Mark your calendars. Westminster is coming! Have you ever shown a dog at Westminster? Have you ever just gone just to watch this prestigious show? What’s so special about it and why do millions of fans watch this show every February? For some it’s considered the world’s greatest dog show!
For all the great things that New York City is known for (Yankee baseball, The Empire State building, Broadway theater, Times Square, some of the world’s most fantastic restaurants, etc.) there’s another thing that if you’re a dog lover you associate with this great city. That is The Westminster Dog Show held at Madison Square Garden in on of the coldest months of the year! Usually this show is held the second week of February.
Who would have ever thought you could hold a dog show in New York City?! It seems way back in 1877, some sporting gentlemen thought it would be a great idea and it has become a tradition ever since. It seems that this prestigious show got its name from a hotel by the same name. The hotel is no longer standing, but the Westminster show continues to attract the “old timers” and the new to the sport of dog showing. The first show held in 1877 was at Gilmore's Garden (the forerunner of Madison Square Garden) which drew an entry of 1,201 dogs. Only the Kentucky Derby sporting event has been around longer than the Westminster Dog show and that’s only by one year.
This is a tidbit that I didn’t know until I researched material for this article. Westminster was established before the American Kennel Club was started! In 1877 Westminster and the AKC developed a set of show rules and regulations and established a Board of Appeals to make sure these rules were followed. Then in 1884, the American Kennel Club was created. I wonder what rules and regulations Westminster followed before their association with the AKC.
Many famous people have entered their dogs at Westminster. Queens, Emperors, and Czars are just some of the people that this dog show found favor with. And even today, if you were to take a stroll around the arena or in the bench area where the dogs are kept, you might just find yourself rubbing elbows with some of Hollywood’s finest. I remember seeing Bill Cosby showing his dogs back in the 80’s.
Most people who show at this show come to parade the “cream of the crop” for the spectators, breeders and judges to admire. These dogs that are entered are already champions. What they are looking for is that elusive Best in Show honor. To achieve that goal they would have had to beat and conquer hundreds of other dogs not only in their own breed, but in all of the entries at this show.
Interestingly enough, the Best in Show award was not bestowed on any dog until 1907! It was given to a Smooth Fox Terrier who would win it three times. She remains the only dog to have accomplished this! There are six other dogs who have won this award two times.
What does it take to win at Westminster? Do you just show up with a gorgeous dog and expect to win with him/her? If only it were that simple. I have watched this show practically every year since the 80’s. Many times I was there in the audience as well going back into the 70’s! I saw some of the most beautiful, well conditioned dogs all gathered in one arena competing for the prestigious title of Best in Show. Anyone of them could be winners……perhaps not on this day, but another day. For this day, only one would walk (or gait) away with that big shiny trophy.
Most of these dogs are competitively campaigned throughout the year. Many of them have numerous Best in Show wins already to their credit. These dogs are heavily advertised in show dog magazines where other breeders, exhibitors and judges see their prestigious wins. Many of these dogs already have established a winning record and have many admirers looking to breed to them or buy a puppy from them. Before some of these dogs step into the ring at Madison Square Garden, they have established quite an impressive show career already. Many spectators know who these dogs are for they are like the “movie stars” of their breed. They definitely have a following. All one has to do is sit and listen to the thunderous applause for some of these gorgeous animals.
And just how does our beautiful breed, the German Shepherd Dog do at this show? Here is one of the best recognized and beloved breeds in the dog world! What track record does this breed have at this show? In over 125 years of this dog show, only one time did the German Shepherd Dog win Best in Show! Only once! And that was the great Ch. Covy Tucker Hills Manhattan. Do you know how hard it is for a German Shepherd to win that title at this show? Very hard! But Manhattan had an extraordinary show record already by the time he entered into the Westminster ring. He was known and beloved all over the dog world. He was a wonderful ambassador for the breed. I won’t bore my readers again with my story that I already wrote about when I saw this wonderful dog make breed history at Westminster. All I can say is that he had the crowd behind him. The applause, the clapping, the feet stomping was deafening! No German Shepherd before him and so far no German Shepherd since has been able to catch the judge’s eye enough to award our breed this “title of titles!”
And how about this years entries for our breed? A friend of mine is showing her beautiful champion. She knows what it takes to show at this show. She’s done it a few times before, but with each year brings with it, the same thrill, the same level of adrenaline, the same hope that maybe, just maybe, her dog will have the judge’s finger pointing at him and crowning him “dog extraordinaire!”
If you go on the Westminster Dog website, you can view throughout the day the different winners of the different breeds.
