Judges' Biographies
Linda Aronson, DVM — Sweeps
I got my first Bearded Collie in 1987. Until then I had owned Border Collies and an Afghan Hound. The first litter arrived at Fivefields in 1988, but there have only been 6 litters bred since then. My goal as a breeder is to breed a well-balanced dog that can perform well in any venue. I feel that the structure of the dog is of utmost importance in allowing the dog to do what it was originally developed for — herd sheep — but this is also consistent with the ability of the dog to perform well in agility. flyball and the conformation ring as well. A good working dog should be capable of independent thought, so the intelligence of the breed is also something we need to maintain and foster in the breed. For this reason, I feel engaging the mind of our breed and directing it into as many different pursuits as possible only improves the breed, and brings out true Beardie temperament.
As Chair of the BCCA Health Committee and a founding director and Vice President of BeaCon — the Bearded Collie Health Foundation — the good health of our breed now so that it can prosper well into the future is of great importance to me.
I am a veterinarian with a referral behavior practice in Berlin, Massachusetts. I also live there with my husband and daughter — my son is in Florida — along with six Beardies, a rescue German Shepherd, two horses, a cat, African Grey parrot and a fish.