Zahara Border Collies

Q. & A. with Krystal

• Why did you start breeding?

  I grew up in a home where dogs were always part of the family. One in particular left a lasting impact on me — my childhood best friend, Leada, a Border Collie x Golden Retriever. She was intelligent, loyal, and incredibly intuitive. She shaped my understanding of what a truly special dog could be. When I was 20, I came across a Border Collie puppy online who, aside from color, strongly resembled Leada. I brought her home and named her Zahara. As she matured, she displayed many of the same wonderful traits I had loved in Leada — intelligence, versatility, heart, and a deep bond with her person. Through Zahara, I was reintroduced to the remarkable capabilities of the Border Collie and began immersing myself in training and dog sports. Over time, my passion evolved into purpose. I wanted to provide other families with Border Collies who could be both a beloved family companion and a competitive sport partner — dogs with an “off switch” in the home and drive when it’s time to work. That vision, combined with my commitment to structured early development, temperament testing, and active involvement in dog sports, naturally led me into breeding with intention and long-term goals in mind. Breeding, for me, is not simply about producing puppies — it’s about preserving the qualities that make this breed exceptional and thoughtfully placing well-rounded dogs into homes where they will thrive for a lifetime.

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• What makes your program special?

  What makes my breeding program stand out is my commitment to transparency, intentional early development, and personalized placement. From the very beginning, my puppies are raised with purpose. I implement structured early enrichment protocols, including Puppy Culture–based activities, to build confidence, resilience, and strong foundations for future training. I carefully document and complete all age-appropriate deworming and vaccinations, and I openly share these milestones — along with daily activities and developmental progress — on our social media platforms. Families don’t just receive a puppy; they get to see the work, care, and dedication that goes into raising each one. I also utilize the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test to thoughtfully evaluate each puppy’s temperament. This allows me to match families with the puppy that best fits their lifestyle, goals, and experience level. While I understand that color preferences exist and take them into consideration when possible, I do not place puppies based solely on color. Temperament, structure, and long-term compatibility will always come first. My goal is to produce well-rounded, stable Border Collies that thrive both in the home and in sport — and to ensure every puppy is set up for lifelong success with the right family.

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• What are the different breed coat types in your program?

  Our puppies have rough coats. Coat types may vary depending on the parent dogs.

• What are the different breed coat colors in your program?

  Our puppies include black and white, blue merle, white and blue merle, and white ticked. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.

• Where do your breeding dogs live?

  They live in my home.