Linda Ferguson and Tom Ferguson are the proud owners of Wahkeen Kennel. Their unique kennel name was taken from San Joaquin and it was created by Linda to represent their Christian belief in the Trinity. The kennel was established in 1981, and it is a private boarding and show kennel located approximately 45 miles North of Houston, Texas near the Sam Houston National Forest.
Linda has shown Alaskan Malamutes in American Kennel Club events for 37 years. Tom has been involved in the show world for 24 years. While their main focus has been in the conformation ring, they have also competed with their Malamutes in weight-pull events. Linda has been a member of the Alaskan Malamute Club of America since 1984, and is now a Lifetime Member. She served as President of The Alaskan Malamute Club of Greater Houston (AMCGH) for 18 years. Tom served on the Board of Directors for AMCGH.
While their "first love" is the Alaskan Malamute, Tom has more recently sparked their love for the Golden Retriever. They also share their lives with and have shown Goldens for twenty one years. Tom and Linda are both members of the Golden Retriever Club of America.
Conditioning and handling dogs for show has been their passion, but they have also had the honor of being invited to judge at several venues over the years. Both Linda and Tom have judged many Sweepstakes, Puppy Groups, Bred-By Exhibitor Groups and Best Bred-By Exhibitor in Show at Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows in Houston, Texas. In 2003, Linda judged the Futurity at the Alaskan Malamute Club of America (AMCA) National Specialty Show in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Linda was a Top Twenty judge at the AMCA National in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2006. In 2013, Tom judged a Doberman Sweepstakes in San Antonio and Linda had the honor of judging the 2013 Veteran, Puppy and Working Dog Sweepstakes at the Samoyed Club of America's National Specialty held at the famed South Fork Ranch in Dallas, Texas. More recently, in April 2016, Tom judged the Puppy and Veteran Sweepstakes for the AMCA Southern Area in conjunction with the Atlanta Kennel Club in Perry, Georgia. Both Tom and Linda aspire to become AKC judges in the near future.
At Wahkeen, Linda and Tom pride themselves in keeping the kennel small so that each and every canine friend receives the tender loving care they deserve. Striving to communicate responsible dog ownership, they carefully screen all potential puppy owners. Because they are strong supporters of Breed Rescues and realize the plight of many homeless animals, they breed very selectively and on a limited basis. They always require companion animals to be spayed/neutered. In the event an owner is unable to keep a dog purchased from them, they will always require the dog be returned.
Occasionally they BOARD show dogs and companions for a select few clients, however, they no longer handle professionally. While they continue to exhibit their own dogs in Owner Handler competition, they are concentrating more on their breeding program, teaching conformation handling lessons, and mentoring new Golden owners.
At Team Wahkeen, any and all inquiries are welcome, as Linda and Tom are always happy to "talk dog!"