Showing a young pup and a veteran bitch, local Norwegian Elkhound breeder, Lisa Peterson, recently captured top honors in specialty dog shows from Canada to Cape Cod.

At the Norwegian Elkhound Club of Canada National Specialty, “Stasha,” owned by Nancy and Steven Hales of New Canaan, won Best Puppy in Specialty Show under English judge Pam Mead of Georgia.

In addition, judge Glady Gates awarded the10-month-old bitch Best Puppy in Sweepstakes at the Canadian National.

The same weekend Stasha added two Best Puppy in Breed awards at the New Brunswick Kennel Club Dog Show August 22 and 23 in Rothesay, New Brunswick.

Mrs. Peterson, who owns and operates Elvemel kennels in Dodgingtown, is Stasha’s breeder, co-owner and handler. Three weeks later, Stasha bested a field of 14 puppies under judge Laura M. Wonnenberger to capture the Best Puppy in Sweepstakes award at the Norwegian Elkhound Minuteman Association Regional Specialty held on Cape Cod on September 18.

  In the Best of Breed competition later that day, Mrs. Peterson handled Champion Kamgaard Klear Skies Ahead, owned and bred by Sally Simmonds and Margaret Mott of Livingston Manor, New York, to a Specialty Best in Show win and a Hound Group III placement under Canadian judge Cheryl Myers-Edgerton. Ms. Simmonds and Ms. Mott are also Stasha’s co-breeders.

  “This was Cutie’s first Specialty win and at nine-and-one-half-years-old that is quite an accomplishment,” Mrs. Peterson said. “It was really a fun day going best in sweeps with a puppy bitch and then winning best of breed with a veteran bitch. It is nice to see a veteran show dog maintain excellent condition and remain competitive. The spectators really appreciated the win.”