And as for the rest of us, we’ll sit in the comforts and warmth of our sofa and chairs and cheer for our favorites to win. And although we want with all our hearts for the German Shepherd to win the Best in Show title, we can still appreciate a “good one” from any of the other breeds as well. If you’ve got an eye for a good dog, you won’t miss him. He’s the one who is “asking for” that big old shiny trophy. There’s something very special about the Best in Show winner. He’s just got it written all over him. So get out the popcorn and watch and see it for yourself. You can’t miss it. It’s coming to a television set in your area on Monday and Tuesday, February 15 – 16!
My rating: going to Westminster: (4), winning at Westminster: (4)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Showing posts with label german shepherd dog shows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label german shepherd dog shows. Show all posts
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
EVER NOTICE?
Ever notice while standing at an overly long check out line at a grocery store how many people are thumbing through a magazine? By the time they get to the counter, they’ve gone through the whole magazine, placed it back on the rack and they just got themselves free reading material and it didn’t cost them a dime? Then the next person, who comes along, picks up the very same magazine, pays for it and has now just bought herself a used publication, smudged fingerprints and all!
Ever notice that when you breed to the number one producing stud dog in the country, a fellow breeder “friend” will say to you, “Why’d you breed to that dog? The market is overflowing with his puppies. No one is going to want something from that litter.” Then when she breeds to the very same dog, she’ll say, “I have puppies out of the top producing dog in the breed. Do you know what his puppies are worth?”
Ever notice when your dog loses, how your “friend” might say, “Oh you poor thing, but that was a really nice bitch that beat yours. Better luck next time!” Then when your “friend” shows her dog and loses to the very same bitch, she talks a different tune. “Did you see how that dog was lifting from the elbow? What a piece of junk! That was a set up job if I ever seen one! I should have known better than show here. That exhibitor and judge are the best of friends!”
Ever notice that when your “friend” is showing her dog that she expects and demands that you clap and scream for her dog by coming over to you and saying “Don’t forget to clap for my dog.” Then when you show your dog in one of the classes at the same show, the air is so quiet and still save for your own weak slapping of your hands together. When you ask your “friend” how come she didn’t applaud for your dog, she tells you, “Oh, I forgot.”
Ever notice if your “friends” dog spooks from the judge, she turns scarlet red and says her dog is having a bad day and that it can happen to the best of them. When your dog does the same thing, your “friend” tells you she wouldn’t give your dog kennel space!
Ever notice that a mediocre or even just an “alright kind of dog” if owned by a top breeder and pushed by a top handler can convince owners of great bitches to breed to him and dictate the style of dogs for generations to come? The better quality dog might live right down the street, but if not owned by the big shot or shown by the top handler may just get overlooked. Then notice too, that for years to come the breed will be either over angulated in the rear and then years later, the all breed dog is suddenly popular again. You scratch your head and wonder why the standard was ever written in the first place!
Ever notice when people are running for office in the club, a friendly hand is extended and a big “pearly white mouth of teeth” glistens in the sunshine just begging for your vote. This is the guy who wouldn’t normally give you the time of day and all of a sudden he’s become your best friend. He hands you a cigar, you share a few puffs, and then you listen to his “If I was elected to office, you can be assured that I’d…….yada, yada, yada!” Then after you help him get elected, the next time you see him at a show, you approach him extending your hand for a shake and ask if he has any of those Cuban cigars anymore. He looks at your hand with disdain and almost yells, “What do you think I’m made of money or something, boy?” as he walks away whispering to himself, “Just who the hell does he think he is anyway?”
Ever notice if you buy an imported dog, your “friend” will snicker and say, “Why did you go and spend that kind of money on a roach backed dog? Nope, nope, nope, I wouldn’t want that in my breeding program. A couple years go by and this same “friend” is all excited to show you HER newest import. With her head held high, she exclaims, “Do you know how much this dog from Germany cost me? I spent a fortune on him. You just wait and see how everybody knocks my doors down to breed to him! Do you know how valuable his puppies are going to be? With a quizzical look on your face, you’re wondering why her imported dog will be any more valuable than your imported dog.
Ever notice if you share with your “friend” that you just put a two page black and white ad in the German Shepherd Dog Review, she never really acknowledges what you said. Instead he tells you to look for her two page COLOR spread in the same issue. She goes on to tell you how she had it professionally done while you remember how many hours it took you to even get one page done.
Ever notice if you tell your “friend” that you just got off the telephone with a well known handler who has agreed to show your dog, your friend will tell you “Oh that handler is so yesterday. He’s over the hill. No one is using him anymore.” You scratch your head and question your own sanity. If your memory serves you right this “over the hill” handler just won back to back majors the week-end before!
