Welcome to IOKA Australian Shepherds! I thought I would share a little about my dogs and myself with you so we’re not "strangers."  My family has always had a dog. We are originally from Iowa, Cedar Rapids specifically. Both of my parents were teachers and one day my father "heard the call of the wild." He applied for a teaching job at the newly built Chugiak High School in Eagle River, Alaska. Pretty wild! The day after he accepted the job and told us we were moving, the Good Friday Earthquake hit Alaska! Despite that, we moved anyway.

Like I mentioned earlier, my family has always had a dog of some sort, but they were always the "family dog." We lived across the street from the elementary school that I went to and an obedience club held their classes and training sessions there. I remember going over to watch and being in awe of the wonderful things that those dogs were doing. One of the instructors took me under her wing and introduced me to the world of AKC obedience trials. It was so exciting and I vowed that I would someday get a purebred, registered dog so, I too, could compete!

For my 7th grade year, we moved back to Cedar Rapids in order for my father to complete his Master’s Degree. When it was time to return to Alaska, I begged/pleaded/promised my parents the world, if I could just get a Shetland Sheepdog puppy that was advertised in the paper. I promised to take very good care of her and train her and EVERYTHING. My folks agreed and that was how I got Tami.  Tami was a black tri, oversized, prick- eared Sheltie for which I paid a whole $75 out of my babysitting money. She was the best value for $75 that I have ever gotten. Her registered name was "Totem Lass Of Ioka." I thought I was SO clever – "Totem" for Alaska, "Lass" as a short version of Lassie, and "Ioka" being a combination for from-Iowa-going-to-Alaska. She was MY dog, my heart and soul. I became a member of the obedience club, and trained Tami diligently. Together we earned a CD title, with the 3rd leg scoring a 197 for High in Trial and Highest Scoring Junior Handler! (And this was back in the old jerk-and-pull days of obedience training.)

When she was twelve, I had to do one of the hardest things a dog lover can ever do. Tami had developed a tumor that encompassed her elbow area. . Back then, there weren’t too many options for cancer. I knew I had to mercifully have her put to sleep, but I also knew that I needed to have a dog. I couldn’t, in my heart, get another Sheltie, that would be like trying to replace Tami and I knew that would never happen. I did some research and "discovered" the Australian Shepherd. I found a local breeder who had some puppies and made arrangements to purchase a blue merle male (I didn’t even want a female again). The day I had Tami put quietly to sleep was the day I picked up my new Aussie puppy – who probably wondered why his new mom was crying so much. My kennel name, IOKA, has always been in honor and memory of Tami.  

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