A California winemaker is selling the ‘perfect dog’ for $1,000 — Americans are lining up to get one

Meet the fox collie. With short coats, pointed noses and floppy ears, these dogs resemble smaller Border collies, with colouring that ranges from black and white to shades of brown and gray. But it’s their temperament that interests DuVigneaud most. They’re energetic enough to work on a ranch but happy to relax at home.

At a time when more Americans are turning to their pets for companionship, DuVigneaud believes there’s room for a dog that can do a little bit of both. He’s even gone so far as to call the fox collie “the best dog in the world.”

Childhood dream

DuVigneaud’s fascination with McNab shepherds began in childhood. The breed dates back to the 1800s, when Scottish immigrant Alexander McNab brought collies to California and began developing working dogs for ranchers. DuVigneaud was especially drawn to a smaller, calmer variety known for its loyalty and work ethic.

Fast-forward to the COVID-19 pandemic, when DuVigneaud found a dog that reminded him of the ones he’d grown up hearing about. Her name was JJ, and as it turns out, she would become the inspiration behind his entire breeding project.

He certainly wasn’t alone in bringing home a furry friend during the pandemic. According to a 2021 survey by the ASPCA, roughly 23 million American households welcomed a dog or cat into their lives after the pandemic began.

America’s love for its four-legged companions has hardly faded. In 2025, approximately 95 million U.S. households owned at least one pet, according to the American Pet Products Association. For many owners, these animals are much more than pets. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that 97% consider their pets family with just over half considering their pets as much a part of the family as any human relative. That kind of attachment helps explain why DuVigneaud believes there’s a place for the fox collie.

The puppies are winning people over

According to The New York Times, he began breeding JJ with dogs that had similar traits, hoping to bring back the type of collie he’d admired since childhood. Since 2020, he’s produced 16 litters and has used genetic testing to help reduce the risk of inherited health problems.

And if you’re wondering whether anyone actually wants one of these puppies, the answer appears to be a resounding yes. DuVigneaud told the outlet he’s received more than 400 serious inquiries. One of those interested buyers was Joshua Korbel, a sound engineer who first came across the puppies at DuVigneaud’s wine shop.

Korbel eventually brought home a fox collie named Morena. He described her as an exceptionally easy puppy to train and said she had already become comfortable walking around San Francisco.

“She has been, like, the best dog ever,” Korbel told the Times. “Like, I cannot believe how good this puppy is.”

Moneywise reached out to DuVigneaud for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The real cost of a ‘man’s best friend’

Bringing home a dog involves more than falling in love with an adorable puppy. It’s a financial commitment that can last well over a decade. Between food, veterinary appointments, vaccinations, grooming and the occasional emergency, the bills can add up quickly. In fact, a MarketWatch study estimates that Americans spend an average of $28,800 caring for a dog over its lifetime.

Depending on where you live, that figure could be even higher. In California, for example, the estimated lifetime cost of owning a Labrador retriever reaches nearly $35,500. Even food can take a bite out of your budget, with owners of larger dogs spending more than $446 a year, not including any special diets or unexpected expenses.