Path to Westminster: Curry Still Winning!

Since October, we've been following a lovable three year-old Glen of Imaal terrier named Curry, who hopes to make it to her first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in February 2010. Curry, who has a penchant for admiring herself in the mirror and kissing judges, lives in New York City with songwriter Bruce Sussman and his two older Glens, India and Kafka.

By October 31, Curry would have needed to place in the top five among all champion Glen of Imaal terriers in the country to be guaranteed an early invitation to Westminster. So where did Curry finish?

"Curry placed solidly at number six," Sussman tells Paw Nation. Though she didn't make the top five, it's not yet curtains for Curry.

The Westminster Dog Show allows a maximum of 2,500 champion dogs to compete. After the top five dogs in all 173 breeds and varieties have been invited, 1,635 spots still remain to be filled through an open entry system. The process entails submitting an entry via mail or online that includes details of a dog's champion status, and there's an entry fee of $75 per entry. Applicants are allowed to submit as many entries as they'd like, though the cost can add up.

Minutes after the entry system opened on November 16, Sussman submitted two entries for Curry. "We'll wait and see what develops with that," says Sussman. The envelopes of entries will be opened at random on December 4.

In the meantime, Curry's been busy. She recently spent two weekends competing in dog shows, culminating in the National Dog Show Presented By Purina, in which she won Best in Breed. "Curry was absolutely perfect in the ring," says Sussman. "I couldn't have asked for any more. She was responsive and happy and showed her best and moved great." (Watch the video below to see Curry in the National Dog Show.)

The National Dog Show was also a taste of what was to come if Curry makes it to Westminster. Both are one of the few remaining "benched" dog shows in the country, meaning that the public can come and visit with the champion dogs and their owners and handlers when they are not showing in the ring.

"I wanted her to experience a benched show, which she never had," says Sussman. "We actually had to be in the hall from 10 in the morning until six at night, and Curry went through that whole experience with strangers coming up to her every few minutes." How did Curry like it? "She loved it!" says Sussman. "She's an attention hound. She loves kissing people and letting them pet her."

Will Curry get her chance at Westminster? Check back after December 4 to see if she wins a spot through the open entry process!