I have been showing and breeding Aussies for nearly 36 years since my family got our first Aussie in 1968 and our first litter was whelped in 1970! I have been very active in the competitive sport of showing dogs ever since.

My parents, Chic & Marty Acierto registered their kennel name, Bluecrest, in 1972 and I registered Amberwood in 1981; both are now permanent ASCA kennel names. Together and individually, we have bred and/or owned numerous conformation, obedience, herding and tracking titled dogs.

We are also charter members of the Australian Shepherd Club of Arizona which was formed in 1971 and is the first regional affiliate of the Australian Shepherd Club of America, Inc. ASCA AZ was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1975. We have each, along with my sister Tracey, served the club in some capacity over the past 34 years including being on the show committee for all three (3) ASCA National Specialties our club has had the honor to host: 1975, 1987 and 1994.

As a junior, I helped write the original ASCA Junior Showmanship rules and I competed in every venue offered at the time and had the honor of being ASCA’s 1st Obedience Junior Handler of the Year in 1977, my only year competing in the program.

The ASCA Junior program and the juniors who compete in it, hold a special place in my heart as they ARE the future of ASCA !!

One of my original goals when I began breeding my foundation bitch CH. Bluecrest Topic of Conversation, ”Cookie” - was to breed quality reds that can equally compete with blues and blacks in the conformation ring and I am proud to say that I have not only been successful but have set the standard for quality reds in Arizona! Nearly every Arizona-bred red (and several out of state) who have succeeded in the conformation ring can trace their lineage to “Cookie”.

One of our breeding “mottos” has always been “breeding for soundness of body and mind” – all of our dogs are OFA (hips & elbows) and CERF certified/certifiable before being bred – our dogs usually do not have their first litter until at least 3 years of age – we are “10 Step breeders and supporters” – We believe in breeding responsibly and are extremely concerned about Epilepsy in our beloved breed.

I have been an ASCA Breeder Judge since 1989 and a Senior Breeder Judge since 1997, and I am approved to judge Obedience through Graduate Novice. I have had the honor and enjoyment of judging in Germany and awarding the final championship points to the 1st ASCA champion with a tail and also fulfilling one of my dreams: judging Stud Dog, Brood Bitch, Veterans (and Brace) at an ASCA National Specialty - 2003 in Wisconsin.

Although my “main” hobby is my dogs, I do enjoy some non-doggy hobbies: Arizona Diamondbacks fan and season ticket holder, Phoenix Suns and Coyotes fan; I also enjoy motorcycle riding and traveling when time permits.

To pay for my hobbies, I am a Paralegal currently employed with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s office.

My 2-legged family includes my son Bryan, my daughter Lindsay, and my granddaughter Ava. My parents, Chic and Marty Acierto, are no longer active and lost their last Aussie a few years ago but they play “grandparents” to my current crew and care for them when I am out of town judging, etc.

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