Regatta has been a home and producer of versatile, intelligent, and healthy Australian Shepherds since the early 1990s. Regatta is a permanently registered kennel with the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA). Our program originated out of South-Eastern Wisconsin, but we are now located in Central Texas (one hour north-west of Austin). Our dogs are raised inside as members of our family. Our primary house rule is to "always be on the dog's program."

We compete with our dogs in ASCA's conformation, obedience, agility, and stockdog programs. Some of Regatta's progeny have made talented conformation, stock, obedience, rally, agility, Frisbee, and fly-ball competitors, as well as confident therapy and working dogs. Most importantly, they have made lifelong, trustworthy companions. Our dogs are bred to the ASCA Breed Standard, and we abide by the ASCA Breeder's Code of Ethics. Please also see the Working Description of the Australian Shepherd. As breeders and judges, we are advocates of the Aussie's true purpose as a working stockdog.

​​The health of our dogs is of utmost concern to us and we make all efforts not to further any genetic maladies in the breed. We have been proud members of ASHGI's Ten Steps Program since its creation. We are passionate about preserving the breed's health and longevity. All of our dogs/puppies are sold on contract and guaranteed.

We train our dogs primarily using Chris Bach's The Third Way positive reinforcement program, and have also found great value in lessons from Michael Ellis. We evaluate our litters using our own experience, influenced by Pat Hastings' Puppy Puzzle formula.

Betty Jaco

Betty grew up in southeastern Wisconsin's Lake Country. Her family was involved in the local yacht club and she spent much time sailing and swimming with her brother and two sisters. She trained at Huntlea Horse Center in Tennessee, and went on to work at Potrero Matos Horse Farm in Puerto Rico. It was at Huntlea that Betty encountered her first Aussie, a blue merle named Tillie. She also spent time in California and competed in high-level obedience with her German Shepherds. After settling down with her family in Wisconsin, she obtained her first Aussie from Meg Schuster of Limited Edition Aussies in 1988 and named her Tillie. Little did Betty know at the time that bringing an Aussie into her life would open up so many opportunities and provide her with a profound sense of responsibility to breed education and preservation.

​Betty joined ASCA in 1990 and has been a member in continuous good standing ever since. She is an ASCA-approved Provisional Breeder Judge, which means she is qualified to judge all classes at an ASCA-sanctioned conformation show. She formerly served on the Agility Committee, the Conformation Committee, the Hall of Fame Committee, and the Nationals Committee. Betty was Chair of the ASCA National Specialty held in West Bend, Wisconsin, in 2003 and 2006. She also acted as Junior Co-Secretary for the 2014 and 2017 Nationals in Bryan, Texas.

Betty joined the Wisconsin-based ASCA affiliate club Rock River Valley Australian Shepherd Club in 1990. While she lived in Wisconsin, Betty was an active member of the club. Frequently one of the first to arrive and last to leave each show, she put in many hours of hard work as President, Treasurer, Board Member, Show Secretary, and countless other volunteer positions.

Also while living in Wisconsin, Betty was heavily involved with her local all-breed training club, Western Waukesha County Dog Training Club. An extraordinary facility filled with seasoned trainers and eager up-and-comers. She served the club from 1995 to 2007 as a Board Member, training instructor, and general volunteer. She continues to be an honorary member of the club.

Betty takes the health and longevity of the Aussie breed very seriously and has supported the Australian Shepherd Health and Genetics Institute in various forms over the years, including serving on ASHGI's "Ask the Expert" panel.