BS: Westminster Dog Show

Subject: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 01:36 PM

I searched for it on live TV last week. It was on a "pay" channel.

Then, I found out the opening night was on The Discovery Channel Sat morn... too late... only caught the herding group (I disagreed with the choice, but only slightly). Saw that the closing night would be on this AM, 9 to 12AM. Set the VCR so I could watch it this PM.

Mentioned it to Mum when I collected her for Walkies. She asked, "Is that the one where the old dog won best-in-show?" Sigh.

Anyway, just wanted to know, how many of youse are fans? Do you get right into it? To me, it's almost like watching sports. I have been known to approach the TV so that the judge could hear me better.

(BTW, no, I won't say my hearding group choice.)

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 02:04 PM

A really good show this time. Best won by the Sussex Spaniel at 10 years old and that was just part of it! An odd and wonderful group for Best In Show. A Puli and a Scottish Deerhound? Great to see Group winners that were less than common. Also I noticed this year there seemed to be a lot of bitches as Group winners!

CNBC and USA combined to show all of the Groups and Best and once again Karen and I sat here just digging it. We were pulling for the Scottish Deerhound but happy with the Sussex.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Alice
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 02:12 PM

I saw it. I thought the Scottish Terrier was going to win. It was a surprise that the "old dog" won, but a happy result. Go, old dog!

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Ebbie
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 02:42 PM

It always surprises me how clearly the dog knows it has won. Race horses do it too. I don't think it's just the excitement exhibited by its owners/handlers but somethng more.

My dog did something similar on last night's walk.

Meggie loves food (Well, they do say they come to resemble their owners!) and sometimes she finds food along the street that she can never rsist. In all likelihood in most cases the food has been tossed for next day's raven contingent and in the wintertime I would far rather see them get it.

Anyway last night Meggie found some french fries that some kind folk had scattered and set to work. They were frozen, of course, and the scene was kind of comical.

I let her munch down half a dozen then told her, OK, that's enough now. Come with me.

She grabbed one last morsel and stood there thinking. I turned away repeating my instruction.

She came with me and was overjoyed with herself. I had to congratulate her and mock tussle her. so proud.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 03:47 PM

Nice to see a gundog get it. What's happening in pointers in the USA - over here they don't look anything like pointers to me any more.. (it's the fault of that vet who line-bred liver and whites, the heads and the back legs have gone very odd).

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 04:11 PM

Yes, Richard! It was a young man's dream of mine to get into breeding pointers... English and German.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Ebbie
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 04:17 PM

I thought I knew a great many breeds and types but the Sussex Spaniel is a new breed to me. Many gaps in my knowledge.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 07:02 PM

I always fancied re-establishing the pointer as an HPR breed: for some reason people use the GSP (which you mention), the rather pretty GWP, the Visla, the Weimaraner and the Spinone as HPR breeds but refuse to accept that the pointer can retrieve, or be used for fur as well as feather. I don't think there is as elegant a dog at work as a quartering pointer (although I don't really like the attemts to breed back the all-blacks).

I'd also like to see a serious attempt to work clumber spaniels, IMHO unmatched for long work in heavy cover and steadier than either the English or Welsh springers. A working strain would reduce the showing tendency to excessive bulk.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Nick E
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 08:05 PM

First let me ask what HPR and GSP mean. What do they mean?
Secondly let me say I look forward all year to Westminster. I know they say Kupps is the #1 show in the world, but being raised in New York I gotta go with the dog show at the Garden!

What I think most remarkable was the age of Stump, Oldest to ever win best in show.

As for Dogs starting to look weird, that is all the fault of the AKC memebers, generaly the breeders and owners of SHOW dogs, they influence the breed standards the dogs are judged by. What the AKC members have done to the German Shepherd is a freaking crime. They now have such small back legs that in a group known for hip problems, it is just stupid! It is also a trend you can see over the span of 25 years, the change in the Shepherd Breed winners.

Still I love the show, I watch more than a few through the year on Animal Planet, if I get up early enough on Sat morning.
WOOF!

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Mrs Cobble
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 09:18 PM

Nice to see A Sussex Spaniel won. The UK Kennel Club has a list of British Native breeds very low in number, resulting in very small gene pool. The Sussex and the Scottish Deer Hound are both on the list along with my breed the Skye Terrier.

Nick E    Krupps .......    Crufts


Woof

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 09:22 PM

:~(

Some of us will be getting this later this month, but it's spoiled now because the ending was given out here!!!!!! :~(

And I used to REALLY look forward to it as completely escapist stress relief!

Is not even the Dog World safe now?

