Could someone explain dog shows to me?

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I like to watch them - I like to see all the different breeds. But I don't understand what they are judging for, and how they can decide which is the best dog in such a short time.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 19:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Also, I hate when they give a "best" to an ugly dog, like a Pomeranian. Yechhh...

― Kerry (dymaxia), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 19:40 (twenty-three years ago)

like Satchmo sez

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 19:43 (twenty-three years ago)

like Jess sez

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 19:43 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh sorry - I meant Pekingese, not Pomeranian. I get all of the "P" dogs mixed up.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 19:44 (twenty-three years ago)

On some Westminster Dog Show coverage I just saw they showed the most gorgeous Newfie -- if they didn't slobber so much I'd be tempted to get one.

― j.lu (j.lu), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 19:45 (twenty-three years ago)

I wonder if it was my old roommate Steve from Goulds, boy did he slobber.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 19:47 (twenty-three years ago)

I like those dog shows where the owners steer the pups through these labyrinthine obstacle courses.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 19:47 (twenty-three years ago)

they're pretty much looking for what any critic might: tenderness, flavor, aroma etc.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 19:48 (twenty-three years ago)

character development

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 19:49 (twenty-three years ago)

I've asked everyone I know - even dog lovers, and they can't answer. I suspect that Horace might be closest to the truth.

I wonder if politics are involved.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 19:53 (twenty-three years ago)

"they're pretty much looking for what any critic might: tenderness, flavor, aroma etc. "

oops, I thought this was the "what do men want out of a relationship" thread!

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 19:56 (twenty-three years ago)

I wonder if politics are involved.

"So, Rover, which one person has been the biggest inspiration to you?"

"Nelson Mandela. Ruff!"

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 20:02 (twenty-three years ago)

look out boys, I think I just spotted some left-leaning Chihuahas

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 20:04 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www.ciw-online.org/toursite/images/03-08-02dog.jpg

― Amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 20:05 (twenty-three years ago)

Yesterday at the dog show I overheard one judge say that it is easy to figure out which is the best dog -- and he had no doubt that there was one best dog -- it is just hard to figure out so quickly! He wished that the judges were allowed a couple of hours, after looking at the dogs, to sit alone with their eyes closed and ponder.

In some cases it's obvious. I spotted the best Great Dane and Boxer right away. But I was sitting right by the Samoyeds and they all looked identical to me.

I think it's silly to play favorites when there are so many lovely dogs.

― Paul Eater (eater), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 20:10 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www.bestinshow.us/images/largedog2.jpg

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 20:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh, yuck. I hate the ones with bows in their hair the most.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 20:16 (twenty-three years ago)

Best In Show (the movie) and Triumph are all the dog show exposure I ever need.
p.s. it's because I love dogs. I mean, you wouldn't put your kids in a kids show...wait, they have those too. shit this world is evil.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 20:20 (twenty-three years ago)

Westminster is a conformation show. They look for a dog that conforms best to the standard (the ideal) of the breed. As between breeds, your guess is as good as mine but I have heard them mention looking for "star quality" whatever that it.

Breed conformation can include temperament. Terriers are supposed to be feisty, so sometimes they face them off ("box" them) and see what happens.

There are also agility trials and obedience trials, as Amateurist mentioned.

― felicity (felicity), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 20:23 (twenty-three years ago)

Every breed has certain standards it's supposed to match -- size, tail, personality, etc. Other than that I suspect it's purely subjective. If I were judging, of course, the pug would always win.

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 20:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Hi, Layna!

I like the terriers the best, for their personality, and their cute faces. I also like the workers.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 20:27 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www2.dogshow.com/fall2001/pictures/0125-1.jpg

― Sarah McLUsky (coco), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 20:30 (twenty-three years ago)

A lot of it is PR, too. All the dogs at Westminister have a certain number of championship points to qualify, but really ambitious owners will "campaign" their dogs all year for Westminster by entering them in the biggest and most heavily covered qualifying shows, buying advertisements (I'm not kidding) to whip up hype and try to get that last bit of extra edge during the few seconds they're in the ring. If you hear a dog referred to as a "favorite," it has probably been campaigned.

