Border Collie Adoption in New Zealand

2 rescue Border Collies are available for adoption across New Zealand right now. Every listing links straight to the rescue.

Cody - Collie Cross available for adoption in Timaru
NEW

Cody

2 years 2 months • Collie Cross

Large Sizehigh Energy
Kids
Dogs
Murphy - Collie Cross available for adoption in Auckland
NEW

Murphy

3 years 1 month • Collie Cross

Medium Sizemedium Energy
Kids

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About Border Collies

The Border Collie is a medium dog breed originating in Scotland / Northumberland. Adult dogs typically weigh 14 to 25 kg and live 12 to 15 years. Typical traits: highly-intelligent, work-driven, sensitive, reserved-with-strangers.

Owners who incorporate the dog into structured work, agility, herding, dog sport, or daily off-leash adventure in real terrain. Sedentary households, owners expecting a casual companion dog, or working-line dogs placed in town townhouses.

Adult Border Collies need about 90 minutes of daily exercise; adolescent dogs typically need 120 minutes. The coat is double-coated with high shedding, and weekly brushing keeps the coat manageable.

Use the city links to narrow to your area, or browse the full list below.

Common Border Collie health concerns

Breed-associated conditions worth asking any rescue about before you adopt. A good rescue will already know whether a dog has been assessed for these.

Hip dysplasia

Moderate prevalence; OFA screening is standard for breeding stock.

Source: OFA →

Collie Eye Anomaly

A hereditary eye condition affecting both Border Collies and other Collie-type breeds.

Source: VCA →

MDR1 drug sensitivity

About 1 in 10 Border Collies carries the MDR1 mutation, making them sensitive to common medications including ivermectin.

Source: VCA →

Editorial summary for adopters, not medical advice. Ask the rescue about a specific dog's health, and consult your vet for individual guidance.

How adoption works in New Zealand

Border Collies in New Zealand are listed by a range of local rescues and shelters. Applications, home checks and adoption decisions are handled by the rescue directly. LocalPetFinder brings the listings together so you do not have to check each rescue separately, and does not take a fee.

Border Collie adoption by city in New Zealand

Prefer to search closer to home? Jump straight to Border Collie listings in each New Zealand city.

Border Collie adoption in New Zealand: common questions

How many Border Collies are available for adoption in New Zealand?

As of October 2026, Border Collies are uncommon in New Zealand rescue, only 2 are listed right now across 1 rescue on LocalPetFinder. They are usually adopted quickly, so it is worth applying early or setting an alert.

Where can I adopt a Border Collie near me in New Zealand?

LocalPetFinder lists Border Collies available for adoption from rescues across New Zealand and New Zealand. Every listing links straight to the rescue that has the dog, and the application is handled by them, not by us.

How long do Border Collies live?

Border Collies typically live 12 to 15 years.

How much exercise does a Border Collie need?

Adult Border Collies need about 90 minutes of daily exercise. Adolescent dogs (under 2 years) typically need 120 minutes, more than mature adults.

What are common health concerns for Border Collies?

Breed-associated conditions to ask the rescue about include Hip dysplasia, Collie Eye Anomaly, MDR1 drug sensitivity. See the citations in the health section above for authoritative information on each. This is an editorial summary, not medical advice, so check with your vet for individual guidance.

Are these Border Collies for sale in New Zealand?

Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Border Collie here comes from a New Zealand rescue or shelter, not a breeder, pet shop, or classified seller. If you searched "border collie for sale new zealand" or "border collie puppies for sale", adopting gets you a healthy, vetted dog for a fraction of the price.

Where can I buy a Border Collie in New Zealand, and should I?

You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. If you do buy, insist on seeing where the puppies were raised and getting vet records, and check the breeder against your local pet-sale rules. For most families in New Zealand, adopting a rescue Border Collie is cheaper, faster, and gives a dog in need a home.

Are there Border Collie puppies in New Zealand, or only adults?

Both, but adults far outnumber puppies, and it is worth knowing that before you start looking. Most Border Collies arriving in New Zealand rescue are adolescents and adults, because that is the age at which first homes tend to give up. Puppies do come through, usually as accidental litters or with a surrendered mother, and they are typically spoken for quickly. Setting an alert beats refreshing the page. It is also worth asking whether you actually want one: an adult arrives with a temperament a foster has already observed and described, where a Border Collie puppy is a prediction, and for this breed in particular knowing what you are getting is the more useful thing.

Where can I find a Border Collie near me in New Zealand?

Start with the listings on this page, which pull from New Zealand rescues and shelters and are refreshed regularly, so what you see is what is genuinely available rather than a stale directory. If nothing suits today, that is normal for this breed: rescue intake is intermittent rather than steady, and a breed with none listed this week often has several next month. Setting an alert beats checking back, and it is worth widening to nearby suburbs and towns, since most rescues serving New Zealand will adopt out across a reasonable driving distance rather than only inside one council area.

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