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 12:46 AM

Good grief, Susan. Is New York City really that far from you? Seems like you could get it practically with rabbit ears.

Not to mention that the title of this thread should have been a clue.

??

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 04:20 AM

Hunt-Point-Retrieve

German Short-haired Pointer

German Wire-Haired Pointer.


Yes, the changes to the GSD (German Shepherd Dog)are criminal - not so much the length of the back legs as the strange angulation, and also the banana shaped backs and the low-set tails that cause anal gland problems. And have you looked at the Belgian Shepherds? Spindly and fragile.

Also ruined, in the opposite direction - the British Bulldog - once much more like a boxer, and relatively agile. How could one of the present monstrosities dodge a fighting bull long enough to clamp on its nose?

The Red Setter is rare to see without a spavined rear action, and their intelligence has been almost wholly lost. The rarer Red and White is a much healthier dog. The Otterhound, I have to say, I do not much grieve - as the old saying goes "What has an IQ of 100? A pack of otterhounds".

The Cocker Spaniel (not the American Cocker, that is a different set of problems) has been ruined, with suspect temperaments and narrow heads.

I don't know what to do about the gene pool problem though. It's fashion, I suppose. There can only be a handful of either of the smooth-haired fox terrier and wire haired fox terrier left, and I am sure the smooth collie is getting very rare (for that I blame the "Lassie" films).

THe Manchester terrier has I think been supplanted by the "Jack Russell" (usually a mongrel) as a better ratter, and Clumber spaniels are charming but too bulky for their own good as I say above.

Curly Coated retrievers and Irish Water Spaniels are both lovely and would be sadly missed, and GOrdon Setters ahve a dashing charm as well (but a sound robust one is getting rarer).

Non-UK breeds taht should be diligently preserved include teh Komondor, possibly teh Canaan Hound and certainly the Pharoah Hound, which has to be one of the longest established pure breeds. I once nearly rescued wo - but the vandals ata certain rescue centre had neutered them both - the ONLY breeding pair of white Pharoah Hounds in the country at the time (unusually, white is a permitted colour in Pharoah Hounds).

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: open mike
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 02:42 PM

i loved the Puli and Kommordore ... dreadlocks!

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 05:00 PM

Eb,

We get PA prgramming, not NY, and rabbit ears here get zip. (It would be like me asking if you can't get Russkie TV on your rabbit ears.)

Also, who knew it was not for an UPCOMING show? Our cable shows them all, in the months following the live event. The hockey threads, for example, are almost always anticipatory rather than after-the-fact.

There's a term for this on the Net, for good reason, that is often used in a topic title: SPOILERS.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 05:11 PM

pah I don't agree, Susan. Here is the opening post, quite obviously referring to a past event:

"I searched for it on live TV last week. It was on a "pay" channel.

"Then, I found out the opening night was on The Discovery Channel Sat morn... too late... only caught the herding group (I disagreed with the choice, but only slightly). Saw that the closing night would be on this AM, 9 to 12AM. Set the VCR so I could watch it this PM.

"Mentioned it to Mum when I collected her for Walkies. She asked, "Is that the one where the old dog won best-in-show?" Sigh.

"Anyway, just wanted to know, how many of youse are fans? Do you get right into it? To me, it's almost like watching sports. I have been known to approach the TV so that the judge could hear me better.

"(BTW, no, I won't say my hearding group choice.) " gmi

I agree, of course, that there are times when I miss something - a show, a concert, a conversation - that I dearly wish I had known about/ not forgotten about / decided against. But hey, that's life.

(I might could pick up Russian television through rabbit ears. In Oregon, my brother's home-made tabletop antenna picked up South Dakota television, and that was back in the 60s.)

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 10:26 AM

Where did my post go?

It was...

Ebbie... what does "gmi" mean?

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 10:27 AM

I see it now. Maybe if I post again, it won't drop off.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 11:09 AM

What does 'gmi' mean? Ask my fingers, gnu. Ask my fingers.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 11:31 AM

Did a quiz night last month for a dog obedience class. Two picture rounds, one of famous dogs (real & cartoon) another to identify the breeds.
All pictures in the latter round were taken from one of the weekly dog papers (Christmas 1946) and not quite to current breed standards!

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 01:01 PM

Ebbie.... you giving me the fingers? >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 01:05 PM

Oops!

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 01:58 PM

Hehehehee!

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 05:47 PM

It's coming... I shall be "glued"...

The Westminster Kennel Club 135th Annual Dog Show
The 135th Annual Westminster Kennel Club All Breed Dog Show will be held on February 14-15, 2011 at Madison Square Garden. Ticket order forms will be available here on the WKC website beginning on September 17.

