Vin-Melca Norwegian Elkhounds

05/15/2026

We are incredibly proud of this dog, what he has accomplished in the ring and what he has produced as a sire.

Thank you to Ginny Kladis Kincer for presenting him so beautifully across the country.

03/25/2026

Thank you to our friends at American Dog Fancier for featuring Pat Trotter alongside these titans of our sport!

03/25/2026

A great photo of one of the breed’s all-time greats, Windy Cove Norgren Wild Pride, sire of our own Vin-Melca’s Top O’ The Mark out of the superlative Vin-Melca’s Marketta.

Mark, like his sire “BS”, would go on to become a prolific sire, passing on that beautiful silhouette that defines the breed.

1998 NEINEA Best of Breed
CH Windy Cove Norgren Wild Pride – "BS"
Owners: Sally Simmonds & Margaret K. Mott
Handler: Margaret K. Mott

See the comments for much more about BS from Maggie.

02/22/2026

A Northern dog in the frozen North! Thank you to our great friend Letty Hughes for sharing these photos of GCH Vin-Melca’s On Your Mark, a group-winning son of the great Vin-Melca’s Top O’ The Mark, enjoying his best life in Alaska.

Crash was the 2018 Norwegian Elkhound Association of America National Maturity winner, and had a very productive show career.

These are hardy dogs, and they usually have pretty hardy owners, too!

📸 Permafrost Pixels

02/14/2026

All in the family!! Today at the Norwegian Elkhound Association of Southern California Specialty, Josie won Best In Specialty from the Veterans Class, and her daughter Sally earned Select Bitch!!

Thank you to Best In Specialty judge Mr. Al Ferruggiaro for recognizing that great dogs keep getting better with age.

Yesterday at the Sun Maid Kennel Club of Fresno in an entry supported by the Norwegian Elkhound Association of Northern California, Sally went Best of Breed and Josie went Select!!

Thank you to supported entry judge Ms. Ann Roth for spotlighting this mother-daughter duo.

🏎️JOSIE🏎️ MBISS MRBIS GCHS Vin-Melca’s Joyride

🐎SALLY🐎 GCH Vin-Melca’s Mustang Sally

Bred by Patricia V. Trotter

Josie co-owned and presented by Miranda & Andy Vance

Sally co-owned and presented by Kyra, Miranda, & Andy Vance

02/14/2026

Laissez les bons temps rouler! Two years after his sire, Vin-Melca’s Ni**od, went Best In Show (twice) at the Sun Maid Kennel Club of Fresno, DIESEL goes 4-6 Puppy BEST IN SHOW!!!

Thank you to Beginner Puppy judge Susan Willumsen for finding this young prospect from a beautiful set of promising puppies.

⛽DIESEL⛽ Vin-Melca’s Midnight Rider
Sire: ~RODDY~ GCHB Vin-Melca’s Ni**od
Dam: ~JOSIE~ GCHS Vin-Melca’s Joyride

Bred and owned by Patricia V. Trotter and Miranda & Andy Vance

Presented by Miranda Vance

02/11/2026

In honor of the Sun Maid Kennel Club of Fresno shows this week, featuring specialties hosted by the Norwegian Elkhound clubs of both Northern and Southern California, we look back at some fun memories of Vin-Melca dogs there.

We love this picture Diana Han shot of Mrs. Trotter and Vin-Melca’s The Jaywalker from 2022; the historical poster inset in that picture shows the great Vin-Melca’s Nimbus, who went Best In Show at Fresno in 1976.

Jay had a great run at Fresno herself, and a couple of years later Vin-Melca’s Ni**od won the specialties and two Best In Show victories in 2024. Junior handler Kyra Vance had a blast with Vin-Melca’s Daggarwood Delight that year in Veterans, too!

02/03/2026

What a night! Thank you to the members of the Westminster Kennel Club, especially Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner, for recognizing Mrs. Patricia V. Trotter and her incomparable 11 Hound Group wins by endowing the VIN-MELCA TROPHY to the winner of the Hound Group!!

Mrs. Trotter registered her first litter under the Vin-Melca prefix 75 years ago, and has been a fixture at Westminster as a breeder, owner, handler, and judge for the past six decades.

Seeing her honored with a STANDING OVATION at Madison Square Garden was incredible!!