MEET THE SMITH FAMILY

Hi! I’m Tami — the breeder behind the scenes — and I’m so glad you’re here! 

Growing up, I practically lived in a zoo. Dogs, cats, parrots, turtles — you name it, we had it. Some of my best memories are with our Labs, Pete and Sugar, chasing fish trucks along the beaches of Kenai, Alaska while we worked summers as commercial fishermen. Animals have always been a source of deep connection and comfort for me.

But after college, life without pets became the norm — first because of apartment rules, then because of my husband’s allergies. It was nearly 20 years of marriage without any furry companions. But that didn’t stop our kids from dreaming… and begging. For years, they walked imaginary dogs around the house, buckled them into car seats, and brought them along on errands. Eventually, all three had their own pretend pups in tow — and that’s when Stuart and I realized we might need to reconsider. We floated the idea of getting a dog after the kids’ beloved Grandpa passed away — thinking a puppy might help ease that eventual transition. But kids have a way of hearing things literally, and before long they started asking, “Sooo… when is Grandpa going to die?” It was one of those innocent, matter-of-fact kid questions that stop you in your tracks — equal parts hilarious, horrifying, and deeply logical in the way only a child could be.

Needless to say, that plan got scratched.

Grandpa, of course, lived several more good years — and ended up loving Coco just as much as the rest of the family. And that little moment? It’s become one of those legendary family stories we’ll always remember — the one that quietly marked the beginning of our journey toward life with dogs.