Doggone Etiquette —

The BIG Dog Show

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

Not many people (even your own VIPeople) compete to become Beauty Queens, or win prizes for being the most Handsome Fellow, but lots of you dogs do it all the time at special events called dog shows. Maybe some of your buddies are (or were) known as “show dogs.” They’ll be flattered if you ask if they are, and so will their people. If you are not a show dog, you could be a “show-off” — doing silly things to amuse your people so they pay attention to you. I’m sure that makes you the Best Dog in their eyes, regardless of your ancestry. Keep it up!

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:            

Fortunately, we humans do not have written specifics by which to judge people individually. Physical attributes such as arch of neck, length of back, or the length of our nose and ear are of no importance in our judgment of a person’s worth. With animals, it’s different. Each individual breed has what is called a Breed Standard, which is a written description of what would be a perfect example of that breed. In dog shows qualified judges make hands-on evaluations of each purebred being shown, as well as observing its movement. It’s not only what you might see, such as the color, size or shape of the dog, but the structure underneath it all that is important. In addition, the personality or temperament must come across as typical for the breed.    

If you are not acquainted with dog shows, you may be confused by the language, which is true in any sport. Here are some examples: Pet dogs “shed” but show dogs “blow coat.” Pet dogs “walk” but show dogs “gait” or “move.” Pet dogs “beg for treats” whereas show dogs “bait.” There are lots more, but you get the idea.

In choosing a dog as a pet for the family, temperament and personality are primary considerations. A breed known for its ability to herd sheep may keep the family cornered! Certain hunting breeds valued for their ability to bark could be a disaster in an apartment or condo. The size of the adult dog has to be taken into account. Some breeds such as Poodles accommodate pet owners by coming in three sizes — Toy, Miniature and Standard. Or what about Dachshunds — in two sizes and three different coats — smooth, longhaired and wirehaired! Regardless of the breed, grooming is part of its upkeep and proper care of the dog’s coat keeps it healthy and good-looking.

If you are beginning to wonder where all this purebred dog talk is taking us, I’m delighted to tell you — the Westminster Kennel Club dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York City!  Judging of the seven Groups is spread over two days. By the end of the second day, 41 judges will have gone over 2,500 dogs.           

On Monday, February 15 four Groups — Hounds, Toys, Non-Sporting and Herding dogs — will be judged by their individual breeds all day, starting at 8 am. Each winner of its breed will then compete in the evening to place 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in its group. On Tuesday, the 16, three groups — Sporting, Terrier and Working breeds — will be in the rings during the day, followed by the judging of those three groups in the evening. Another exciting event is Junior Showmanship, in which boys and girls aged 9 to 18 years who have qualified at dog shows throughout the previous year, vie for the title of Best Junior Handler.      

Finally, there’s the highlight of the two-day event everyone is waiting for — the judging of Best In Show from the seven Group winners. The BIS winner at Westminster is a celebrity dog for life!

There is much, much more going on at this prestigious canine event. The dogs are benched, so spectators can wander through the area to see the different breeds. For full information, log onto www.westminsterkennelclub.org, and if for any reason you can’t make it to NYC, the show will be covered online and the Groups and Best In Show on television.                   

In the meantime—BE GOOD!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.