History of the Norwegian Elkhound Association of Southern California
by Janet Warter
NEASC had its beginnings in 1952, with informal meetings at the homes of a few interested Elkhound owners. By 1954, the first official slate of officers had enthusiastically assumed their duties, with Lou Otteson as President, Charles Thorpe as Vice President, and Mrs Edward Davis as Secretary/Treasurer. and Mrs
. Ralph French, Mr. Del Grant, Mr. and Mrs George Halvorsen, Mr. Stephen Holt, Mrs. Dave Legman, Mrs. Norman Lyons, Mrs. Sara McCabe, Mr. and Mrs K.L. Miller, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. William Mohr, Mr. and Mrs Lou Otteson, Mrs. Clarita Reiter, Mr. Charles Thorpe, Mrs. Grace Vail, Capt. Yttergaard. The club's First AKC Sanctioned Match, October 24, 1954, found 24 Elkhounds and 21 exhibitors in attendance. Judge Richard Chashoudian picked the Yttergaard's 19 month old Norwegian-bred, P**l av Jarisberg, as Best in Match. Mr. Chashoudian's "critique", preserved in the NEASC Scrapbook gives this prophetic comment - "My first in Open Dogs and Best in Match is a superb type dog and leaves very little to be desired except for a little more weight and more coat. This dog is as short, or shorter, than he is tall; beautiful head, eye, ear and expression. He is also one that asked for that first spot more than if he could talk. For my money he is the perfect type Elkhound and should do the breed some good here." P**l went on the following year to Best of Breed under Judge Percy Roberts at NEASC's First Specialty Show held October 9, 1955. In 1969 NEASC recognized his outstanding quality and contribution to the breed by selecting American Canadian Champion P**l av Jarlsberg as their "Great Elkhound of the Past" for the Kennel Review special Elkhound issue. Although many people have served NEASC over the years as officers, committee members and in show activities, a few should be mentioned for their outstanding influence and participation
Norwegian born Capt. Ludwig Yttergaard and his wife, Grace, were guiding forces in the early years, and had handled much of the correspondence, in the fall of 1952, which led to NEASC's eventual recognition by NEAA and AKC. The Avogaard Kennels, named for the Yttergaard's avocado farm near Fallbrook, was very active in breeding and showing in the 1950's. Their two Norwegian-breds, Ch. Gaupa av Tallo and Ch. Skrub II av Skromtefjell, imported as pups in March of 1951, were shown locally to their championshps (Gaupa became NEASC's first Ch. and Skrub was the first NEASC dog to place in the Group), and later the offspring of these two were sold both locally and around the country. A son whelped in 1953, Ch. Avogaard Gunnar CD, went to the North Gate Kennel of Mrs. Borger Lien, and can be found today in the pedigree of many elkhounds in the Northwest. Gaupa also produced some fine pups by American Canadian Champion P**l av Jarisberg. A P**l-Gaupa daughter, Avogaard Pamela, was sold to the Midwest, and later became the dam of Ch. Lisa av Sangrud, owned by Karen Elvin of the Norwegian Elkhound Association of Minnesota. Ludwig Yttergaard was active in the NEASC until his death in 1964 and Grace, although in poor health in later years, retained her interest and enthusiasm for Elkhounds until her passing in July, 1970. During Ralf Campbell's brief stay in Southern California for the Specialty Judging, he had the opportunity to visit briefly with Grace, and the two delightedly exchanged stories about Gaupa, who had been bred and sold to the Yttergaards 19 years before by Ralf's father, Olav Campbell. Ralf remembered Gaupa as one of his favorite puppies, and told of walking with her in the forests around Oslo. From 29 Charter Members, the NEASC grew to a membership of 130 in 1970. Specialty Shows have been held annually since 1955. The 1969 and 1970 Specialities were highlighted by distinguished judges NEAA President Susan D. Phillips and Ralf D. Campbell, Oslo, Norway. Entries were close to 90 both of those years. Former club member Stan Green stated in 1976, "I have much respect for the quality of the members in the club,and feel that even though we still have things to learn from our sister clubs, that we are creating an even stronger NEASC for the up-coming years. When all kinds of club on a national level are allegedly ebbing in membership and enthusiasm, we appear to be coming into our own. We have no desire to be the Best Club, just a good club that can carry out its charter and to promote the breed. It is up to all of us, and with co-operation, we can persevere and promote the glory that is the Norwegian Elkhound."