― felicity (felicity), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 20:40 (twenty-three years ago)

ha ha Westminster.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 23:00 (twenty-three years ago)

yes, sorry, I thought we were talking about Parliament.

― felicity (felicity), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 23:13 (twenty-three years ago)

who exactly "releases" them; let's them out, if you will?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 23:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Who indeed!

― felicity (felicity), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 23:17 (twenty-three years ago)

I've always wanted to know.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 23:33 (twenty-three years ago)

haha, you're not alone.

― felicity (felicity), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 23:51 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm with Amateurist on this one - I really enjoy the agility trials - the dogs always seem to be having so much fun and, being, well, doggish, although in a structured manner. The dog show dogs look, to me, as though they're just tolerating the ritual and not enjoying themselves.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 01:14 (twenty-three years ago)

I have stopped watching these because I get so mad when the stupid ugly poodle always wins! It's an outrage, all the cute doggies never win.

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 01:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Sorry to the poodle lovahs out there, but they fill me with fury.

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 01:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Nicole unleashes the fooking fee-urie!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 01:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Seriously, my aunt and uncle had a poodle that was okay, but it was just a normal poodle -- it was not shaved into pervy shapes like those hideous monstrosities in the dog shows!

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 01:49 (twenty-three years ago)

I hate that poodle - it almost won AKC, too. So, the Kerry Blue won again, making it a Triple Crown winner. He looked so excited!

― Kerry (dymaxia), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 15:08 (twenty-three years ago)

I like those dog shows where the owners steer the pups through these labyrinthine obstacle courses.

My folks used to do these with our two golden retrievers. They even once appeared on 'Surprise Surprise' with our Cilla. They used to be quite well behaved and get over all the obstacles OK. Best moment though was when Bobby (who's recently died, unfortunately) just stopped in the middle of the arena and did a giant turd. Now that's entertainment.

― James Ball (James Ball), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 15:13 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www.usanetwork.com/sports/dogchallenge/images/jump_dog.jpg

Did anyone else watch the Incredible Dog Purina challenge while back? My favorite part was the diving dogs.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 16:00 (twenty-three years ago)

stupid ugly poodle

This sounds like the name of a particularly awful funk/rock band circa 1991. You know, somebody who would open for the Limbomaniacs.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 16:15 (twenty-three years ago)

I wanna give a shout out to the Pekingese - only because they make people laugh and smile and point, kinda like a clown.

― marianna, Wednesday, 12 February 2003 16:17 (twenty-three years ago)

In fact there is a pretty good looking pekingese puppy - along with others here: PUPPIES!

― marianna, Wednesday, 12 February 2003 16:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Aw, what a cute puppy mill!

― felicity (felicity), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 16:29 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

I just want to give another shout out to Danny the Pekingese who won Crufts this year.

Also there were some kids with long haired dachshunds at the Blue cafe in soho - and it kinda looked like they were being used as little hot water bottle type accessories. That was weird but cute.

― marianna, Wednesday, 12 March 2003 14:52 (twenty-three years ago)

haha, I always enjoy Spencer's joke up there.

Big ups to Danny! I wonder if T.S. Eliot had a Peke?

I like all dogs of all breeds but I especially like the weird primitive-looking gaze hounds like the Pharoah Hound and the Ibiza Hound:

http://www.petgroomer.com/BREEDS/ibizanhound.jpg

There used to be this cute Ibizan that ran around the dog park in Silverlake. Oh and one year there was this cure Petit Bassett Griffon Vendeen ("PBGV"):

http://www.tannenthalbad.com/pb1.jpg

The PBGV is so cute! It's like candy.

sigh, I miss the LA dog parks.

― felicity (felicity), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:17 (twenty-three years ago)

two years pass...

is anyone watching the akc/eukanuba national championship tonight?

― stockholm cindy (winter version) (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 22 January 2006 23:52 (twenty years ago)

The best dog is clearly the Cornish Rex Hound. He has the smoothest butt!

― LoneNut, Monday, 23 January 2006 08:34 (twenty years ago)

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