Westminster Kennel Show
 

It's over for tonight, but here's the winners thus far:


HOUND: American Fox Hound, "Ch Kiarry's Pandora's Box" (Jewel)

TOY: Affenpinscher, "GCH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari" (Banana Joe)

NON-SPORTING: Bichon Frise, "GCH Vogelflight's Honor To Pillowtalk" (Honor)

HERDING: Old English Sheepdog, "Bugaboo's Picture Perfect" (Swagger)


Tuesday night's schedule (on USA, 8/7pm) is

SPORTING: *German Wirehaired Pointer, "GCH Mt View's Ripsnortersilvercharm" (Oakley)

WORKING: Portuguese Water Dog, "GCH Claircreek Impression De Matisse" (Matisse)

TERRIER: Smooth Fox Terrier, "GCH Slyfox Sneak's A Peek" (Adam?)

and

BEST IN SHOW! Affenpinscher, "GCH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari" (Banana Joe)

New this year is the Reserve (First Runner Up) BIS: Old English Sheepdog, "Bugaboo's Picture Perfect" (Swagger)

Congratulations to all of the owners, breeds, groomers, and other participants who make these dogs so special!



PS: The pundits were wrong, as noted by the statement below:
*This dog bears watching - he has been heralded as the mostly likely to go Best In Show.

I think the hound winner was the American Fox Hound

Thank you! They haven't updated the site yet, and they went a bit too quickly.

Son watched some of it with me this year. He's getting a big kick out of seeing what some of the registered names are. His favorite was from last year, which they re-ran Sunday night -- a Samoyed named "CH McMagic's Candied Ham of Puddlesrun," aka "Candy." He also joins with me in feeling sorry for the dogs whose hair has been conditioned and teased more than Jan Crouch's wig. I know it's the way dog shows work, but Old English Sheepdogs are supposed to look like this:

http://dims.vetstreet.com/dims3/MMAH...45mk062411.jpg

not this:

http://www.dogsindepth.com/herding_d...eepdog_h03.jpg.

I was really tired last night, but I stayed up for the herding dogs. At least sporting dogs come early tonight -- those two groups and hounds are my favorites.

Meanwhile, wife and I decided son needs to see Best in Show.

DH asked if the Old English Sheepdog was a Bichon Frise on steriods. He still doesn't realize how close he came to sleeping on the sofa!

I'll be updating the winners thus far asap. I have to tell you, we Bichon Frise lovers were either so excited or so surprised that laptops went flying, and the gushing ensued for hours!

LOL. But a Bichon Frise is supposed to look like that. It's a companion dog, whose job is look pretty and provide company. (And to be clear, I don't mean that as a slight -- that's a perfectly respectable job for a dog.)

But a sheepdog's job is to herd sheep. Can you imagine what the other animals on the field would say if Old English Sheepdog showed up to work looking like that?

Pay no attention to me -- I just have this thing about dogs being groomed in ways that are contrary to the history and purpose of the breed. :o

One of my former students owned an Old English Sheepdog. The 3 kids in the family would crawl around on their hands and knees and make "baahhing" sounds, and the dog would try to "herd" them. :)

I keep waiting for a Cavalier to win the Toy Group. I did see that the breeders of our dog's sire and grand-sire had entries in the show.

Oh yeah. We had a collie when the kids were little, and she tried to herd them (and us) all the time. Now we have a Golden, who just loves to carry things in his mouth.

I love the Cavalier! My problem is allergies. The Bichon is really the only dog I can handle, and not all of them. :( I've even tried the "designer dog" of the Cavachon (Cavalier + Bichon).

I love our Cavalier. He's funny, gentle, patient, and so friendly to everyone...absolutely no neuroses, never has an accident, and he knows tons of words/commands. When they say companion dog, they mean companion, though. He's like a remora with a shark. He does shed a lot, and he has a very long, thick coat. The Cavalier who won best of breed last year was known for his coat, and Teddy's is just as long and thick. I have to brush him every day.

Have you ever tried a toy poodle? They don't shed...I had one who was the most loving dog. He was wonderful. So intelligent...very easy to train and he followed commands so readily. I could really trust him and rarely used a leash. He would look me in the eye and sigh, and I honestly think he understood the emotion of love.

I haven't tried a poodle, but the main reason is that I am totally in love with the Bichon Frise breed. They are complete velcro dogs, have such a sweet & loving temperament, yet have the fluffiness that I love. The one problem with them is that many people don't have what it takes to housebreak them. That's one of the reasons I'd rather have a rescue than a puppy - but if I could swing a champion sired puppy, I'd be thrilled. Buffy had many champions in his lineage, and his vet always referred to him as the best breed standard he'd ever seen. I cannot wait until we get a place where we can have a dog!

I only cheer for the cocker spaniels! :) Yes, I am biased.

I was excited the Bulldog made the cut in the non-sporting group, but since it didn't win...GO AFFENPINSCHER! I love the 'Monkey Terrier'!

EVERYONE needs to see Best in Show.

"She looks like a cocktail waitress on an oil rig."

The year the German Shepherd Dog, Manhattan, won, my Shepherd was about 8 months old. I sat him in front of the TV and told him to pay attention to learn how to act! He wasn't impressed.....

But he turned out to be very gentle and well mannered without a lot of effort on my part. Very intelligent animals...and very loyal. I miss him terribly...