Posts tagged "national dog show"

More National Dog Show Coverage

by Susan Segrest (Subscribe to Susan Segrest's posts): Nov 26th 2010 1:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Celebrity Pets

Clooney wins Best in Show. NBC Sports

If you missed the National Dog Show presented by Purina, check out the NBC Sports coverage to see extensive video footage of the show. There are all kinds of fun clips ranging from Mary Carillo getting gossipy with the pooches during grooming to highlights of the group competitions such as the video of the Sporting and Working Group judging we've included below.

Also be sure to read all of Paw Nation's National Dog Show coverage including our interview with the Peter Kubacz, the handler of Clooney, the Irish Setter that took home the Best in Show title.

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National Dog Show - Behind the Scenes with Curry the Champion Glen of Imaal Terrier

by Rob Shuter (Subscribe to Rob Shuter's posts): Nov 25th 2010 4:00PM Filed Under: Dogs

curry glenn of imaal terrier national dog show picture Curry with co-owner/handler Bruce Sussman at the NDS. www.topk9s.com

You may remember Curry, the celebrity Glen of Imaal terrier who has occasionally toiled as Paw Nation's canine advice columnist. Unfortunately, with her go-go show-dog life, she's been too busy to write for us lately, so her co-owner (and PopEater columnist) Rob Shuter, stepped in to give us the scoop on Curry's winning day at the National Dog Show presented by Purina.

Since her triumphant Best of Breed win at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show last February, Curry, our beloved Glen of Imaal terrier, has been a busy little showgirl. She's competed at American Kennel Club shows from Maine to Indiana and won Best of Breed 35 out of 36 times.

Along the way, Curry racked up an amazing 18 terrier-group placements, including three times in first place, a new record for the breed, making her the No. 1 Glen of Imaal terrier in the land. With this brisk wind at her back, she arrived in Philadelphia for the National Dog Show,

Like Westminster, the National Dog Show is one of the few remaining benched shows, i.e. the dogs are each assigned their own holding/grooming area and must remain on display all day so the public may have the opportunity to meet all the breeds. Curry spent the morning greeting her public, answering their probing questions, kissing many a face, and posing for photos and video shoots. A bit past noon, it was time to make her apologies to her adoring fans and get to the serious job of grooming in order to prepare herself for the Best of Breed competition.

New Breeds at the National Dog Show

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Nov 25th 2010 3:00PM Filed Under: Dogs

It was a big year for new breeds at the 2010 National Dog Show presented by Purina! Doubling last year's introduction of three breeds, this year a whopping six breeds entered the ring for the first time: Boykin spaniel, Leonberger, Cane Corso, Icelandic sheepdog, bluetick coonhound and Redbone coonhound.

Want to know more about these new-to-the-show competitors? Here's a cheat sheet.

Boykin Spaniel dog picture Westminster Kennel Club

Boykin Spaniel: The official state dog of South Carolina, where it was originally bred as an amphibious hunting dog and named after L. Whitaker Boykin, one of the original developers of the breed. You'll be able to identify a Boykin by its relatively compact size compared to other breeds of spaniel. But like all spaniels (save the non-sporting Tibetan), it competed at the NDS in the sporting group. With its flowing, shiny, chocolate-brown coat and its agreeable demeanor, the Boykin proved a crowd-pleaser at the show.

Leonberger dog picture Westminster Kennel Club

Leonberger: The German city of Hamburg gave America the hamburger; now Leonberg, Germany gives us the Leonberger, a large-breed, Working Group dog. The AKC praises the Leonberger for being equal parts "multipurpose working dog" and "reliable family companion." We think it looks equal parts St. Bernard and German shepherd.

National Dog Show Group Winners

by Paw Nation Staff (Subscribe to Paw Nation Staff's posts): Nov 25th 2010 2:30PM Filed Under: Dogs

The National Dog Show presented by Purina has become as big a part of Thanksgiving as sweet potatoes and drumsticks in many homes. But, between the cooking and the eating and the visiting, it can be easy to miss a dog or two during NBC's Thanksgiving Day coverage from noon to 2 p.m.

Fortunately, missing some of the television coverage doesn't mean you have to miss out! You can watch video of all dogs in each group in the ring online with NBC Sports. Check out the Hound Group, Toy Group, Sporting Group, Non-Sporting Group, Herding Group, Terrier Group, or Working Group, or hand dish washing duty off to somebody else tonight and watch them all!