Six breeds will be making their Westminster debuts in 2011 now that they have been recognized by the American Kennel Club and made eligible for competition in conformation shows.

The Boykin Spaniel (Sporting Group), Bluetick Coonhound and the Redbone Coonhound (Hound Group), Cane Corso and Leonberger (Working Group), and the Icelandic Sheepdog (Herding Group) will be competing in their first Westminster in February 2011.

Breeds in the Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups will be judged during the day Monday, with those Groups being judged Monday evening. Breeds in the Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups will be judged during the day Tuesday and those Groups will be judged that evening, followed by Best In Show.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 07:29 PM

And no mention of Anne Widdecombe.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 08:18 PM

? Davie b'y?

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: GUEST,jeff
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 03:01 PM

Why is the Westminster Kennel Club's premier event held in NYC? I love watching it as I'm a Cardigan Corgi guy, but it always seemed to me it should be held in the London Paladium or maybe other places on a rotating basis.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 10 Feb 11 - 08:11 AM

Feb 14 & 15.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 10 Feb 11 - 08:15 AM

Six new breeds.

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2011/show/news/newbreed_080410.html

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 10 Feb 11 - 08:26 AM

Why is the Westminster Kennel Club's premier event held in NYC?

1876 (or earlier) - A group of sporting gentlemen meet regularly in the bar of a Manhattan hotel to trade stories about their shooting accomplishments and the talents of their dogs. Eventually they form a club and name it after their favorite hotel: The Westminster Breeding Association. Early on, the club owns a kennel and raises Pointers for hunting and field trials.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Alan Day
Date: 10 Feb 11 - 11:34 AM

We have Crufts coming up at the NEC at Birmingham.
We have entered our young English Setter Bitch ,but not expecting to do well this Year.
My Wife Jenny is a Show Champion Judge and is judging English Setters at the Welsh Show soon. We have five now which includes one Champion Dog and poor old Hetty who won Best Puppy in Breed at Crufts about twelve years ago. Not very well at the moment.
Enjoy your showing
Al

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: GUEST,jeff
Date: 10 Feb 11 - 01:22 PM

Thank you, gnu for that informed explanation. I'd wondered for years about the question, but never thought to ask anyone before. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 10 Feb 11 - 01:38 PM

I got that off the website. Sorry... should have attributed it same.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 02:01 PM

If you go to the site, you can watch streaming video live for some of the show, it seems. It'll be on TV later in the week and again on the weekend, and that's what I will watch.

Stream schedule

NIGHT 1:
Monday, February 13
Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups
8-9 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network
9-11 p.m. (ET) live on CNBC

NIGHT 2:
Tuesday, February 14
Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups, Best In Show
8-11 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network

Breed judging highlight videos are available throughout the day on Monday and Tuesday on the Westminster Web site. These highlights will be available after the show, as well.

To our West Coast viewers: Please note that the West Coast telecast is delayed for your time zone. Since results are posted to our Web site as they occur live, if you want to enjoy the drama of the moment, please avoid the Westminster Web site after 5 p.m. Pacific Time on each evening.

Schedule for Canada

Animal Planet LIVE (online also)
Discovery World Thursday and Friday Feb 16 and 17 at 8p
Discovery Channel Saturday and Sunday Feb 18 and 19 at noon

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: saulgoldie
Date: 14 Feb 12 - 12:39 PM

Sorry, but when I hear "Westminister Dog Show" my mind inevitably goes to the movie "Best in Show." Some of the same folks who did "Mighty Wind."

Saul

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Feb 12 - 12:49 PM

Which is a huge hit amongst the doggie set. You cannot go to a show since that movie and not hear lines quoted.

Good show so far this year!


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Elmore
Date: 14 Feb 12 - 02:27 PM

CATSPAW: Don't you find this thread intimidating?

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Mrrzy
Date: 15 Feb 12 - 07:27 PM

OK, here;s a fun quiz stolen straight from Slate Magazine. Half of these are real dog names, half are from Alan Ginsberg's Howl. Which are which? Answers in Slate.

