The Westminster Kennel Club 2026 | Page 40

A LEGACY IMMORTALIZED

Pat Trotter

by Jessica Braatz

“ Every pet may not be a show dog, but be assured, every show dog is a pet.”

– PAT TROTTER, WESTMINSTER’ S 2021 BEST IN SHOW JUDGE

It was the statement heard across the world as the 2021 Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show judge, Patricia Trotter, lifted the purple and gold rosette. It was Pat’ s 12th time standing on the famed carpet, lights illuminating her purple dress, yet it was her first time on the other side of the ring. For the other 11 times, she had stood in the shoes of the seven handlers before her, awaiting the announcement of the ultimate winner with an Elkhound at the end of her lead. As she gave her speech that evening, it was a culmination of 70 years of unwavering dedication to the sport as a breeder, owner-handler, judge, author, and mentor. Her words echoed in the hearts of dog fanciers and were felt in the souls of spectators. In that moment, she embodied a lifetime of dedication to purpose-bred dogs and The Westminster Kennel Club, the ultimate testament to a legacy decades in the making.

THE BEGINNING

Pat Trotter’ s journey with dogs began in the late 1940s, but it wasn’ t until 1951 that she discovered her true passion, and the first Vin-Melca Norwegian Elkhound litter was registered. Driven by her overall love for animals, she dove into the dog world headfirst. She kept only a few dogs at home, masterfully orchestrating her breeding program to become a global powerhouse. All the while, she worked full-time as a teacher and competed as a breeder-owner-handler. Her campaigns were nothing short of remarkable, as Pat traveled to weekend shows with her charges, racing back home in time to be in the classroom early the next morning. She had dogs finish in the Top 10 of all breeds 10 times, despite her demanding career. For her, she was always a breeder first, considering the big picture to ensure her program would continue to develop and shine nationwide. Her persistence, perfectionism, and steadfast dedication led to legendary successes both in and out of the ring— one cannot simply think of a Norwegian Elkhound without Trotter and Vin-Melca.

LOOKING BACK

Pat’ s first trip to the Westminster Kennel Club show was in the 1950s, and she has become an institution of the club, attending almost every show since. Her first Group placement was in 1969, when Ch. Vin-Melca’ s Howdy Rowdy placed third in the Hound Group. Her first Group win was the following year, in 1970, and thus began an unprecedented record at Westminster. She has won a remarkable 11 Hound Groups and an additional ten Group placements in total, with these wins spanning five historic decades. Her most recent Group win was in 2017, decades after retiring from campaigning her charges, and a true testament to the longevity of her program.

If she could step on the famed carpet today with any of her historical charges, she would want to handle Vagabond or Nimbus of her males, and Calista or Marketta from her females. Both were remarkable pairs: Nimbus was a grandson of Vagabond, and Calista and Marketta remain the only mother-daughter duo to each win two Groups at Westminster. For Pat, the true test of a dog’ s quality is its ability as a producer, rather than a show dog. It was very important to her that the dogs she showed at Westminster were descendants of previous Westminster winners, carrying forward the Vin-Melca legacy of greatness.

40 THE WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB 2026