Below, check out our gallery of the group winners! Also, be sure to read Paw Nation's interview with the Best in Show winning trainer.

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National Dog Show 2010 Group Winners

Out of the over 2000 dogs competing at the event, these seven dogs were not only chosen as the best of their breed but also took home their group title

Steven Donahue / See Spot Run Photography

National Dog Show 2010 Group Winners

Sporting Group
Clooney, a 3-year-old male Irish setter (also known as GCH. Windntide Mr. Sandman) won not only the sporting group, but also took the Best in Show honor. Not only does this pooch know his way around the ring, the dog from Jackson, N.J. spent his younger years on his owner's boat and knows the port and starboard sides.

National Dog Show 2010 Group Winners

Hound Group
Hickory, a 4-year-old female Scottish deerhound, is also known as CH. Foxcliffe Hickory Wind. She resides in Warrenton, Va., has achieved 13 Best in Show titles, and is a two-time national specialty winner

National Dog Show 2010 Group Winners

Herding Group
Beyoncé, a 3-year-old female Australian shepherd also known as CH. Mysharas Dream Girl, resides in Williamston, S.C. and has achieved seven Best in Show wins and over 50 group first places in her career

National Dog Show 2010 Group Winners

Toy Group
Joe, aka Int. WorldCh, CH. Banana Joe V. Tani Kazari, is a 3-year-old male affenpincher who has won Best in Show awards in numerous shows internationally. He lives in Seekonk, Mass., but originally was born in Brussels, Belgium. At first, Joe didn't like leaving home, and it took him three months to warm up to new canine friends. Now he adores them all.

National Dog Show 2010 Group Winners

Working Group
Scarlett, a 3-year-old female boxer with a registered name of GCH. Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, hails from Hancock, N.Y., and has won 52 Best in Shows in just two years of showing.

National Dog Show 2010 Group Winners

Terrier Group
Maddy, a 2-year-old female American Staffordshire terrier, whose registered name is CH. CastleRock's SBigg Staff Mad About You, is from Vacaville, Calif., and this year she became the first American Staffordshire terrier in the history of the Montgomery County Kennel Club Terrier Show -- the largest terrier show in the world -- to win Best in Show. She also set another breed record by winning the terrier group at the 2010 Morris and Essex Kennel Club show.

National Dog Show 2010 Group Winners

Non-Sporting Group
Johnny, aka CH. Didebs Le Jonny Be Good, is a 6-year-old male schipperke from Bethel, Conn. He set the pace for his success by winning his first group at only 6 months old. While he loves the show ring, he also loves playing with his Siberian friends.

National Dog Show 2010 Group Winners

And the Winner of the National Dog Show is.... Clooney, the Irish Setter

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Nov 25th 2010 2:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Celebrity Pets

clooney national dog show winner picture Steven Donahue / See Spot Run

Putting the "dog" in underdog, this year's winner of the National Dog Show presented by Purina -- a 3-year-old Irish setter named Clooney -- wowed the crowd with his Cinderella-story win. We talked to Clooney's handler (and roommate), Peter Kubacz, to find out how this dark horse became top dog.

Tell us what makes Clooney (a.k.a. GCH. Windntide Mr. Sandman) such a surprise win at the NDS?
He's really on the young side, winning at 3 years old. Clooney looks older than what he is as far as conditioning is concerned. When he retires -- probably when he's 5 -- he'll likely look his best.

Just what is it that you think makes Clooney so special?
He loves to show. He loves the attention; he loves people; he loves being in the ring and being around all the people and everyone fussing over him. He is a great show dog in that regard.

As far as an Irish setter goes, he is very well balanced and proportioned. He has a wonderful front and rear angulation and he is a lot of dog in the sense that he has a lot of presence to him. There's a lot of him when you put your hands on him and when judges go over him and examine him. He has a lot of substance to him, but he is not an overbearing dog.

How long have you been handling Clooney?
Only about two-and-a-half months.

How did you come to work with him?
Owners Carol and Patrick McGary bred him and showed him from time to time on their own, and they also hired a handler out West where they live [in Washington]. The first time I met him and showed him was for the Irish Setter Club of America's national specialty competition in Wisconsin in June. The dog came to me and we just kind of clicked right away. He was not the only dog I was showing or paying attention to, but you would have thought he was my dog all along. We won Best of Opposite Sex out there which is a pretty big deal. Then in August the McGarys and I started talking about bringing him to show him out East.

