Dog Working
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.
Dog Working
I thought this link had some great photos of the dogs (backstage.) We have Weims and I got a kick out of the characteristic way the Weim was sitting, ours do the same thing. (guess a breed trait is a breed trait whether they’re show dogs or household pets.)
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/02/westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-photos.html
Second, "Best In Show" is not literally, the best in the show. It is simply the single dog that most closely conforms to the written AKC standard for it's individual breed. "Best in show" is not a competition between all the dogs in the show, but more so a competition between individual breeders and their ability to produce a dog that exemplifies the written standard for its breed.
I've owned either GSDs or Belgians virtually my whole life, and have never once felt slighted by the AKC shows. Why fret about "best in show" when you already own "best on earth"?
Our Dachshunds like moles, squirrels, birds, rabbits, rats for appetizers and between meals. They haven’t caught the rabbit yet... :-) [but they have all the others...]
I generally root for the hounds, including the Afghan, since we had one (beautiful dog, and they’re not dumb, they just have cat-like personalities). The Whippet was gorgeous, but this year, the little French Bulldog stole my heart, too adorable and so alert, his eyes were glued to the handler.
My daughter has two rabbits... and we have 3 hounds. They all seem to get along well. But, if we go out for a walk or hiking, the hounds go nuts over the wild rabbits.
:-) ... yeah... they seem to adapt to animals that are “around them” all the time, I guess. I was going to put down “cats” and they don’t necessarily like them and bark at the neighbors cat through the window, at times, or through the fence, if they are outdoors — but that same cat, when they are walking around the block and they come up on it, they seem to respect the claws... LOL... but really, they do okay with that same cat and just look at it and move along.
So, it’s sorta funny bark and go crazy when looking through the window and/or fence, but when they’re outside and facing it... they’re actually quite polite to that same cat... :-)
NYC is such a small place that they really don’t matter in the scheme of the whole country. Most people think the cities are so great and look down at people who live in the country where dogs are more of a fit. What part of this country is city and what is rural, 90-10? so why do the cities take most of the money and all the credit?
They never pick corgis! My wife and I skipped the second night after seeing the corgi shut out again.
Here's a favorite pic I found online: 
Passed Out Corgi puppy
Funniest thing I ever saw was my lab thinking he could catch a rabbit.
The rabbit was toying with him as they ran, only in a trot while my boy was in full run as fast as he could.
The rabbit made instant 90degree turns and my boy had to swing wide turns, slipping and falling.
My boy held his own pretty good until the rabbit had had enough. The rabbit found a open area and shot forward like a rocket in what was the closest real-life roadrunner/coyote scenario I had ever seen.
My boy just slowed down to a stop and looked at the fading rabbit in amazement. Next time.....
>Second, “Best In Show” is not literally, the best in the show. It is simply the single dog that most closely conforms to the written AKC standard for it’s individual breed. “Best in show” is not a competition between all the dogs in the show, but more so a competition between individual breeders and their ability to produce a dog that exemplifies the written standard for its breed.
I’ve owned either GSDs or Belgians virtually my whole life, and have never once felt slighted by the AKC shows. Why fret about “best in show” when you already own “best on earth”? <
Well said, Joe. Best in Show at Westminster can literally be a curse to a breed. The Papillon has experienced huge problems with overbreeding and the breed rescues are overwhelmed because naive people get them for children - not a good idea as they are too fragile and easily hurt.
I hope Scotties don’t explode in popularity. They’re a tough dog and they can be fierce if mistreated. They need a firm owner and they need training.
I have a Great Pyrenees named Brother Bear and I think HE is the most beautiful dog in the world. You never see a dog like him getting the nod. Very unfair.
I liked the Doberman from the group. But the Kuvacs or however it’s spelled just swept me away, as did the Irish terrier. The expression on the Whippet’s face made you remember how fun it is to play with dogs.
I am tired of the Poodle fixation at the Westminster though, I admit.
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