Biography: Stu & Sherry Galka
Sherry and Stu Galka of Mother Lode K-9
Pictured with Kallie, TDIEVA; Schoena, TDIEVA; and Tarra, TDIAOV
Image by Suzy Hopkins, Friends and Neighbors Magazine
Stu and Sherry Galka, co-owners of MotherLode K9 Dog Training, are certified instructors and evaluators for the American Kennel Club's (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program since 1995. Their basic obedience classes are geared to the CGC format. In addition, they have been certified evaluators for Therapy Dog International (TDI) since 1997.
They first became involved in dogs in the 1960s when they purchased their first Siberian Husky puppy. From that small beginning over 40 years ago, their interest in dogs, training, showing and instructing has been the focus of their energies.
Stu & Sherry began showing their first Siberians in Conformation and attained their first Champion (CH, Tannu) in 1972. They began breeding and buying more dogs as their interests grew to include sleddog racing and their kennel grew to 30 dogs. They were active in this sport, participating with their whole family in the West Coast sleddog racing circuit for over twenty years. During that time, Stu twice served as President of the Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers (SNDD), and also on the International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) Board of Directors.
![Stu with his team of dogs. [Click for enlarged view]](/images/sled_dogs_sm.jpg)
Stu with his team
They have been enthusiastically involved in AKC obedience competition, titling over 24 dogs to Companion Dog (CD) and several to CDX. In addition, they have titled several dogs in AKC Agility Novice, Gambler's, Jumpers and Open. They have also earned a BH (Obedience degree) in Schutzhund and a Temperament Test (TT) on their Malinois. They have also received the Certificates of Dog Achievement award from Front & Finish Magazine.
In 1972, they began teaching dog obedience in Tuolumne County. They have trained several thousand dogs over the years in obedience, agility, rally and freestyle (Dancing with Dogs).
In 1972, they were the co-founders of the Sierra-Tuolumne Kennel Club (STKC). Stu was continually elected President of the STKC until his retirement in 2001 and served as Chairman of all kennel club events during time starting with Fun Matches to being certified by AKC to hold licensed shows. Sherry served as the STKC Treasurer, AKC Dog Show Secretary, Obedience Chairman and head obedience instructor from the formation of STKC until her retirement in 2001.
At this time, they also developed an interest in Therapy Dogs through Therapy Dogs International (TDI). The first TDI certified dog in Tuolumne County was their Golden Retriever, Shiloh who made well over 500 visits to rest homes and schools. Their dogs went on to earn TDIEVA degrees for therapy work, which is awarded to individual dogs who have completed at least 150 hospital visits.
In 1997, they became TDI evaluators. Since that time to the present they have remained the only TDI evaluators in the valley and western foothills of Northern California. Through this evaluator certification they established the local TDI Chapter #186 and coordinated regular TDI visits to local hospitals, pre-schools and hospices, etc. During the past three years, this TDI Chapter has sponsored the Happy Paws Dog Walk, whose proceeds have been donated to the Humane Society of Tuolumne County & the Rose Wolf Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.
They are members of International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP), National Association of Dog Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI), Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and the Humane Society of Tuolumne County (HSTC), where they donate their time in working with the dogs. They also speak at various club functions in the area.
They are now down to only three dogs of their own, consisting of two German Shepherds (Schoena & Tarra) and a Labrador Retriever (Kallie) - all AKC titled dogs and TDI dogs. Schoena is now the oldest TDI dog with over 500 visits. Their youngest, Kallie is beginning training towards titling in AKC Novice.
Stu, a retired Trans World Airline (TWA) Captain, and Sherry, a retired insurance business owner, have been very active dog lovers for over forty years. Never able to subdue this passion, they started Mother Lode K9 Dog Training in 2001 in order to provide ongoing classes to the community. They attend obedience seminars at least once a year for continuing education and quickly bring the new knowledge back to their classes. Clicker training is used in all classes along with treats and toys.
Positive training results in happy dogs!
