Windy Oaks is a small show and breeding kennel located near Colorado Springs, CO. I first became familiar with Australian Shepherds when I was showing Quarter Horses. I fell in love with their intelligent and loyal personalities as well as their beauty and acquired my first Aussies as family companions in 1984.

Some of my friends were competing in ASCA shows and I would tag along from time to time just to watch. In December 1987 my daughter, Heather, got a cute little blue merle male puppy from Ron Reishus of Trueluc Kennels as repayment for a favor she had done for him. Heather had decided she wanted a blue merle male and since he was the only blue boy in the litter.... she chose him. It wasn't long until she went off to college and "Cody" became my dog. Ron encouraged me to show him, saying that he was "too nice a dog to just be my pet". Cody finished his ASCA championship very quickly and I was hooked. So, that's how it all started and Cody is officially known as CH Trueluc's Feature Attraction CD HS. He was soon followed by "Lena" aka CH Windy Oaks Lena of Terra-Blue, whom we purchased from Joni Johnson at Terra-Blue. These two wonderful dogs are the foundation that Windy Oaks Australian Shepherds is built upon.

In 1991 we added our first Pembroke Welsh Corgi to the family. CH. Larklain Marks Desert Wine HC, better known as "Desi", came to us when she was 6 months old. We had lost our 16 ½ year old mixed breed lap dog "Puff" about a year before and decided it was time for another small dog. I really liked the "big dog" personality of the Corgi and their wonderful sense of humor. Desi loved to show, finished her championship, and went on to be the foundation bitch of Windy Oaks Pembroke Welsh Corgis.

We compete in both ASCA and AKC shows, primarily in the conformation ring, but have also completed some obedience titles. We have also dabbled in agility and herding and would like to pursue it more as time permits. Both aussies and corgis bred by Windy Oaks are competing successfully in conformation, obedience, agility, and tracking and many others are beloved family companions.

Ken & Ila McLaughlin
windyoaks@elpasotel.net