounds
(3.6 to 5.4 kg)
4 months 11 to 16 pounds
(4.9 to 7.2 kg)
5 months 15 to 20 pounds
(6.8 to 9 kg)
6 months 18 to 22 pounds
(8.1 to 9.9 kg)
8 months 23 to 28 pounds
(10.4 to 12.7 kg)
12 months 30 to 45 pounds
(13.6 to 20.4 kg)
2 years 30 to 45 pounds
(13.6 to 20.4 kg)

Border Collie Puppy Growth and Development with Pictures

By using a weight chart, you can safely manage the growth of your Border Collie. You should know your Border Collie’s size when they stop growing.

Even though all dogs develop differently, ensuring they are growing normally and not overweight is the most important thing to know.

0- to 4-week-old

A newborn Border Collie puppy in its owner's hand
Source: @_lucie.looo_ / IG

At birth, Border Collies are so small that they only weigh about 7 to 14 ounces (0.2 to 0.4kg).

After losing water weight during the first 24 hours, they start growing and gaining about a half ounce to one and a half ounces (0.014 to 0.04 kg) per day. 

Border Collie puppies are born deaf, blind, and toothless.

They will quickly learn to crawl, open their eyes, and get their baby teeth, adding about 3 pounds (1.4kg) weekly as they grow.

4-week-old (1-month-old)

A lilac-and-white six-week-old Border Collie puppy
Source: @rebeccamsutherland / IG

By one-month-old, the male Border Collies puppies’ weight could be 3 to 5 pounds (1.4 to 2.3 kg), while the female puppies’ weight could measure from 2 to 4 pounds (0.9 to 1.8kgs).

During this period, the puppies are fragile and have to stay close to their mothers. 

They start to stand up and walk very wobbly. Foods other than their mothers’ milk can be tasted as their taste buds develop.

Eventually, they also start playing around with their siblings.

8-week-old (2-month-old)

A two-month-old Border Collie puppy
Source: @edisonthebordercollie / IG

The 8-week-old Border Collie is starting with its socializing period.

Eight-week-old Border Collie puppies will likely wander further away from their mothers, socialize, and play with their siblings and other pets.

They tend to explore more about their new environment and eat semi-solid food added to their mother’s milk. 

Their birth will have multiplied by four times. At eight weeks, the Border Collie puppies could weigh between 4 and 8 pounds (1.8 to 3.6 kg)

12-week-old (3-month-old)

A three-month-old Border Collie puppy
Source: @habana.bordercollie / IG

During this period, Border Collies learn and get used to different sounds and smells. Puppies are now starting to clarify and resolve their boundaries.

As the new owner, their mothers or you need to start teaching them doggy social skills. 

By three months old, the male Border Collie’s weight should be 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 kg), and the female’s weight will be 8 to 12 pounds (3.6 to 5.4 kg).

16-week-old (4-month-old)

A four-month-old Border Collie puppy
Source: @bordercolliemyro / IG

The puppy teeth of your Border Collie puppy are now starting to be replaced by adult teeth. This is called the juvenile period. Their weight is 8 to 16 pounds (3.6 to 7.3 kg).

At four months, the accelerated weight increase of these dogs starts slowing down. Their energy levels start to go up, and the Border Collies become more and more active.

20-week-old (5-month-old)

A five-month-old Border Collie puppy
Source: @border.collie.zenith / IG

When Border Collies are five months old, they are in the adolescent period.

At this stage, they weigh from 15 to 26 pounds (6.8 to 11.8kgs) for the females and 19 to 28 pounds (8.6 to 12.7 kg) for the males.

6-month-old

A six-month-old Border Collie puppy
Source: @jaxonnismo / IG

A six-month-old Border Collie will still have to grow a few more inches to gain its full adult height and will weigh about 19 to 30 pounds (8.6 to 13.6kg).

Because they are entering adolescence now, they start eating a lot. They come into that very high energy level, and their metabolisms peak. 

All their puppy teeth are now being transitioned to adult teeth, and their motor skills are completely matured.

They look less like a puppy and more like adult dogs. They are ready to start being trained for work.

The female Border Collie starts with their estrous cycle, while the males will only become sexually mature when they reach the age of seven months.

1-year-old

A one-year-old Border Collie
Source: @poppy_the_border_collie_ / IG

The weight of male Border Collies at one year old will be in the range of 30 to 41 pounds (14 to 19 kg), while the female Border Collies will be between 28 and 39 pounds (13 and 18kg)

Generally, these dogs reach their full-sized adult measurements for height at the age of one year, though some grow faster while others are much slower.

In any case, they keep on growing until their plates are closed. That happens around 18 months old.

Then they will still proceed to fill out and deepen in their chest until they are two and a half to three years old.

Things You Should Know About Your Border Collie’s Growth

Things to know about Border Collie's growth

Because being underfed is equally bad as being overfed, a proper high-quality diet is of absolute importance for Border Collies’ growth and development.

It’s also good for their joints and bones to control their weight gain. 

Genetic diseases can naturally influence growth and development as some specific canine health conditions can inhibit growth. 

Border Collies also need lots of space as they are very active dogs.

If they don’t get appropriate exercise, which is essential for their growth, their muscles won’t develop to make them grow to a healthy weight and size.

To grow optimally, they also need enough sleep.

Testing Physical Appearance

An overweight Border Collie lying down on the floor
Source: @sophiec0719 / IG

Getting the weight of your Border Collie will be quite easy. Still, weight isn’t everything. To see if a dog is healthy, most vets look at the dog’s body. 

