DOG SHOW BREEDS CONTEMPT

NY Post ^ | February 11, 2003 | Andrea Peyser

[NYer]

No sooner had I walked backstage at Madison Square Garden yesterday when I was brushed aside by a beautifully groomed, purebred bitch who possessed the manners of a mongrel.

She was a dog owner.

"A- -hole!" the high-strung biped ranted, just loud enough to drive a sensitive cocker spaniel to the kibble.

[Desdemona]

For instance, what can you do with the Cocker Spaniels in these shows besides show them?

Cockers are field dogs. Most of them also have field champion finishes.

Toys, on the other hand....

[ArrogantBustard]

Do you have dog breeders in your families? I do; "Best in Show" was spot-on.

Most of the people I've met at dog shows are more or less normal, but the incidence of nuts, fruits, and flakes seems a bit higher than in the population at large.

[Xenalyte]

The Dread Boston Salty SCOFFS at all these nelly dogs!

[AnAmericanMother]

I agree you shouldn't share food mouth to mouth with your dog.

Might give the dog some germs. :D :D :D

My dog eats DOG food only, on the recommendation of our vet. She's fit and sleek and happy (of course Labs are ALWAYS hungry, so I get the "poor pitiful starving me" look at lot). She doesn't hunt (yet), but she works hard at her agility training and keeping the back yard squirrel free.

[Desdemona]

Do you have dog breeders in your families? I do; "Best in Show" was spot-on.

No, but I know my fair share. Bloodhounds, German Shorthairs, cockers, Bichon Frisse, among others. Yeah, some of them are a little nutty. My great-grandfather kept hounds, but they were true working dogs.

Then there's the yellow lab who rules my house.

[AnAmericanMother]

You think the DOG show people are nutty, you ought to try CAT shows.

I'd say at least 50 percent of the folks there are a few bricks shy of a load. And I WAS one of 'em for about 10 years.

[Space Wrangler]

As a border collie owner and enthusiast, I followed the lawsuit that the ABCA (American Border Collie Assoc.) filed against the AKC to keep the border collie OUT of the breed standards of the AKC. The idea being that the Border Collie is a working dog, and the most important trait is it's ability to herd livestock. The ABCA didn't want to water down the working charecteristics of the breed in order to maintain some physical attributes that a bunch of dog snobs came up with. The suit was settled, but to this day, anyone who shows border collies in any AKC events are pariahs of the border collie world. Herding ability is paramount for the breed, therefore, no matter what the dog looks like, it is judged solely on it's abilities.

[Desdemona]

All vets recommend that dogs only eat dog food. It keeps them to breed standard.

Mine gets baby carrots. The vet said within reason it's fine.

[netmilsmom]

Sometimes dogs are more than dogs. They are your non-judgemental best friends. I am not a dog person, I had a cat who graced me with 20 years. He stuck around until my daughter was born and then went to his reward. He was there to dry my tears and cuddle when the world got nasty. One of my prized pictures is my baby sleeping on my kitty.
I do feel it is bad when people make animals out to be people. It is an insult to the animal. Dogs want to be dogs and cats want to be cats. And when we expose other people to our "babies" they see them as animals. It causes problems. Too many animal owners are just plain freaky about this. If you choose your animal over your human child, some nice lithium would help you.

[Phantom Lord]

One of my boxers can only eat diet dog food. If he eats regular dog food he gets upto about 95 pounds! Diet food keeps his weight down to about 75 pounds.

My other boxer can eat constatnly and never go above 55 pounds.

[BluH2o]

NYC's Westminister Kennel Club show each February is the grand-dam of dog shows. There's a lot at stake, and contestants have travelled a long road to get there ... so their owners, or handlers, can be a little testy if things aren't going their way. I've attended Westminister, not as a participant, several times ... it's worth doing at least once just to get the flavor. Now I watch it on TV ... which brings up a question ... when does the terrier group show?

[RckyRaCoCo]

Vestmeeenster....Ohhhhh Yeeeeessss!

Look at that beeetch....!

I keeeed, I keeeed!

[TXBubba]

I agree with you...except my dog thinks she is a human. Got her from the pound before she even had teeth. We call her "Princess" even though that isn't her name. But she can find the softest spot in the house to lay down every time. Even if it is just one blanket or towel thicker than what you are on. I always think of the Princess and the Pea with her. She eats dog food though.

[Darnright]

What a sweet Lab! They're wonderful dogs. Dog show people are a competitive bunch, that's for sure. They can be downright rude and nasty, so much that the AKC has had to institute "bench show hearings" for the catfights that occasionally break out.

You wouldn't BELIEVE what some of the nastier ones let their dogs do to motel rooms. The AKC will fine them and suspend them in a heartbeat for cr*p like that.

[Valin]

Cat person myself (low maintaince)
I had two that allowed me the pleasure of providing them with shelter. And for this I could(on special occasions only)pet them.
Cats don't act like they own the world...THEY DO!

[Desdemona]

... when does the terrier group show?

Last night. The Kerry Blue "Mick" won.

[CoolChange]

Terrier group showed last night. Mick (the kerry blue) won as expected. I hope there is at least one upset tonight. Other than the newfoundland, I think every group winner was highly favored.

[MEGoody]

"Someone needs to tell these "people" that they're just DOGS!!!"

LOL Well, there are people who hate dogs, there are people who love dogs, then there are "dog people".

[AnAmericanMother]

I won't say that my dog NEVER gets any human food - she's very enterprising and tireless.

My dog is definitely underweight by the AKC standard. I think it says Lab bitches should be 21 1/2 to 23 1/2 inches tall and 55-70 pounds. My girl is exactly 21 1/2 inches at the shoulder but only weighs 45 pounds.

She is on the thin side but incredibly powerful and fast - she can easily jump as high as my head and outruns every dog around except the three whippets that live down the street. When they're running together in the big field nearby, she keeps up with them until they hit top gear. Then they just walk away from her, and she looks highly puzzled!

Most Labradors I see are grossly overweight, huffing and puffing and rolling when they run. She can't understand why they won't play with her at her speed - and I do hate to see a fat dog.

[RedWhiteBlue]

Uh...when did they separate and from what? As far as I know Sheperding/Herding have always been separate.

Last night they mentioned that when Westminster began, there were only two groups -- sporting and non-sporting. Gradually the groups splintered until now we have seven. I've been watching the Westminster for maybe 15 years and I have never seen anything other than seven groupings (IIRC), so these splits are apparently not so recent.