Dog Show Party!

You need a former dog show judge
great food
a friendly dog and a nice TV
Wonderful friends to share the evening with and the judge sharing his wisdom

We were all enamored with the show but stunned with the results. Well, all except Robert, he picked the winner.I have no idea why I have such a fascination with the Westminster Dog Show but I learn something new every year and we do have a laughing good time.

Dog Show!

Westminster Kennel Club Road to Best in Show at Westminster

I just found the Westminster Kennel Club on twitter and here are a few things I learned: Between 700-1000 dogs are housed @ Hotel Pennsylvania during the show.

Paolo Dandina is the Best in Show judge this year

At the first Westminster Dog Show 2 Staghounds were entered and listed as being from the late General George Custer

As of 2010 WKC Best in Show has been won by the Terrier Group 45 out of 103 times that the prize has been awarded since 1907.

The Westminster Dog Show will be on this year on February 14 and 15th. We are getting excited about our Dog Show party on February 15th!

Dog Show Party Recap

We had a good group at our Dog Show party. Don and Betty (former dog show judge, dog owner and handlers) were there, as were Ed and Cathy, Brittany, Jennifer, Liz, Melinda, Jack, Kyle, Darrell, Carl, Kaitlin and yours truly.

Don and Betty are in their 70's and so humble. They answered every question we asked so patiently. They informed us that one of the new breeds for this year- it is in the mastif family- has a life expectancy of 5 years! When they started showing dogs their were 6 groups of dogs with 131 AKC registered breeds. Today they are 7 groups and over 170 breeds. As different handlers would show their dogs or even different judges would come out, Don or Betty would say "Doesn't Eileen look good this year?" or "We've know him since he was 12."

Kyle and Jack didn't get the memo that Don was a former judge. When the first group came out and Don told us which dog was going to win and that dog won- you could have knocked them over with a feather. To say they were stunned would be an understatement. When the second group came out, Don made his prediction and the judge picked Don's choice as second. Kyle, as only a young man with much bravado can say, said " What happened on that pick, Don?" Don calmly looked at Kyle and said " Stupid Judge" We all died laughing.

Don said that the final group of dogs in the ring for Best of Show was the best group he had ever seen. He calmly picked the Sussex and it won.

I think a good time was had by all.

Dog Show

I am pumped for the Dog Show. Monday at 7-8 central on USA, then it is on CNBC from 8-10. Tuesday it is on USA from 7-10. I plan to have a party. Let me know if you plan to join us. The more the merrier.


http://www.todaysthv.com/life/community/pets/story.aspx?storyid=79649&catid=154

Sue, isn't this a dog like yours?

Dog Show Part II

We had 15 people over for our Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show party. Don and Betty brought spaghetti and meatballs and coleslaw. Elizabeth couldn't be here but she sent her garlic toast. Sandy sent her yummy rice crispy with peanut butter and chocolate dessert. Susan Burke brought a cake, brownies and a box of candy, KimT brought a vegie tray and Clare brought bread with melted cheese and ice from Sonic. Yum Yum.

We had our plates filled and were ready by show time at 7. Bryan and Susan went to the dog show last year and Susan was wearing her 'Dogs Rule' shirt.

I was wrong in my last dog blog about the dumbest dog. It is the Basenji. I thought the judge for the working group went to sleep as she stood there judging. She was moving very slowly when she was moving. Don thought she would pick the Boxer. Up to that point he had picked all the dogs that went on to Best of Show. He didn't pick the winner this year, he said it was too close.


I should have written down all the witty things that were said during the show but alas maybe next year. If fact come over next year and join us! We do have fun.

I like the PBGV!

Tonight at 7 cst is the Westminster Kennel Dog Show on USA network. I have been watching this dog show for about 15 years. And the strange thing is 'I don't like dogs'. I do love the history behind the breeds and all the pageantry.

When the children were small we would watch the rebroadcast during the day ( one of the joys of homeschooling) but now we watch it live.

Tonight is the first night with the conclusion being tomorrow night. Two years ago my friends, Bob and KimT went to NY ,in the snow, to attend the dog show. We had a dog show party at my house that year. Carl brought Chinese food for our group. We had 11 in attendance. One couple, Don and Betty, came because they love dog shows or so we thought. No, Don is a dog show judge. Who knew. Our watching of the show changed because Don and Betty( who was an owner, handler) would add comments and tell us things that the common dog show watcher would never know. For instance, the handler's outfit should compliment the dog, the treats that they give the dogs are usually liver that the handler has cooked at home, the whippet is the dumbest dog- if that handler ever drops the leash all other handlers will immediately go after that dog because it WILL get lost.

Don just causally mentioned when all the Best of Group were in the ring for the Best of Show which dog he thought would win. IT WON. I had been texting KimT the whole show with his comments. She shared them with those around her too. They really thought she was something when her friend back in Arkansas picked the winner.

Last year our group grew because we had Bob and KimT with us. Betty brought lasagna and others rounded out the meal. Again, Don and Betty wowed us with their knowledge and Don picked the winner the moment the dog walked into the ring.

Tonight my party will be small with just Marisa, Carl, Teresa and me. Kaitlin has class. But tomorrow our group will be 20 strong! Friends have invited friends. I do love a party. We plan to give Don and Betty prime seats so they can tell us what all we are seeing. Maybe I'll get away enough to blog who Don thinks will win before it is announced.

Have you ever watched the Dog show? Do you have a favorite dog?