The dog’s hips, ribs, and waist are what matters here.

If the ribs can still be felt with flat fingers with a layer of fat cushioning them, then the owner can be at peace that his dog is probably within an acceptable weight range. 

Ribs that show clearly mean underweight, whereas if your fingers struggle to find their ribs, this means your dog is likely overweight.

Both cases impact the dog’s health and life expectancy.

Health issues that can influence a Border Collie puppy’s growth

There are a few health issues that can influence a puppy’s growth, such as hip dysplasia.

This is an inherited condition manifesting due to malnutrition or lack of exercise.

Border Collies can also be born with eye abnormality (CEA). This is cloudy sunken eyeballs and is incurable. 

Dog parasites may also cause a puppy to lose weight and influence its development.

On the other side, the owner could be the culprit for feeding the puppy too much or not providing enough exercise and causing obesity, which can be very bad for the growth and development of the puppy. 

Border Collies are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections, which can all be avoided by in-time vaccinations based on your pup’s age.

Dental diseases resulting in chronic conditions can be prevented by regular teeth cleaning.

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) occur when puppies grow too quickly, which causes their joint cartilage not to connect properly to their bones.

This condition asks for a special diet not to affect the puppies’ development. 

How do I make sure my Border Collie is healthy?

An overweight Border Collie eating a carrot
Source: @catherine_belanger666 / IG

Being overweight or obese can significantly affect your Border Collie’s health. It can worsen joint problems and cause digestive disorders, back pain, and even heart illness.

All of this can be avoided by helping your dog not to overeat. 

You can do this by reducing his treats, instead offering green beans, carrots, or some other vegetables as snacks.

Cut out all table scraps and people’s food. Provide high-quality dog food and divide his daily allowance of food into two or more meals.

Also, have more play sessions and do a lot more exercise. 

If your Border Collie is underweight, it can indicate an underlying illness. The best advice could be to take your dog to the vet for tests and examinations. 

You can add more protein to your dog’s diet, like meat, eggs, and fat trimmings. Olive oil or flaxseed oil may be good additives that will also make your pet’s fur shiny and healthy.

Yogurt, veggies, fruit, cheese, or even coconut will all be good for your pup. Just increasing the daily food amount might help him gain some weight. 

If your dog is not a good eater, you can even entice him to eat with dog-safe peanut butter, which is a good treat for your doggy. Just be sure to consult your vet in this regard.

Dangers of stunted or accelerated growth

Osteochondritis dissecans is a bone disorder that occurs with the accelerated growth of Border Collie puppies.

Here their joint cartilage does not properly connect with their bones. This may even need surgery to be fixed.

Stunted growth can also result in vitamin 12 being disrupted and absorbed in the intestines.

This causes poor appetite, protein loss, low red and white blood cell counts, and eventually stunted growth.

Cobalamin injections can fix this defect for the rest of his life. This condition, luckily, occurs rarely.

At what age is a Border Collie full-grown?

Two full-grown Border Collies lying down indoors
Two beautiful, full-grown Border Collies

Normally, most Border Collies, need about 15 to 18 months before they stop growing. When they get to one year old, there will still be some growing left to do.

When fully grown, male Border Collies should weigh between 40 and 55 pounds (18 to 25 kg), while females will reach 30 to 45 pounds (13.6 to 20.4 kg)

Females mature earlier than males; once the females reach the age of two years, they are considered to be adults. Males only become adults as they reach three years of age. 

What is the best age to spay or neuter this breed?

The question of what age to spay or neuter a Border Collie is controversial. For some, the best is at 6 to 9 months of age.

Others agree that this would be a good time for a toy or small-breed puppy, but 12 to 18 months of age is preferred for a larger or giant breed. 

Medium-sized puppies like the Border Collie would then typically be spayed or neutered from 8 to 12.

It remains important to remember, though, that the earlier these procedures are done, the easier for the veterinarian and also the recovery for the patient. 

A renowned vet’s advice is that you keep your dog as nature intended for 18 months to ensure that all growth plates are complete but perform the operation before your dog reaches around two or three.

Will neutering or spaying my Border Collie affect his or her growth?

If spaying or neutering is done before the bone plates grow, it might result in taller, thinner dogs with some bones at the right length where others are longer.

This condition can put a lot of strain on the different muscles, tendons, and even joints. 

So, it is understandable that you should do the spay or neuter operation at the right time to ensure your dog’s development is not affected.

How to identify an overweight Border Collie?

Using a dog weighing scale is the first method to measure your Border Collie’s weight.

After weighing your dog, compare its weight on the weight chart above to the weight of your dog’s age. This will show unmistakably if your Border Collie is overweight. 

If you don’t have access to a vet scale, use your bathroom scale.

Weigh yourself while holding your Border Collie in your arms. Now weigh yourself without your dog, and then calculate your dog’s weight. 

Although this is not a very accurate method, it will still give you an idea of your dog’s weight, and when you scan the right weight on the weight chart compared to its age, you will at least know if your dog is overweight. 

Conclusion: How Big Will Your Border Collie Get?

Border Collies are medium-sized dogs, with males standing 19 to 22 inches (48 to 56 cm) tall and females 18 to 21 inches (46 to 53 cm) tall.

It is a great privilege to own a Border Collie as they are beautiful physically and also one of the most intelligent dogs on this planet.

Although this is a medium-sized dog, its personality is far bigger than its size. 

Do you own a Border Collie? We would love to hear all about him and how big he is in the comments below.

Further Reading: All About Border Collie

 

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