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Trotter's Rare Acclaimed Champion Elkhounds

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Champion Foxboro Thor's Thunder 

Norwegian Elkhound -- 11/22/2006

Breeder: Kathleen H. Hamilton 

By Ch Vin-Melca's Tiro Trademark  and

Ch Foxboro Life of the Party 

Owner:  HALPERN, Scott and Sherry

Junior Handler:  HALPERN, Trace Harrrison

Trace Harrison has been in training with  Thunder since March of 2007. 

 He competed for the first time as a Junior Handler in the River Valley Cluster Dog Show Friday, July 20, 2007 through Sunday, July 22, 2007 in Owensboro, Kentucky. 

In Junior Showmanship, he placed two seconds and one third.

He took first place in the Norwegian Elkhound Puppy Class 6 - 9 months dog division. 

He went on to compete against all first place winners to earn "Best Of Winners" all three days!

  He was the only Junior Handler among adult handlers in all of the Norwegian Elkhound, Hound Breeds Division.

A Boy and His Dog On the Road to Championship By MELISSA WEBB Correspondent Ten-year-old Trace Harrison Halpern of Brentwood is busy with many activities. When he is not studying to be an “A” student, he is practicing karate (having achieved a brown belt), playing soccer and basketball and skateboarding. Most recently, however, Trace has ventured into a new hobby. It all started after a meeting that seemed to be just happenstance. The Halperns have no doubt that it was all very much meant to be. Photo Submitted Trace and his dog Thunder win Best of Winners at the River Valley Cluster Dog Show in Owensboro, Ky. Photo Submitted Trace Harrison Halpern. The Halperns have loved Norwegian Elkhounds and owned them for many years. The breed originated in Norway and was used for hunting large game. The dogs have a very acute sense of smell and hearing, are very intelligent and are known to be loving and good-natured pets. They also require extensive care as their double-coat of long coarse hair must be cleaned and groomed regularly. They also need daily exercise and training. Because of the commitment required to properly care for Elkhounds, the Halperns had made the decision not to replace their second Elkhound after losing him to cancer more than a year ago, shortly before they moved to Brentwood from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “I’m a busy mom and I just didn’t see how I would have the time to care for another puppy,” said Sherry Halpern. Everything changed when Scott Halpern was driving through Antioch on his way home one day. A wrong turn landed him in front of an unfamiliar house. When he was making the three-point turn to head in the other direction, he noticed a sign flapping in the breeze that said “Vin-Melca Norwegian Elkhounds.” Scott had happened upon the home of Chuck and Patricia Trotter, both renowned traveling judges in the dog show world. “My dad came home and told us that he felt like he was meant to find the Trotters,” said Trace. “Two days later, we all went back to see four Elkhound puppies.” “The Trotters really took to Trace and wanted to help him learn about dog showing,” said Sherry. “I found it very interesting,” said Trace. Before long, the Halperns adopted a Norwegian Elkhound puppy that they named Foxboro Thor’s Thunder. Thunder is a certified pedigree AKC registered Norwegian Elkhound born in November of 2006 by Champion Vin-Melca’s Trio Trademark and Champion, Foxboro Life of the Party. His breeder is Kathleen H. Hamilton in Palmyra, Indiana. With Thunder by his side, Trace began training with Mark Munson to be a Junior Handler. Munson is handler and overseer of the Trotter’s own Vin-Melca’s Norwegian Elkhounds. “We all feel very blessed to have Trace working with a professional trainer and one of the best breeders in the world,” said Sherry. “To have this kind of lineage right here practically at our back door is incredible. We had no idea when we moved here.” This June, when Thunder was seven months old, Trace shepherded the pup through his first show, the River Valley Cluster Dog Show in Owensboro, Kentucky. Trace and Thunder took First Place in the Norwegian Elkhound Puppy Class (six to nine month old) division. Then, they went on to compete against all first place winners to earn the major award of “Best of Winners” all three days in a row. Trace was the only Junior Handler in all of the Norwegian Elkhound, Hound Breed’s division. In the Junior Showmanship division, Trace placed two seconds and one third. “I thought it was pretty neat that I even did better than my coach at the show,” said Trace. “It was very fun. I really like the training and so does Thunder. I love making my dog happy.” Thunder has already earned a total of 11 points and three major awards in his young life. He only needs four more points to earn a Championship title. Trace has no doubt that he will be helping him achieve Championship status. “I think that Thunder is special because he is very friendly and polite and he loves all the attention,” Trace explained. “I work with him everyday. He is very enthusiastic. I know he has a good time and I do too. I plan to continue to show him.” “We have always loved Elkhounds but we thought that we didn’t have room for one in our busy schedule,” said Sherry. “Now we have Trace to carry on our dream. There is such a bond between a child and their pet and Trace gets to share in this wonderful adventure with his dog, Thunder. It’s just an amazing thing. We really believe it is a God thing.” Correspondent Melissa Webb can be reached at melw@charterinternet.com                 _______________________________________________

