About the Founder! Learn about Jackie!

My name is Jackie Short-Nguyen, and I am currently 26 years old. I grew up in Green Bay, WI with my mother and four siblings. Currently I reside in New Castle, PA with my husband, Jon, who is an officer of the United States Marine Corps. We currently have two German Shepherds. Strauss and Mirada. We also have a rescue kitten we call Barrett.

Animals have been my solace ever since I was a little girl. I had an extremely hard time making friends, and so I turned to animals for companionship. Twinkle Star, my 15 year old Moggie cat (RIP Pretty Girl), was the first cat and pet I ever had for my very own, and she helped me be less lonely. I didn't know a cat could help me get into dogs. When I first got into the breed, I didn't really know I was in it. I wanted to get started in conformation at 18 and was about to turn 19, so no juniors for me. I went on to study under some people in other breeds (Collies and Huskies). I learned a great deal, but it just wasn't the same as working with a real dog in a ring.

I got to groom, which I loved, and I got to scoop poop, which I didn't mind, but I was eager to step foot in the show ring. I think back to when I was about 8 or 9 and I remember a friend my sister had, Carly. Carly's father was a K-9 officer, and little did I know that Billy had the dog that planted my interest in the breed. Billy's partner's name was Hans, and he was the best dog I ever met. Maggie was afraid of him, but I was not. The first time I ever saw Billy and Hans, I was in the third or fourth grade, and we were being taken outside for a "special presentation". That presentation was the demonstration of the dog's defense of his handler. Billy sent Hans after the helper, and that dog really lit into him. He took a "beating" from the stick, was yelled at, tossed around, but he never let go of that sleeve until Billy said "Aus".

Everybody else was terrified of Hans after the Demo... I just went home in awe. Every time after that, whenever Maggie went to Carly's house to play with Carly, I went along. Not to play with the girls of course, but to talk with Billy... about Hans. I was hooked and I didn't even know it. That dog was a hero, a friend, a protector, and a pet. He was brave, he was beautiful, he was strong, and, as far as I was concerned, he was absolutely infallible. I can never thank Hans enough.

not long after his retirement from the police force, he crossed the rainbow bridge, and I lost touch with Billy. Hans was an asset to the breed, and to the police force, and it was the only time that I had ever heard of Billy crying. The second catalyst in my German Shepherd Journey, along with his patient owner, Brian Hunter, was Adobe's Warrior, who was known as "Ranger" at home. I had already been training Ranger 3 years prior to getting Strauss (Who at that time, wasn't even a twinkle in his fuzzy mother's eye), working him in schutzhund and agility, and even a bit of obedience. Brian allowed me to do anything and everything with that dog, and he used all of his personal money to help me.

I entered him in some conformation shows, even though he was a bit cowhocked, and his back roached when he moved. We always came in last, and I never cared because I was in the ring, and I was having fun. All you can do when you can't afford a $1500 show prospect, and you aren't a junior, and you're not born into the dog world, is try and find somebody willing to share. Brian was willing to share Ranger with me, and for that I am forever grateful. In the four years I worked with Ranger, we did not get a title, and we never won any pretty ribbons worth mentioning (to most people), but he was still a special dog. He was my Warrior.

Thank you Billy, Brian, Hans, and Ranger, for showing me what this breed is.

About Marcato! Learn how it all started!

Marcato Shepherds was founded on June 10th, 2004. That is the day I bought my first German Shepherd Dog, S Konzert vom Drachenberg, affectionately known here at Marcato, as Strauss. In terms of conformation, he is a mess. He is fine boned, has weak pigment, his left ear never stood properly, he has locked hocks, and he's east west in the front. All in all, my dog is "just another backyard bred animal"... but his temperament is impeccable, and the moment I got him, I knew he was something special.

I purchased him for a modest sum, and being a beginner, thought I could turn him into the next "Hatter". It wasn't to be and I was absolutely crushed. However, for all his bodily flaws, this dog is by far the best dog I have ever owned. He has an uncanny desire to do any and everything I ask of him, he is always there, right by my side, and, throughout my short years of life, out of all the dogs I have had, he is the most special.

My goal for Marcato is to have dogs that don't just show in conformation, but work too. All of my dogs must prove themselves through working or in performance trials.

Temperament, health, and ability to perform in various venues are the foundation on which Marcato is built. Thank you for considering Marcato German Shepherds.

- Jackie Short-Nguyen
Founder, Marcato Shepherds