Posted on 02/18/2010 6:17:41 AM PST by JoeProBono
Meaning no disrespect to Sadie the Scottie, who won Best in Show at this year's Westminster competition, and, really, really, really, really, we mean no disrespect to Sadie, who is as terminally adorable as any lapworthy mutt could be.
But, still - another Scottie?
Clearly, the judges are not New Yorkers. This is a sin for which they can be forgiven, but their anti-New York-dog prejudices are unpardonable.
The city is a working town, but the judges have it in for big, brawny, lunchpail-type canines.
There are 26 working breeds, including boxers, Dobermans, Rottweilers and great Danes. In the Best in Show competition's 103-human-year, 721-dog-year history, members of these 26 breeds have taken top prize a grand total of nine times. Meanwhile, darling, darling Scotties have copped eight blue ribbons.
Worse injustices are playing out in plain sight.
According to the American Kennel Club, the most popular breeds among New York City dog owners are, in descending order, Yorkshire terriers, Labradors, dachshunds, Shih Tzus and German shepherds.
But for more than a century, the judges have skunked Labs, dachshunds and Shih Tzus, while deigning to give the nod to a single Yorkie in 1978 and a single German shepherd in 1987.
The insult is palpable. These are among the finest dogs the world has to offer, yet they are treated like curs. Why? Because where these judges are concerned, there's a very big problem at the other end of the leash.
Love the Working group but this year the Whippet should have been Best In Show!
I was partial to the French Bulldog this year, but that was a good lookin Whippet!
I’ll see you all your working dogs and raise you one Brittany
Spaniel. RIP Pumpkin, Ace, Angel, Friskie and Sadie
I was not aware of the harrier dog breed. Looked like a tall beagle.
But at the end of the day, there's nothing like settling down for a nice jar of peanut butter...
The sighthounds often get overlooked (except the Afghans). I’m partial to long noses :) but the Fr Bulldog was a cutie!
Apparently there was a ruckus during the Best In Show competition. Did you notice when the announcer, who is always flawless, sounded like he had a stroke, and kept getting the dogs wrong? A couple of PeTA-types were on the floor protesting something-or-other.
After all that fuss, I don't blame the judge for going with the safe choice.
On the other hand, our kids have a black Scotty named Rex, and he's like a big dog in a little dog's body. Our half lab/half Komondors are more gentle than he is. LOL
Here’s the breakdown by group of winners:
Terrier Group: 44
Sporting Group: 19
Working Group: 15
Non-Sporting Group: 10
Toy Group: 9
Hound Group: 4
Herding Group: 2
Ping
I am owned by a Chesepeake Bay Retriever and a German Shepherd. GREAT dogs [and breeds] that have no shot. I gave up on Westminster years ago.
I Have to agree, although I don’t remember seeing whippets before, unless I mistook it for a greyhound, the whippet had more personality and the most beautiful markings of any other dog (except the one that was completely white with it’s ink dipped black head).
At first, when you look at a whippet, you see a skinny dog with too long of a face and too small of ears and funny looking eyes but when he took the stage all you see is his grace and strength gliding around the arena and an almost smile and bounce that transformed him into one of the most beautiful dogs I have watched perform.
They really don’t like the hunters or herders at all.
[I think all four, combined, eat about 1/2 of what a Great Dane would... LOL...]
They're all minis and one of them looks like that one...
Terriers come with plenty of attitude that is for certain. In our house we are big dog fans - my bulldog mix at 65 pounds is considered a “little” dog :-)
I think big dogs are actually more laidback. They know they are big and have the physical confidence to let things ride. Smaller dogs tend to feel the need to assert themselves.
Nothing makes my bassets happier than a mostly empty peanut butter jar. They will work on that for weeks.
Ok, I’m partial to whippets - had one for 11 yrs. Wonderful personalities. They come in two speeds: super-fast and sleep-on-lap. Great with kids too. But when they spot a squirrel, they are All Hunt - almost like a trance, their entire focus is on the prey. It’s really amazing to watch them run!
Well the Salukis just stand there with this angry sullen look, saying "Booorrring! Just get me outahere! Isn't there a squirrel or a deer that needs chasing somewhere?
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