Ever notice that if you do something one way, your “friend” just has to do it the other way? If you like an all black dog, she likes an all white dog. If you breed to an American champion, she’ll breed to an imported champion. If you feed holistic dog food, she’ll tell you all the reasons why you should be feeding a raw diet. If you win a Select title at the National, she has to win a Best in Show at an all-breed. If your bitch has met all the requirements for her ROM (register of merit) title, she has to make sure her bitch produces one or two more champions than your bitch did.
Ever wonder why you ever have to show your dog ever again? With a “friend” like this there is more competition going on OUTSIDE of the ring than in it!
My rating: Competition in the show ring: (4), Competition outside of the show ring: (1)
Ever notice that when you breed to the number one producing stud dog in the country, a fellow breeder “friend” will say to you, “Why’d you breed to that dog? The market is overflowing with his puppies. No one is going to want something from that litter.” Then when she breeds to the very same dog, she’ll say, “I have puppies out of the top producing dog in the breed. Do you know what his puppies are worth?”
Ever notice when your dog loses, how your “friend” might say, “Oh you poor thing, but that was a really nice bitch that beat yours. Better luck next time!” Then when your “friend” shows her dog and loses to the very same bitch, she talks a different tune. “Did you see how that dog was lifting from the elbow? What a piece of junk! That was a set up job if I ever seen one! I should have known better than show here. That exhibitor and judge are the best of friends!”
Ever notice that when your “friend” is showing her dog that she expects and demands that you clap and scream for her dog by coming over to you and saying “Don’t forget to clap for my dog.” Then when you show your dog in one of the classes at the same show, the air is so quiet and still save for your own weak slapping of your hands together. When you ask your “friend” how come she didn’t applaud for your dog, she tells you, “Oh, I forgot.”
Ever notice if your “friends” dog spooks from the judge, she turns scarlet red and says her dog is having a bad day and that it can happen to the best of them. When your dog does the same thing, your “friend” tells you she wouldn’t give your dog kennel space!
Ever notice that a mediocre or even just an “alright kind of dog” if owned by a top breeder and pushed by a top handler can convince owners of great bitches to breed to him and dictate the style of dogs for generations to come? The better quality dog might live right down the street, but if not owned by the big shot or shown by the top handler may just get overlooked. Then notice too, that for years to come the breed will be either over angulated in the rear and then years later, the all breed dog is suddenly popular again. You scratch your head and wonder why the standard was ever written in the first place!
Ever notice when people are running for office in the club, a friendly hand is extended and a big “pearly white mouth of teeth” glistens in the sunshine just begging for your vote. This is the guy who wouldn’t normally give you the time of day and all of a sudden he’s become your best friend. He hands you a cigar, you share a few puffs, and then you listen to his “If I was elected to office, you can be assured that I’d…….yada, yada, yada!” Then after you help him get elected, the next time you see him at a show, you approach him extending your hand for a shake and ask if he has any of those Cuban cigars anymore. He looks at your hand with disdain and almost yells, “What do you think I’m made of money or something, boy?” as he walks away whispering to himself, “Just who the hell does he think he is anyway?”
Ever notice if you buy an imported dog, your “friend” will snicker and say, “Why did you go and spend that kind of money on a roach backed dog? Nope, nope, nope, I wouldn’t want that in my breeding program. A couple years go by and this same “friend” is all excited to show you HER newest import. With her head held high, she exclaims, “Do you know how much this dog from Germany cost me? I spent a fortune on him. You just wait and see how everybody knocks my doors down to breed to him! Do you know how valuable his puppies are going to be? With a quizzical look on your face, you’re wondering why her imported dog will be any more valuable than your imported dog.
Ever notice if you share with your “friend” that you just put a two page black and white ad in the German Shepherd Dog Review, she never really acknowledges what you said. Instead he tells you to look for her two page COLOR spread in the same issue. She goes on to tell you how she had it professionally done while you remember how many hours it took you to even get one page done.
Ever notice if you tell your “friend” that you just got off the telephone with a well known handler who has agreed to show your dog, your friend will tell you “Oh that handler is so yesterday. He’s over the hill. No one is using him anymore.” You scratch your head and question your own sanity. If your memory serves you right this “over the hill” handler just won back to back majors the week-end before!
Ever notice that if you do something one way, your “friend” just has to do it the other way? If you like an all black dog, she likes an all white dog. If you breed to an American champion, she’ll breed to an imported champion. If you feed holistic dog food, she’ll tell you all the reasons why you should be feeding a raw diet. If you win a Select title at the National, she has to win a Best in Show at an all-breed. If your bitch has met all the requirements for her ROM (register of merit) title, she has to make sure her bitch produces one or two more champions than your bitch did.
Ever wonder why you ever have to show your dog ever again? With a “friend” like this there is more competition going on OUTSIDE of the ring than in it!
My rating: Competition in the show ring: (4), Competition outside of the show ring: (1)
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