Posts tagged "WestminsterKennelClub"

She did it! Sadie, the Scottish Terrier and the number one dog in the country secured her spot in history by winning best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday evening in New York City. Four-and-a-half-year-old Sadie proved Las Vegas oddsmakers right when they predicted that the small dog with the glossy black coat would capture the coveted title.

After winning best of breed earlier in the day, Sadie advanced to the terrier group, which she also won. As the evening progressed to the final round, the seven dogs representing winners of the terrier, herding, sporting, non-sporting, toy, hound and working groups strode into the ring to vie for the best in show title. The sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden responded with huge cheers and applause for each of the champion dogs representing the best of their breeds and groups.

Best in show judge Elliot Weiss, dressed in a natty tuxedo, inspected the seven dogs and requested that each take a run around the ring. Huge cheers erupted from the crowd for Sadie, but roars of approval also went out to a brown Doberman pincsher and a brindle-colored French bulldog.

As Weiss took one last long look at each dog, the crowd cheered and began clapping in unison, the sound reminiscent of a drumroll. In the end, Weiss pointed to Sadie as her handler, Gabriel Rangel, tossed his head backward, looked heavenward and clasped his hand to his chest.

The celebratory mood at Westminster, considered the nation's most prestigious show featuring 2,500 dogs, was briefly interrupted when, right before Sadie was to take the title, two protesters stormed Madison Square Garden's center ring holding up signs that read "Mutts Rule" and "Breeders Kill Shelter Dogs' Chances." The "Breeders Kill" slogan was the theme of a PETA ad campaign. The two women were quickly escorted off the premises, and the incident did not appear during the USA Network telecast.

Sadie, whose full name is Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, has earned 112 best in show ribbons. In addition to her victory at Westminster Tuesday night, Sadie also won the National Dog Show in November and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in December. Her win at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship makes Sadie automatically eligible to compete at Crufts in England, the largest dog show in the world. However, Rangel was coy when asked whether Sadie would now retire from dog shows. (A best in show title at Crufts would make Sadie only the second champion dog in history to earn the Triple Crown of the dog show world.)

As photographers rushed to capture her winning moment at Westminster and the other dog handlers crowded around to congratulate Rangel, the feisty Sadie jumped up and down on Rangel's legs, seeking either treats or hugs.

"It's very rare to find a short-legged dog that's balanced as she is," explained Weiss in a press conference after the show. "And her breed characteristic is fabulous, as you saw tonight. She thinks highly of herself and that's evident."

"She was perfect tonight," Rangel told reporters. "I couldn't ask for anything more."

Guess who'll be among the more than 2,500 champion dogs competing at this year's 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (Feb. 15–16)? None other than our very own Curry, a Glen of Imaal terrier that Paw Nation has been following since last October in our "Path to Westminster" series. Curry's owner and handler, Bruce Sussman, answered some questions about the little charmer.

Dog Breed: Glen of Imaal Terrier

Group: Terrier

Dog's Full Registered Name: Ch. Coleraine's Mandalay Royalty

Nickname: Curry

Dog's Age: 3

Owners' Names: Bruce Sussman, Rob Shuter and Maura High

Hometown: New York, N.Y.

Tell us about Curry's personality. Curry is a lovebug. Her favorite thing to do is to jump into your lap and lick your face.

What is her weirdest quirk? She finds the morning walk entirely unnecessary and would much rather stay in bed, under the covers.

What is her best trick? Catching biscuits on the fly.

What's Curry's favorite treat? Hot dogs, Hebrew National brand, grilled not boiled.

How do you and Curry prepare for Westminster? Grooming mostly, keeping her coat in good harsh condition like it is meant to be.

Anything else you'd like to share? Curry now has her own advice column on Paw Nation, "Ask Curry," and as a result is probably the only Westminster competitor with her own e-mail address: curry@pawnation.com. E-mail her with any questions!

The Westminster Kennel Club 134th Annual Dog Show (Feb. 15–16) is like Oscar night for dogs... so let's meet the stars! Paw Nation spoke with some of the Westminster show dog's owners to give you a sneak peek at the adorable contestants you'll see prancing around the ring on the big day.

Dog Breed: Puli

Group: Herding

Dog's Full Registered Name: Ch. Lajosmegyi's Singin in the Rain

Nickname: Kelly

Dog's Age: 5

Owners' Names: Anna Quigley, Patricia Turner, and Steve and Alice Lawrence

Hometown: Chehalis, Wash.

Tell me about Kelly's personality.
He is one of the sweetest puli I have ever been around. Kelly enjoys life to the fullest and loves people. He is so calm before he goes in the ring and then when he's there, he's perfect. He has been raised with his sister and they are very close.

What is his best trick?
He jumps straight in the air and touches the top of a six-foot fence. He has tried to do this in the ring but is afraid of slipping on the floor!

What's his weirdest quirk?
He loves riding on top of his crate.

What is his favorite treat?
Bully Sticks are his favorite chew and boiled chicken is his favorite treat.

How do you and Kelly prepare for Westminster?
We use a treadmill to keep Kelly in condition. We have 60-foot runs, but the dogs hate the rain -- and we get so much of it in the Northwest. Most important is his mental conditioning. We make sure he has rest and try to keep him from being bored.

Anything else you'd like to share?
It is just such a thrill to be the breeders of two great dogs. His littermate Conrad is the puli that won the group last year at the Garden. Going is as much about seeing old and new friends as it is about being in the show.

In the world of purebred dog shows, there is no competition as prestigious, or title more coveted, than "Best in Show" at the Westminster Kennel Club All Breed Dog Show.

Founded in 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club (WKC) is the country's oldest organization dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs and the second longest continuously held sporting event in the nation -- second only to the Kentucky Derby.

Just getting your dog accepted to compete at the WKC Dog Show is quite an accomplishment. Only the world's best champion dogs -- who place in the Top 5 in their breed category -- are invited to pre-enter the show, with other champion canines vying for a spot through an application process.

With the October 31st cut-off date to earn a spot at the WKC's 2010 Dog Show fast approaching, Paw Nation is following one canine hopeful in her quest to make it to Westminster.