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Collie Dogs for Adoption in Bakersfield, CA

Your guide to finding and caring for a Collie in Bakersfield

Collies suit Bakersfield best when the day starts early, before the Valley heat settles in. A Rough Collie's gentle, family-minded nature fits the quieter streets of the Northwest, where a morning loop near Coffee Road Dog Park or along the Kern River Parkway path is easy to work into a routine. Collies like staying close to their people and tend to bark at passing activity, so a house with a yard in Rosedale or the Southwest works well, with plenty of indoor time.

515 Collies available in Bakersfield and nationwide

Meet a Collie who needs you

While we don't have enough dogs near Bakersfield, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.

Collies Available for Adoption Near Bakersfield

About the Collie breed

The Collie began as a Scottish sheep-herding dog and was refined in Victorian Britain into the elegant dog most people picture from Lassie. The Rough variety has a flowing mane and long coat, while the Smooth has a short, flat double coat. Both are one breed, and both shed heavily.

In Bakersfield, the coat is the main thing to plan around. Regular brushing, more often during shedding season, keeps loose hair and dust under control, and a Collie's double coat should never be shaved. Many Collies are gentle, sensitive and closely tuned to their families, and herding instincts can show up as barking, circling or nudging. Dogs vary, so spend time with a Collie before deciding whether its energy and personality match your household.

Weight
50–75 lbs
Height
22–26 in
Lifespan
12–14 yrs
Temperament
Gentle, Loyal, Intelligent, Devoted
Group
Herding
Shedding
High

Owning a Collie in Bakersfield

Having a Collie in Bakersfield

Collies pair a gentle, herding-minded nature with a thick double coat and a few inherited health risks. In Bakersfield, heat and dust shape daily routines as much as personality does, so exercise timing and coat care matter most.

Temperament

Many Collies are affectionate, loyal and sensitive, and they are often patient with children. Herding instincts can show up as barking, circling or nipping at heels, and harsh handling can make them anxious. Reward-based training works best. Each Collie differs, so spend time with the dog you're considering rather than relying on breed averages.

Exercise Needs

Plan one or two good walks a day plus play in a secure area. City off-leash dog parks open at 5 a.m., which suits early summer exercise, and the Kern River Parkway path works for leashed morning walks. Collies enjoy agility and scent games, but afternoon heat is too much for that thick coat.

Health Considerations

Collies often carry the MDR1 gene mutation, which makes some drugs and parasite treatments risky, so tell every vet the dog is a Collie. Eye conditions, bloat and skin disease are also reported. Bakersfield adds valley fever, a soil fungus; a lingering cough or lameness deserves a vet visit, and limiting digging in dry dirt helps.

Living Space

Collies are usually calm indoors and can manage in larger apartments when daily exercise is reliable, though most prefer a home with a fenced yard. A yard doesn't replace walks and company. Expect alert barking at passing activity, plenty of loose hair, and a cool indoor room for hot afternoons.

What it costs to own a Collie in Bakersfield

ExpenseTypical costPer year
Food$55 to $110 per month$660 to $1,320
Pet insurance$65 to $130 per month$780 to $1,560
Routine vet care$250 to $500 per year$250 to $500
Other*$590 to $1,490 per year$590 to $1,490
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$2,280 to $4,870

Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.

* Flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, a dog license, toys and bedding, and brushing tools and baths for a heavily shedding double coat.

Adopt a Collie in Bakersfield.

Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below currently have Collies available.

Rescues in Bakersfield with Collies Available

Bakersfield's rescue community includes city and county shelters plus nonprofit groups that place dogs in new homes every year. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Bakersfield area where you can find Collies and other dogs available for adoption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bakersfield's climate is workable for Collies but demanding in summer. Winters are mild, but about 112 days a year reach 90°F or higher, which is tough on a thick double coat. Collies do best with morning and evening walks, shade, water, a cool indoor room and no shaving. A Collie kept in air conditioning is usually fine.

A Collie can be a good fit if you're home a fair amount and can exercise early in the day. Single-family areas with yards, such as the Northwest, give them room, and Collies bond closely with family. They may not suit someone away all day or unable to manage summer heat and heavy shedding. Each Collie's needs vary.

Yes. California generally bars breed-specific dog rules, and no Bakersfield or Kern County breed restrictions apply to Collies. Keeping more than three dogs over 12 weeks old meets the city's kennel definition, and state law limits tethering a dog to three hours in 24. In unincorporated areas, the county license is $15 a year for altered dogs and $60 for intact ones.

For off-leash play, try the city dog parks at Kroll, Seasons, Coffee Road or University; dogs must be licensed and vaccinated, and parks close after heavy rain. For leashed walks, the Kern River Parkway path and The Park at River Walk work well, ideally early because shade is limited. Avoid the river, which can be dangerous.

Often, yes, if the building allows large dogs and daily exercise is reliable. Collies are usually calm indoors but may bark at hallway and street noise, and city rules let neighbors complain about barking that unreasonably disturbs the peace. Confirm weight limits and deposits before applying, and plan early walks when summer afternoons are too hot.

Not easily. Golden Empire Transit buses allow pets only in an enclosed carrier, and a 50- to 75-pound Collie won't fit in one. Only service and guide dogs are exempt. Bakersfield has no rail system, so plan on driving for vet visits and park trips, and never leave a Collie in a parked car in summer heat.

Only to outdoor patios, and only where a restaurant chooses to allow dogs. California lets restaurants opt in under set conditions, including a separate outdoor entrance, a leash and no dogs on chairs or tables, so policies vary by restaurant. Indoor dining rooms are generally off limits. In summer, evenings are kinder to a Collie than hot afternoon concrete.

Brush a Rough Collie a few times a week, and daily during heavy shedding in spring and fall; a Smooth needs less. Never shave the double coat, since it helps with heat. Baths every month or two keep dust down. Grooming mostly means home brushing tools and baths, which fall within the $590–$1,490 yearly Other costs.

We have 1 rescue with Collies available: Kern County Animal Services. You can see every rescue with Collies available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Collies near Bakersfield.

Expect roughly $55–$110 a month for food, $65–$130 for pet insurance, $250–$500 a year for routine vet care, and $590–$1,490 a year for other costs such as parasite prevention, dental care and coat tools. That adds up to about $2,280–$4,870 a year, before emergencies or valley fever treatment.

Find Collies in Nearby Cities

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