The 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (2012)

westminsterkennelclub ^

[nuconvert]

Tonight & tomorrow night 8PM ET... Begins on the USA channel and switches over to CNBC after the first hour

All Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding breeds and varieties will be judged on Monday, with Groups judged on Monday evening.

All Sporting, Working, and Terrier breeds and varieties will be judged on Tuesday, with Groups judged on Tuesday evening. Best In Show will also be judged on Tuesday evening.

Six needs breeds will be added this year:

AMERICAN ENGLISH COONHOUND (Hound Group)

CESKY TERRIER (Terrier Group)

ENTLEBUCHER MOUNTAIN DOG (Herding Group)

FINNISH LAPPHUND (Herding Group)

NORWEGIAN LUNDEHUND (Non-Sporting Group)

XOLOITZCUINTLI (Non-Sporting Group)

[the OlLine Rebel]

“for some reason German Shepherds usually get through and all the Belgian family, shepherd, sheepdog etc never get through”

Actually, GS have a harder time than they should, being the most popular dog world-wide for decades. They don’t win Group that much, and finally Manhattan won the whole BIS - years ago.

The problem consistently is popularity. These judges don’t actually deal with most of these breeds personally, so that itself is trouble. Then couple that with the fact there are few of rarer breed to judge. Judges don’t really get much practice with rarer breeds, and frankly I think they discount them simply because they don’t know much.

It was a shock for the Sussex Spaniel to win BIS the other year.

[nuconvert]

GCH”?

Grand champion

[manc]

a lot of judges, judge on who is showing, who is the owner and who knows who. I've been to countless shows and seen this first hand and there is also a more ignorant view of the bigger dogs. When you look at most past winners, not all but most they have been the smaller types. Like last night the guy speaking said of Darlene who was showing and whom I've known for years and who I have dogs off. "The famous Darlene family for the Tervs" then went on and scoffed how she was a retired police officer but left out she was also military, worked with dogs in the military and the police.. Speaking of which I was with her at a show once and a couple of homosexual men came up to her and attacked her verbally because she worked with dogs in the military. While there is some decent folk there is a lot of strange angry snotty folk at these shows.

[nuconvert]

Manhattan was absolutely gorgeous - I remember him. He won in 1987, and was the only G. Shepherd to win Best in Show at Westminster.

[manc]

was one of the most impressive beautiful German Shepherds I have ever seen, wasn’t too keen on the one last night though.

[Daffynition]

Lordy no! When I watched her, long ago, she *always* had a liver colored *Paw Paw* wandering in and out the viewing field of the camera. Then came *GK*...*Ghenghis Khan*...Back in 2009, she lost GK in an explosion/fire at a Pennsylvania kennel where he was being boarded. This is a descendent of GK, GK2 was bred by Karen Tracy, who is the co-owner.

[nuconvert]

The GS last night was nice, but he’s no Manhattan.
He did seem to show better by the end of the nite, though.

[Darnright]

>What is “GCH”?<

Grand champion - AKC figured out that once the average dog got its championship, it went home never to be in a show ring again. So now people compete in the BOB classes to get a grand championship, then 2nd grand, 3rd, 4th, etc.

I’ll take my retired champions into the obedience or rally classes instead. I think a good dog needs a title at both ends of its name.

[hoosiermama]

The German Shephard really had a working dog attitude when he showed. Beautiful animal.

Some of the other winners surprised me....Some more than others.

Looking forward to tonight. THe GS has my heart so far....and I’m not usually fond of that breed.

[the OlLine Rebel]

How come, despite getting German Shepherd Review for 10 years, I’ve never seen in the gazillion ads or recaps a “GCh” or “Grand Champion” notated? Now, they’re more obsessed with the “specialty” side, and definitely our own “Grand Victor” (GV) is noted if the dog won that award (it’s not an honor, it’s just a single show that’s needed), but I’m sure some of them are in all-breed (Dallas) alot and I can’t believe you cannot get “beyond Ch.” via specialty shows.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Manhattan was nice (strange for a Covy-Tucker Hill who are kings of the “American” dog), not perfect, but nice. I like the recent Dallas better (except the strange weak/side ears). Also, my dog’s grandsire, the wonderful top-level all-breed GS in the early ‘80s http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=523475

However, I’ll never forget attending with my dog the Old Dominion KC show way back in ‘85 or so (it used to be the biggest show in the country, if not now). He was listed to be there. However, he didn’t come. A GS man I was talking to said the dog was probably having “hip issues” because he often wouldn’t show up when his hips were bothering him. True? Untrue? In any case, it has marred my view of him.

(BTW, my not-so-great dog was 2nd of 2 in Novice! LOL)

[the OlLine Rebel]

This is my problem all the time. I want German Shepherd to be represented and win, but yet I moan and groan every year how poor the GS is. I’d prefer a serious, old-fashioned GS to win it all.

I thought the Rough Collie was gorgeous (they’re my 2nd favorite), and sorry he didn’t place.

[manc]

agree on all points.

[simplesimon]

I’m planning on getting back out there here in a couple years or so.

I bred a bitch I co-owned twice and she didnt take either time. Lots and lots of money down the drain but ya gotta try. So I pretty much have to start over although I do have a dog I co bred out there that’s an AM/CAN CHampion that I’ll be able to get to use one of these days as a stud dog.

[simplesimon]

The bitch in labs to root for is really CH Tabatha’s Pristine.
Carol has I think 4 dogs entered. Pester is another of her extraordinary bitches.

I wished I could watch it.........wahhhhh but I’ll be on the lab forums to read about it.

[simplesimon]

JAM........Judges Award of Merit

That is a specialty show thing but they do it at WKC because all the dogs there are Champions of record.

I did the breed ring and Hunting Retriever Tests. My oldest lab bitch has her AKC JH aka Junior Hunting Retriever Title. Now her sire otoh, had over 20 Master Hunter legs/passes.

[simplesimon]

GCH is Grand Champion.....it’s a relatively new thing AKC has done.

I do believe you have to be a CH first to get any “Grand” points.

[simplesimon]

I think a good dog needs a title at both ends of its name.
______________________________________________________

Amen to THAT ~ I have labs and always strived to kee the retriever in the Labrador.
My oldest lab just hated showing , she is at home in the ring. I did breed her however, to a Champion / Master Hunter Lab ( Blades )who has now went onto the Bridge.

Blades ( Am/Can Ch Lorals Got Our Power Play CD MH ) has an incredible story to read.
He was burnt in what was believed , a fire set by peta A$$holes , in the dog trailer on his way to a Hunt Test.
Thousands and thousands later, he survived but it took a long long time and skin grafts etc and he came back to get his Master Hunter title. Freakin incredible dog. Just incredible.

[Varda]

“. Lots and lots of money down the drain but ya gotta try”

Tell me about it. My new puppies are three years and three failed attempts later. I’m co-breeder so if they don’t turn out it’s my fault! Having males out there for later breeding use is a good idea. The sire of my litter died 20 years ago.

[Varda]

I saw a bitch named Plush with Pristine as the dam. She got award of merit but not the breed. As they say, better luck next year.