From the very beginning I have been into the winning records of the country’s top dogs. Even a cursory glance at all-breed lists of the top-winning dogs and bitches in history immediately makes one aware of the incredible contributions given to the sport of dogs by the lady of Vin-Melca, Patricia Craige (now Trotter). Her Norwegian Elkhounds have been number one in this country continually for more than forty years. No kennel of any breed has bred more top winners than Vin-Melca, but Pat had taken it several large steps further. She trained, conditioned, and handled most of the dogs herself. At the same time, she continued her teaching career.

Guy Fisher handling Ch. Vin-Melca’s Air McNair to BIS under Donna Buxton for owners Toni King and Bill Strand. The number-one Elkhound in the United States in 2007, “Steve” was named after MVP Steve McNair, star quarterback for the Tennessee Titans at the time. He was produced by frozen semen from Ch. Vin-Melca’s Certified, litter brother to Marketta and son of Bombardier and Calista. His dam Ch. Vin-Melca’s Moonbeam is a Calista granddaughter owned by Fred Archer, his breeder. (Booth photo)

Not only did the numbers of champions, Top Ten finishers, and specialty show and all-breed Best in Show winners become astronomical but the Vin-Melca dogs also became foundation stock for others. My dear friends Freeman and Betty Claus of Redhill kennels in southern California were among the many whose breeding programs were enhanced by incorporating the Vin-Melca dogs into their lines. Because of the numerous dogs involved, it is not possible to name each of the top Elkhounds produced by this kennel. The following dogs represent the most significant of them and appear in alphabetical order (all carrying the Vin-Melca prefix):

Before Dawn. Named after the Calumet Farm Eclipse award-winning filly; finished with a specialty BOB from 6–9 Puppy Class then was moved up from that class to win three consecutive all-breed BIS; retired with a Group Third at the 1983 Westminster show; dam of Ch. Vin-Melca’s Bombardier, a Quaker Oats winner and the number two all-time winning male in the breed.

Bombardier. Sired by BIS Ch. Vin-Melca’s Barnstormer; winner of thirty-nine all-breed BIS; Science Diet all-breed Top Ten twice; Quaker Oats Award winner; sire of a Quaker Oats winner; BOB at Westminster 1991, 1992, and 1993.

Calista. Top-winning Norwegian Elkhound of all time with sixty-six all-breed BIS; two-time Quaker Oats winner; two-time Westminster Group winner; number two all-breeds in 1990; number three all-breeds in 1989; defeated more than 140,000 dogs in 1989 and 1990 with twenty-two BIS in ’89 and 44 BIS in ’90; dam of eleven champions, including a Quaker Oats winner and a two-time Westminster Group winner.

Homesteader. Number eleven all-breeds in 1974; number one Hound; Westminster Group winner in 1974; Santa Barbara BIS winner; son of Howdy Rowdy.

Howdy Rowdy. Number two sire all-time all-breeds with 166 champion progeny from natural matings as the Hound Group’s top-producing sire; national specialty winner; sire of national specialty winners; multi-all-breed BIS winner; sire of multi-all-breed winners; Kennel Review Top Western Hound in 1968; Hound Group Third at Westminster in 1969; Century Club Sire H.I.S Publications award.

Judge Fran Cazier selects Ch. Vin-Melca’s High Velocity for one of her ten all-breed BIS victories handled by owner Eric White. Velocity ranked among the top hounds and is the daughter of Ch. Vin-Melca’s Top O’ The Mark and Vin-Melca’s Back Talk, an unfinished daughter of Ch. Vin-Melca’s Calista whose pursuit of the championship title was curtailed by an unfortunate accident. In addition to being the number-one Elkhound in 2004, Velocity is amongst the top-winning bitches in the history of the breed. (Rinehart photo)

Last Call. All-time top-producing dam with twenty-seven champion progeny; held all-time BIS record for bitches prior to her half-sister Calista; multi-specialty winner and dam of specialty and all-breed BIS winners; BIS Chicago International; dam of 1986 Westminster Group winner Ch. Vin-Melca’s Call To Arms; BOB and Hound Group Third at Westminster in 1982.

Marketta. Eighth-generation all-breed and specialty BIS winner; Quaker Oats-winning daughter of a Quaker Oats-winning sire and dam; Westminster Hound Group winner in 1994 and 1995; dam of Top O’ The Mark, significant sire of fifty-six champions to date.

