Ready For Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show?

USA/
Originally uploaded by peximo

Be in front of your TV on Monday, Feburary 14 and Tuesday, February 15th to watch, starting at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 7:00 p.m. Central.

Monday: USA Channel for first hour, then switch to CNBC for next two hours.

Tuesday, February 15: USA Channel for total three hours.

Monday: Groups judged will be Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding.

Tuesday: Groups judged will be Sporting, Working and Terrier. Then Best In Show will be judged.

(Dog pictured in a Shih Tzu who is in the Toy Group.)

Get Ready to Enjoy The Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show!

The Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show (by Invitation) will be broadcast on Monday, February 14 and Tuesday, February 15 on the USA Television Network. Hope I have made it a little easier for you. You can go to the websites listed below to get all the breeds, and even find out about different breeds if you are looking for a new dog yourself. Also, you can follow Westminister K.C. on Facebook and results will be posted on Facebook and Twitter as they become available.

Happy Valentine's Day and enjoy!

IMG_8950
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Belgie Sr.

Who Is The Judge and What Is He Looking For?

IMG_8318-Dick
Originally uploaded by Dogs in Canada Magazine

Dog Show Judges have owned, bred, shown and handled purebred dogs for many years. There is an approved Standard for each and every breed and most judges have these standards in their heads. There is always a Book of Standards on the judging table in case there might be a point he or she would want to check. (You will see smaller dogs lifted onto tables for the judge to go over.)

In addition to each breed's standard, there are general traits judges look for.

When we watch Westminister Kennel Club Show on USA Network this Monday and Tuesday, we will be seeing the Group judging and then Best in Show.

That means every dog we see has already won Best in Breed. So, another judge has already picked a dog as the best over all the others in his Breed.

The judge goes over the dog; he looks at its mouth, its teeth. Especially with long-coated breeds, he is going to be making sure there is a good body under there.

A dog worthy of Best in Group has a little something extra. Watch for the dog who knows where he is and is watching the judge almost as intently as the judge is watching him!

We all tend to look for the dog who looks like our dog at home, but the Judge is looking for the dog who comes closest to the Standard in that book. He (or she) is also looking for a dog with a little something extra.

You might be able to see it on your TV screen at home. Some dogs just love being at dog shows. They have just the right personality and temperament to be there. They know why they are there.

The dogs we will watch at Westminister on Monday and Tuesday have all won Best in Shows . . . some of them more than one. So this is "old hat" to them.

There is another factor and that is how is the dog feeling on that day?

My personal thought is that a dog who was shown in the Group on Tuesday may have a better chance at performing well in the Best In Show Ring.

Or . . . perhaps the dog who has rested overnight has a better chance!

Hope you enjoy the show and be happy with the Grand Winner because he or she was the best dog on his best behavior and in his best form THAT NIGHT!

Puli Dog - Herding Group

Puli Dog
Originally uploaded by avidpets

This breed is sometimes white and sometimes black. His cords are natural and look like a human's dreadlocks. He also is from Hungary and has been herding sheep their for at least 1,000 years.

I am not sure this is just what the average family wants to have, but this dog and his alter ego, the larger Komondor in the Working Group, are very interesting to watch at a Dog Show.

I have been privileged to see fine specimens of this breed whose gait was so beautiful you could see the outline of their body as they ran 'round the ring in the sunshine.

Dogue de Bordeaux - Working Group

Dogue de Bordeauxs
Originally uploaded by Toffycrackle - a little behind :)

I chose this breed because he is truly loveable. The one pictured was a winner at Crufts. Take a good look at that face and tell me you could not befriend this dog.

The big drawback for most families, of course, is his immense size. The ones I have know were indeed gentle giants and I am sure they could add to your tab at the supermarket checkout.

Look For The Vizsla In The Sporting Group

luka1
Originally uploaded by Andrew Seel

The Vizsla, a Hungarian breed, has a reddish coat while his look-a-like, the Weimaramer, is grey. This is a smart and very beautiful representative of a Sporting Dog who lives to "point" and work in the field. So, that makes him an ideal hunting dog.

However, the Vizsla also makes a fine family pet who is easily trained.

It is important to note that this breed does need lots of exercise, so he should have a large backyard to run.

Havanese - Relatively New To The Toy Group

2009 Havanese National Specialty, originally uploaded by Hav n Knit Lover.

The Havanese (actually an old breed) originated in Cuba and was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1996. He is in the Toy Group and is similar in appearance to the Shih Tzu. He makes a good family pet; likes lots of exercise and requires lots of grooming.

Look for this breed on Monday night.