Watching the National Dog Show - New Web Features, Games and More

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Nov 23rd 2010 1:00PM Filed Under: Dogs

national dog show picture Virginia Sherwood, NBC

Watching the National Dog Show presented by Purina every Thanksgiving on NBC has become a holiday tradition for many. This year, what's new about the show is that TV won't be the only way to experience it.

More to Do on the Web
The show's official site at NBC Sports will be "super enhanced" with extensive video extras. All 160-plus Best of Breed winners will be featured, along with expert commentary from veteran announcer Wayne Ferguson, President of the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, which hosts the NDS. (Scroll down on the main NDS page to find the group or dog you'd like to watch.)

You can get an idea of what goes on behind the scenes at the NDS with this great gallery or check out pictures of all the dogs in the ring as they strut their stuff. You can even enter your pup in the Petcentric Dog Show, which has fun categories like Best Troublemaker or Best John O'Hurley Look-alike.

Watch Video of the Show
Hulu will offer free streaming of the entire NBC broadcast beginning at 2 p.m. EST on Thanksgiving Day. (NBC will broadcast the dog show, as it always does, immediately following the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, beginning at noon in all time zones.)

'Dangerous Dog' Rufus Honored at the National Dog Show

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts): Nov 22nd 2010 11:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Hero Pets

rufus westminster winner dog picture Vizion PR

As officials across the nation enact breed bans in a misdirected attempt to crack down on bad owners, countless gentle, loving, and well-behaved dogs lose their privileges, and sometimes their ability to help others.

One such case involves the most decorated show dog in bull-terrier history and veteran therapy dog, Rufus, who was honored at this year's National Dog Show presented by Purina (which took place last weekend but will air on NBC Thanksgiving Day). Five years after winning the triple crown of U.S. dog shows -- The National Dog Show, the Westminster Dog Show and the Morris & Essex Kennel Club Show -- Rufus is back in the ring to be honored and raise awareness about misguided breed bans.

Honoring past champions has become a mainstay of the Thanksgiving Day event, explains co-host John O'Hurley. "I'll equate it to 'Dancing with the Stars,'" Hurley tells Paw Nation. "It's a big happy family of former champs. It's been interesting to see the champions and what they've gone on to do."

O'Hurley, who's hosted the NDS alongside renowned dog expert David Frei since its inception in 2002, has worked with Rufus on a number of occasions. "He's the gentlest dog, pound for pound -- and he's stuffed with about as much muscle as his frame can hold -- that I've ever met," O'Hurley tells Paw Nation.

Meet the Winner of the National Dog Show and Her Handler

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Nov 26th 2009 2:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Pets News, Celebrity Pets, I Work With Animals!

Sadie the Scottish Terrier dog - Winner of NAtional Dog show picture Steve Donahue Photos

Sadie, the four-year-old Scottish Terrier who won it all at the National Dog Show earlier today, says she's too famous to talk to us now. But her handler, Gabriel Rangel of Rialto, Calif., was willing to indulge a few of our post-show questions.

Are you the only handler Sadie's ever had?
I've been her handler for two-and-a-half years. I'm the only handler she's had since then. She earned her championship status through another handler before me.

Besides this win, what other career highlights have you two shared?
When we won Best Terrier [i.e. Best In Group] at the Westminster Dog Show. She performed beautifully there.

When you first started handling Sadie, did you have an instant connection with her?
No, we needed to work at it. Dogs need to trust you, and they need to know what you want from them. Now, after all this time, it's a perfect understanding. I know what she wants and how she wants to do it, and she knows the same about me. There's a great connection between us. She gives me a great show every time.

Meet the Three New Breeds at This Year's National Dog Show

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Nov 26th 2009 8:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Pets News

Pyrenean Shepherd dog picture Pyrenean Shepherd / KCP

Irish red and White Setter dog picture Irish Red and White Setter / KCP

Norwegian Buhund dog picture Norwegian Buhund / KCP

Just like there's a sport or two added to the Olympic games every four years, dog shows add a few new breeds to their show rosters. This year, the National Dog Show (airing on NBC Thanksgiving Day) is debuting three new adorable breeds: the Pyrenean Shepherd, the Irish Red and White Setter, and the Norwegian Buhund.

