Photo Gallery | Border Collies | Maremma Sheepdogs
About Us
At 2J 2K Border Collies & Maremma Sheepdogs, it’s a family affair!
My husband is Jason, my son is Jadon- the 2Js; my daughter is Kylee, and I’m Kara- the 2 Ks.
We live in the beautiful countryside of the Missouri Ozarks near Springfield, MO.
We brought home our first pure-bred dog, a blue merle Australian Shepherd, Tisdale, right before our son was born when we lived in Arizona. Tisdale lived until he was 16 years old.
Several years ago, Swift, a playful, adorable, intelligent Border Collie, came to live with us. We chose our breeder carefully and are thankful for their guidance and support over the years. Swift opened our hearts to Border Collies and the ‘Border Collie People’ in our lives. We’ve met many breeders, trainers, and owners in the Border Collie world, and we appreciate the relationships that have developed over the years.
We first learned of the Maremma Sheepdog from friends in AZ. They live in the remote desert of Maricopa, and the Maremma guards their Nigerian Dwarf milk goats. Where we lived in Arizona, we didn’t have a predator problem; however, we decided we needed an LGD to protect our livestock when we moved to Missouri and onto more acreage. Before committing to the Maremma Sheepdog, we researched LGD breeds, temperaments, guarding styles, and more for several years. We narrowed our choice to the Maremma Sheepdog and began researching pedigrees, breeders, and genetics. We are glad we chose the friendly and loving Italian Maremma Sheepdog to guard our chickens, guineas, lambs, and other animals on the ranch.
We homeschool, and our teenager’s love for learning and life extends to our furry family members. Kylee is our creative photographer and social media manager, and Jadon is our dynamic tech guy and helps Jason with building and designing. Most recently, Jason, Jadon, & Kylee are our puppy flight nannies and fly with the puppies in the cabin of the airplane. I am a doggy midwife, trainer, bookkeeper, office manager, etc. Our jobs intermingle, and we share many tasks. Being responsible breeders requires skill sets from different industries.
All four of us ‘hoomans’ love, cuddle, kiss, train, and spoil our animals together with added sweat, laughter, and sometimes tears.
Meet Miley McCrary and her trained and licensed Service Dog, Leaha (a granddaughter to 2J 2K Border Collies foundation female, Swift). Miley is in remission from Ewings Sarcoma, a rare childhood cancer. Cancer left part of her arm and hand ravaged and prone to infection. Being an active child, she bumps her arm a lot, which, in her case, can require hospitalization and lead to infections because it creates a buildup of fluid.
Leaha protects Miley’s arm and hand in crowds by creating a barrier (her Mom says large women’s purses are the worst!). She helps break Miley’s falls, opens doors, and assists Miley in undressing. Miley will always need assistance in these areas.
When Leaha was a puppy Kimberley Knight, of the Date Creek Ranch near Wickenburg, AZ, donated her to Sam’s Wish, and Sam’s Wish gifted her to Miley.
Pioneered and directed by Mary Whipple, a fellow breeder before she retired, Sam’s Wish helped individuals in need of a service dog.
Sam’s Wish launched because of the wish of another little girl, Samantha. Samantha had experienced an extremely traumatic event in her young life and struggled in many ways- meeting new people, PTSD, anxiety, etc. When Sam met Jefe (a founding sire and Border Collie owned by Mary Whipple), he helped her connect on an emotional level, which promoted steps in healing.
A young man, who has PTSD & now attending ASU, and two young women who have anxiety and depression, have also been gifted Border Collies by Sam’s Wish. Jefe alerted Mary’s husband Rex when he had diabetic lows. Jefe also sired puppies who went on to be medical alert dogs.
We are proud to have assisted by breeding dogs who produce service and emotional support animals. We are also thankful to have been able to donate monetarily from the purchase price of our Border Collie’s to assist this excellent program.
Follow us this coming year; we have exciting plans in the works for service animals.
We are proud to have assisted by breeding dogs who produce service and emotional support animals. We are also thankful to have been able to donate monetarily from the purchase price of our Border Collie’s to assist this excellent program.
Follow us this coming year; we have exciting plans in the works for service animals.
Our top priority is finding loving furever homes for our puppies, and we greatly enjoy keeping in touch with our new puppy families.
2J 2K Border Collies and 2J 2K Maremma Sheepdogs live in 5 countries and 38 states. These include Bogota, Colombia; China, Saudi Arabia, Quebec, Canada; British Columbia, Canada; Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, South Dakota, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, Utah, and Georgia
“Thank you for such a wonderful puppy. She has already fit in so well. She is calm and confident and on our heels. Yesterday I was sitting in the yard with her and a plane went overhead and she looked up and tracked it – she is so smart! Even after working with dogs all these years, it still amazes me that what a dog is bred for can be so instilled in them. Thank you so much, Kara. Your dogs are amazing. Hope all is well.”
– Dr. P. Veterinarian and 2J 2K Maremma Sheepdog Owner, California
Questions? We’d love to answer.