Trace Harrison Halpern and his Norwegian Elkhound, Foxboro Thor's Thunder, were named best of the “Best of the Winners” three days in a row at the River Valley Cluster Dog Show in Owensboro, Ky.

Have you ever watched one of the dog shows on TV and thought, "I could be one of those people who shows dogs"? Ever wondered what you have to do to become one of them?

Well, let me introduce you to 11-year-old Trace Harrison Halpern, a junior handler who shows his dog, a Norwegian Elkhound named Foxboro Thor's Thunder, or Thunder for short. Trace Harrison lives in Brentwood with his mom and dad, Sherry and Scott Halpern, and is a fifth-grader at Edmondson Elementary School. He started his training to become a handler in March, under the watchful eye of handler Mark Munson.

Munson oversees the Vin-Melca Norwegian Elkhounds bred by Pat and Chuck Trotter in Antioch.  Sherry said she can't believe the good luck they have found working with Munson and the Trotters. According to Sherry, Pat and Chuck are well respected traveling judges in the dog show world.

"We feel so blessed to have such good people working with Trace Harrison," she said. "And they're really impressed with him."

Trace Harrison must be a quick learner. In his first competition as a junior handler, he and Thunder placed first in the Norwegian Elkhound Puppy Class (6-9 months) at the River Valley Cluster Dog Show July 20-22 in Owensboro, Ky.

They later competed against all the other first-place winners and were named “Best of Winners” in three separate shows. Trace Harrison said he was particularly surprised by that honor, especially on the third day, when he said Thunder was tired.

He also competed in the junior showmanship division, where he earned two seconds and a third-place finish.

Trace Harrison said he really likes going to the shows because he gets to see the other dogs and watch and learn.

"The other handlers tell me I'm doing a good job," he said. "It's a bunch of fun. My next show is Nov. 8-11 in Huntsville, Ala., and I'm excited."

Until then, he and Thunder will continue to practice twice a day, every day, and attend at least one training session every two weeks with Munson and the Trotters. Trace Harrison said he loves showing and it's  definitely something he wants to continue to.

Do you know someone who deserves to take a bow? Contact Missy McAdams at 771-5474 or e-mail her at mmcadams@tennessean.com.

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This is Trace Harrison after the Greater Murfreesboro Kennel Club Dog Shows where he took First Place in the Novice Junior Handling category.

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 At the Cotton Cluster....

Waiting to be judged in the Nowegian Elkhound Puppy 9 - 12 month category in Priceville, Alabama, for the Huntsville Kennel Club Show, Thusday November 8th, 2007

 

And finally, also on November 10th, Foxboro Thor's Thunder and Trace Harrison won Best Puppy in Breed.  That was a major accomplishment and Thunder has received more points toward his Championship title!

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 At the Country Music Cluster...

Trace Harrison showed Foxboro Thor's Thunder March 6th through March 9th.  He won Best Dog three days in a row! 

And on March 9th, Trace took Thunder to his Championship status!  We couldn't be more proud of them both!!!  Now Thunder's official title is:

Champion Foxboro Thor's Thunder 

At home, Thunder and Trace Harrison continue to train for future dog show competitions.  You never know if the Westminster Dog Show is in their future......

Thunder testing the waters for the first time :-)