"There have been times when we've gone three of four years without adding a new breed, and then maybe just one breed and then no more for a while, so three is a lot," says longtime National Dog Show announcer Wayne Ferguson.

If a breed is new to the National Dog Show, that means it's also newly recognized by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia (which runs the show) and the American Kennel Club, the granddaddy of all dog registries. But it doesn't mean the breed hasn't been around long. The Irish Red and White Setter, for example, is one of many breeds that was first introduced to America after World War II.

"The AKC is constantly being approached about miscellaneous breeds," says Ferguson. "They only accept 168 of them, but there are a couple hundred more out there that are recognized in many countries." Other American kennel clubs, like the United Kennel Club, recognizes many breeds that the AKC doesn't.

The process of gaining recognition for a particular breed can be lengthy and takes a lot of lobbying on the part of breeders and dog-show enthusiasts. "Various people will plead their case over and over, and the AKC will compile a file and then say, 'You know, we're getting a lot of Buhund people talking to us; we got 80 emails last month asking when we're going to bring them in.' Then they'll see what good examples there are out there of the breed." When the AKC feels that an exemplary standard of the breed has been achieved, chances are it's show time.

So what do you need to know about this year's debuting breeds? Read on.

The Brains Behind The National Dog Show

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Nov 25th 2009 4:00PM Filed Under: Dogs

National Dog show picture "Charmin," a Sealyham Terrier shown by owner Margery Good. Kennel Club of Philadelphia

Every Thanksgiving Day since 2002, 20 million Americans have tuned in to watch the National Dog Show on NBC, and the man they have to thank for it is Jon Miller, executive vice president of NBC Sports. It was his idea to air the Kennel Club of Philadelphia's annual Best in Show -- right after the Macy's Day Parade and right before football. He spoke with Paw Nation about how the show came to be.

How did you know that Americans wanted to watch a dog show on Thanksgiving day? When did the light-bulb go off?
On a Saturday night in January -- it was a nasty night. My wife rented [the movie] "Best in Show." We watched it with some friends, then I stayed up watching it a second time and just loved it. I thought it was so much fun.

How did that one spark lead to the show?
I came to work on Monday and grabbed one of our interns and said, "Find out what the second oldest dog show in America is," thinking that the Westminster was the oldest dog show in America. He came back about an hour later and said, "Well, the second oldest dog show in America is Westminster." I said, "Well, what's the oldest dog show?" and he said, "Philadelphia." He then got me in touch with [KCP president] Wayne Ferguson, and we had a great conversation. I asked, "Have you ever been on television?" He said no, but he'd be very interested. Then I went to Michael Crawford, who is a friend at Purina, to see if he had any interest. I said, "Michael, if we could get a dog show on NBC --" He said, "In a heartbeat, we'd support it."

National Dog Show Co-Host John O'Hurley on Old Dogs, Life's Little Tricks

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Nov 25th 2009 2:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Celebrity Pets

John O'Hurley's picture Rose Martelli

John O'Hurley has probably had as many different jobs as the National Dog Show has different breeds. This devoted dog lover is a co-host of the NDS, strut his stuff on Dancing with the Stars, authored the bestselling books "Before Your Dog Can Eat Your Homework, First You Have to Do It" and "It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump," and is perhaps best known for playing the bombastic J. Peterman on "Seinfeld. Like Peterman, O'Hurley lives life to the fullest, and -- as we discovered when we caught him for a chat in Philadelphia -- that's a lesson he learned from the dogs.

What's your dog situation at home?
We have a Cavalier King Charles and a little Havanese. They're both puppies. And then I have a 19-and-a-half-year-old Maltese who was actually the inspiration for my second book. He's the little old man in the group. At 19-and-a-half, he still has the spirit of a drill sergeant.

What do you love about hosting the National Dog Show?
Because my wife and I share such a common love for dogs and they're such a part of our life, it's just a wonderful event. It's actually one of our favorite days of the year, because we get to wander up and down the aisles, talk to the breeders and owners, and celebrate what we really enjoy in life. In addition to our two-and-a-half-year-old son, we enjoy our dogs.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the National Dog Show

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Nov 25th 2009 10:00AM Filed Under: Dogs

Rufus, the NDS Dog Ambassador, greets fans. National Dog Show

Planning on watching the National Dog Show for the first time this Thanksgiving Day on NBC? You might wind up with more questions than answers. Dog shows have their own quirky sets of rules, manners and habits. We spoke to Wayne Ferguson, longtime announcer at the National Dog Show, to help answer some questions about how the whole thing works.

