09/27/2026
Last Friday night, we watched Tommy Zbikowski coach the Saint Patrick Shamrocks.
Tommy and Joe were teammates at Notre Dame, but their friendship began the summer after high school, when Joe stayed with Tommy and his family before their first season together. Tommy pushes himself, and he has a way of bringing the people he loves along with him. His family welcomed Joe into that same spirit.
After college, their lives took different paths. Tommy went to the NFL. Joe and I moved to 25 acres in Pennsylvania to build a life around our passion for working dogs. At Notre Dame and long afterward, Joe learned from his friend and mentor Jeff Rynearson, who went on to become Operations Division Chief of the South Bend Police Department.
Together, Tommy and Joe imported Yogy Policia-Slovakia from the Czech Republic. Joe competed with Yogy at the national level in Schutzhund, a working dog sport that tests tracking, obedience, and protection and most importantly the courage of the working dog. Yogy earned Helper’s Favorite Dog, among many other honors. He had all the heart and drive you might expect from a dog connected to those two. Working with him gave Joe purpose when he needed it deeply, and Tommy’s friendship meant far more than financial support. He showed up.
That partnership grew into IBSO K9. IBSO K9 working German Shepherds sired by Yogy, went on to police work, helping track and apprehend suspects in South Bend and the surrounding areas, including during operations with the U.S. Marshals. And then there was Yogy’s daughter Sophie, Tommy’s girl with the pink nail polish. Their bond was something that can't be described. She helped him find his way, always ready to protect him in whatever capacity that may be.
There are more stories than one post can hold. But watching Tommy coach on Friday night and Joe being there, I kept thinking about the young men who became lifelong friends, the families who grew around them, and everything they helped each other build. ☘️
