Judges' Biographies
Tom Slattery — Agility
In 1978, the week after my wife Carol and I moved into our first house we got our first Norwegian Elkhound. When I was growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, there were about a half-dozen Elkhounds in my neighborhood and I always said, “When I grow up, I want one of those!” Luckily Carol (after having a Dachshund as a kid) was OK with the breed switch and from that first dog a hobby, or maybe a passion, was born. Carol started showing in conformation and obedience about 20 years ago, and when she sustained a knee injury I was promoted from kennel help to conformation handler. In the mid-1990’s I discovered agility, which made conformation “the road less traveled.”
I am former president (and agility trial chair) of the St. Croix Valley Kennel Club and former president of the Norwegian Elkhound Association of America. I am also treasurer of the Norwegian Elkhound Association of Minnesota and am a member of and agility instructor for the St. Paul Dog Training Club. We have six Elkhounds now: Ch Rookie (UD and lots of agility titles, but now retired), Ch Scout (proud mom and lots of agility titles and also retired), Ch Vince (more agility titles and semi-retired), six-year-old Flurry (currently showing in conformation but also with agility titles) and two of Flurry’s kids, Bob and Cleo both of whom show in conformation and one of these days will see an agility ring as well.
Good luck to everyone running at the Beardie National trial. It’s a great honor to judge a National and I’m looking forward to the assignment. I hope you all find the courses meaningful and fun and that everyone and their dogs run well.