Nimbus. All-time top-winning male in the breed with sixty-three all-breed BIS; ranked number two and number three all-breeds; Quaker Oats winner; Westminster Group winner in 1977 and 1979; BIS Beverly Hills, Golden Gate (twice), Ventura, Channel Cities, Group winner at Santa Barbara; sire of thirty-seven champions; in 1985, his multi-BIS-winning sons Ch. Vin-Melca’s The Smuggler, Ch. Vin-Melca’s Buckpasser, and Ch. Vin-Melca’s Southern Rain ranked numbers one, two, and three, respectively, in the breed as well as scoring highly in the Hound Group ratings.

Ch. Vin-Melca’s Margretta, pictured winning the Group at the Memphis Kennel Club in 2006, the year she was the number one Norwegian Elkhound in the United States. Judge Gloria Mitchum Geringer commented on her excellent type and conformation, especially her correct rib cage and very short loin. Handler Mark Munson also handled her to 2007 BOS honors at Westminster. Margretta is doubled up on our cover girl Marketta and has produced her first litter for co-owners Patricia Trotter and Renee Jarrett. (Meyer photo)

Rebel Rouser. Number two Norwegian Elkhound in the U.S. in 1962; the turning point in the Vin-Melca breeding program and dam of BIS Ch. Vin-Melca’s Vickssen, granddam of Ch. Vin-Melca’s Vagabond, and dam of the great-producing bitch Ch. Vin-Melca’s Rabble Rouser.

The Smuggler. Number two Hound in the U.S. in 1984; number one Norwegian Elkhound in the U.S. in 1983, 1984, and 1985; winner of twenty-five all-breed BIS; multiple specialty winner; Santa Barbara Group winner; BIS Chicago International; BOB and Hound Group Second at Westminster in 1985; sire of Group-winning Top Ten ranked bitch Ch. Vin-Melca’s The Snuggler.

Vagabond. Top Dog all-breeds, all-systems in 1970 and first breeder-owner-handled dog ever to accomplish this in the U.S.; Quaker Oats winner; Westminster Group winner in 1970 and 1971; California Beaters Club award; BIS Santa Barbara; first Norwegian Elkhound ever to rank in Top Ten all-breeds; sire of outstanding brood bitches; sire of all-breed BIS winners and national specialty winner; inducted into the AKC’s Dog Museum Hall of Fame in 1998.

Valley Forge. Number five all-breeds in 1973; number one Hound in 1973; Quaker Oats winner; BIS at Kennel Club of Beverly Hills, San Fernando, and Oakland; Group winner at Santa Barbara and Golden Gate; number one Norwegian Elkhound in the U.S. in 1972 and 1973; Sire of Merit.

Vickssen. All-breed BIS winner; number one Norwegian Elkhound in the U.S. in 1966 and 1967; sire of Vagabond and two other BIS sons; national specialty Stud Dog Class winner; first male to be housed at Vin-Melca.

When I interviewed Pat in 1992, she had retired Ch. Vin-Melca’s Calista (Sarah) to the breeding program and was campaigning Bombardier. I asked what else the Vin-Melca breeding program could possibly produce to make history. Well, the breeding of these two Quaker Oats winners produced the first known Quaker Oats winner from such a union. Their daughter, Ch. Vin-Melca’s Marketta, became the only award winner in Quaker Oats history with both a sire and dam who were award winners. (These awards today are known as the Dogs in Review Show Dog of the Year Awards.) Marketta, like her beautiful mother before her, won two Hound Groups at the Garden (1994 and 1995), proving that some are born to win.

Update to the Second Edition: Although people aren’t accustomed to seeing Pat herself as a handler in the ring much anymore, she still handles her homebreds from time to time when her busy judging schedule allows. The Vin-Melca dogs have continued to make a tremendous positive impact on the world of show dogs in the new century with a variety of owner-handlers as well as professional handlers. Here are some recent winners:

Air McNair. All-breed BIS winner; number-one all-breed Elkhound 2007. Handled by Guy Fisher.

Bright Image. All-breed BIS winner; specialty BIS winner; BOB Westminster 2005; champion-producing dam.

Debonair. All-breed BIS winner; specialty BIS winner; BIS at the first California Hound show; Pedigree winner 1997; champion-producing sire.

Gray Dove. Parent Club Top Twenty winner 2001; multi-specialty winner; BIS Inland Empire Hound show. She was tragically lost in whelp with her first litter.

High Velocity. Top Twenty Hound; ten all-breed BIS; multiple specialty BIS; all-time number four Elkhound bitch.

Margretta. Multi-BIS winner; number one Elkhound in the U.S. 2006; first litter whelped in 2007.

Scattermark. Parent Club Top Twenty winner 2003; multi-Group winner; champion-producing dam.

Silver Shadow. Number one Hound 2002 with 100 Group Firsts, twenty-five all-breed BIS, Westminster Group placer and Westminster BOB 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006; champion-producing sire. Handled by Michael Scott.

Top O’ The Mark. Number...