1.      Casablanca's Thrilling Seduction
2.      Fireside's Spontaneous Combustion
3.      Greystone's Foetid Halls
4.      Caresses of Atlantic and Caribbean Love
5.      Skyline's Eliminator
6.      Carpe Diem's Old School
7.      Ancient Heavenly Connection
8.      Protocol's Veni Vidi Vici
9.      Eternity Outside of Time
10.    Goldhorn Shadow of the Band
11.    Bedlam's Changing Times
12.    Cinnabars Aldebaran Epiphany
13.    Newark's Bleak Furnished Room
14.    Freedoms Playing With the Gang
15.    Shadow of Dungarees
16.    America's Naked Mind
17.    Nakado's Reign of Glory
18.    Catanya's Latin Lover
19.    Peerless I Am the Love Bug
20.    I'm With You in Rockland
21.    Devils and Fairies Flesh for Fantasy
22.    The Last Gyzym of Consciousness
23.    Starry Dynamo in the Machinery of Night
24.    Kind King Light of Mind
25.    Split the Heavens of Long Island
26.    Seamist on a Windward Tack
27.    Dripping From a Sea-Journey
28.    Sunseeker Pirate's Code
29.    McMagic's Candied Ham of Pebbles Run
30.    Submarine Light Of Bickford's

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 10:40 AM

13:00 to 16:00 AST Discovery Channel Canada today and tomorrow on Discovery Channel Canada.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 11:29 AM

This year's show had one of the most perfect Dalmatians I have ever seen, a Doberman beyond belief, a GSD that was truly the picture of what that dog should be, and an Irish Setter with beauty and pizzazz. The Kerry Blue could not be more classic and the Dachsund was not to be denied. One of the best BIS groups I have seen at Westminster.......but they were all denied.

Now I know the judge is there on the spot and can be aware of things we don't se, but this ignorant, scrawny-assed, bling laden, doofus chose a cross bred carpet beetle and guinea pig that resembled a mop with a smashed nose face as BIS. I hope she is overcome for the rest of her years with itchy crotch disease and retires to her room for the rest of her life.


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 12:32 PM

I shant read any posts after my last one until after tomorrow's TV broadcast is over but I hope LH got to see the weeny dogs. The long hair got a "holy ****!" from me as soon as they put the camera on him.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 02:01 PM

Olddude has 4 weenies, 3 of which are dogs................

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 03:53 PM

Great show, some breeds that were new to me.
I like them all. Glad that the Discovery channel is repeating shows.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: gnu
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 04:04 PM

I knew that shepherd would win group the minute I saw it. What a beautiful dog!

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 04:05 PM

I don't recall what channel around here that the dog show was on but indeed, rabbit ears to work well in the northern tier of PA. It was all we ever had for the first 11 years here..we got local ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS.


Maybe I'm confused but I thought the really creepy little pekingese got best of show? I was rooting for the Berner but she didn't make the cut. Given the last lot remaining, I thought the Shepard was GORGEOUS, the doberman was classic (muscular, great stance) and I was kind of liking the dalmatian too. But that little bundle of hair? The one that muttered while her owner walked her around (thought it was so funny..she looked like she was complaining the entire way....love the little flat teeth)? No way. She was way too prissy...all her owner did was chase her around with a comb...who wants to do that all day with their dog?

Oh well. There were some gorgeous dogs there...I just happen to be a fan of the big dogs. :) WOOF!

*Reaching down to pet my own 120lb Berner*   :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 05:35 PM

The group wins are the important ones, in my opinion. Different dogs, different purposes, and selecting one as best seems subjective to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 07:23 PM

Michelle....read my post again. That carpet beetle/guinea pig mix with the flat, ugly face was of course the Peke, a breed I just can't take...........along with any number of other tiny and ridiculous looking things purporting to be dogs.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: GUEST,Blowzabella sans cookie
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 09:34 PM

I'm not a dog shower or breeder, but am involved with various dog forums. Was very disappointed to read that some breeders are being very genetically irresponsible and breeding from a sire who is both blind and deaf, because of his own genetic faults, thus passing on who knows what into next generations - the link is here link

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: Crowhugger
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 10:43 PM

I was busy eating my way through the resort menu and then snorkelling it off in Hawaii last week so I'll catch the groups on re-runs. Did catch the BIS though. Sort of backwards order of viewing but that's okay with me; I just enjoy watching the dogs. I agree with Blowzy's outrage about the double merle collie breeding choice (see link in above post). Alas there are self-serving climbers in every group of people.

I still enjoy watching the show. It's a chance to see many breeds I don't encounter in daily life (I didn't even know of the Sussex Spaniel either). That doesn't mean I take many of the current breed standards very seriously. I don't agree with breed standards that are quirky rather than healthy and functional, like the flat-faced or fighting breeds created and/or maintained entirely for human amusements.

Subject: RE: BS: Westminster Dog Show
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 10:59 PM

LOL Spaw....missed it!!! But I think you got it right on...that was one goofy looking dog!!!