What is a "benched" dog show?
A benched dog show is one in which spectators are allowed backstage, where the dogs must be kept throughout the show to be available for public viewing. The exhibitors cannot pack up and leave early even if their dogs bow out of the competition.

Why is the National Dog Show one of only five benched shows left in the U.S.?
"Basically, they're very expensive for us to put on," Ferguson explains. "They take a lot of manpower and man hours, and they're not popular with the exhibitors, because they don't like sitting there all day with their dog. They'd rather be able to take their dog outside, go out for lunch, hang out in their motor homes, or just go home." Benched shows are, however, very popular with spectators, because no matter what time of day you arrive at the show, you're guaranteed to get to see your favorite breeds even if you miss them in the ring. It's a good opportunity for those who are thinking about getting a new pup to meet with breeders, too, since many of them show dogs.

Paw Nation at the National Dog Show

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Nov 24th 2009 12:00PM Filed Under: Dogs

Canine at the National Dog show Flickr/kjunstorm

I've owned a dog for seven years, and I've been a dog lover for longer, but until recently I had never been to any kind of dog show. This year, I made it to the National Dog Show, held just outside Philadelphia in Oaks, Pa. on November 14, and set to be broadcast on NBC Thanksgiving Day.

Like many folks, anything I knew about dog shows and dog-show people I gleaned from countless viewings of the movie "Best In Show". Though the popular film doesn't exactly portray dog-show people in the best light, I learned from NBC Executive Vice President Jon Miller that "Best In Show" was, in fact, what inspired NBC to put the National Dog Show on the air. (You can read my interview with Miller later this week as part of Paw Nation's week-long National Dog Show coverage.)

In "Best In Show", the focus is on the quirky dog owners, but at the National Dog Show, the dogs are the real stars. It doesn't take long to get the feeling -- even if you're a layman like me -- that these are truly exemplary specimens on display. When a particular pooch really catches your eye or takes your breath away with its beautiful face, majestic stance, regal bearing or lissome gait, you can feel like you're in the presence of something great.

They say that dogs have the intelligence of a two-year-old child, but I've never seen a two-year-old willingly sit quiet and nearly motionless for the better part of an hour as these dogs did, waiting to be judged. By day's end, I was in total awe.

And the dog-show people? Yes, they do have a sense of humor. The Hound Group was introduced to the tune of "Hound Dog." The Working Group was heralded by John Lennon's "Working Class Hero." And when the real Best In Show hopefuls entered the ring? Why, of course, "The Final Countdown" by Europe.

We're not going to reveal the identity of the winning dog here. Otherwise, where's the suspense on Thanksgiving Day? But keep checking back throughout the week for more National Dog Show features, including an interview with the winner after the big TV reveal!

The National Dog Show: How to Watch, What to Watch Out For

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Nov 23rd 2009 1:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Pet Grooming

Boxer dog at the National Dog show picture National Dog Show

National Dog Show novices: what you see on your screens come Thanksgiving Day may look like nothing more than a pack of pretty pooches parading about for the judges, audience and cameras. But there's some serious consideration happening on that blue carpet. Paw Nation asked National Dog Show co-hosts John O'Hurley and David Frei for their expert tips to train your layman's eye.

Dogs are not graded on a curve. "Every breed is judged not against one another but against the written standard," explains Frei, "which is the description of the ideal specimen of that breed."

Play a game of "how doggy is that doggy in the window?" This is Frei's personal trick for judging what he sees in the ring. "You look at the Afghan Hound and you say, 'On a scale of 100, I'm going to give the Afghan a 90 as an Afghan hound. Now, the next dog is the Saluki. I love this Saluki -- it's this and this and this -- and I'm going to give it a 92.' Which means the Saluki is a better Saluki than the Afghan is an Afghan, in my opinion. Everybody doesn't do this trick, but it's what I do in my mind."

Familiarize yourself with doggy formal wear. Show dogs are often groomed much differently than dogs kept as pets. (For example, take a look at how this Shih Tzu's appearance changed from its show days to its retirement.) "Some of the coats and the cuts on the dogs may not be cuts that you would maintain your pet at home with," says O'Hurley, "but that is a way of recognizing the history of the breed. Some of the coats are a little bit more traditional in their cuts."