Westminster Kennel Club

Congratulations. Wow. Winning is always sweet. Unexpectant winning is doubly sweet. From what I have read, this has got to be up there in the triple or quadruple level of unexpectant wins. It proves it ain't over til it's over. How am I going to work this in to this weekends U10 soccer pep talk?

And, please, no more links to anything PETA.

Two things that I cannot comprehend how they are named: show dogs and Russian jet fighters.

The best in show in my book is still the "clinically depressed" poodle that attacked Jacques Chirac.

Sadie the Scottish Terrier was robbed...clearly an anti Barney backlash.

Russian fighter jets are easy to understand..... dog names are hard.

And congrats to the little feller!

Stump's a Texan. Here, at the Center of the Universe, we live forever, thanks to Texas A&M. From the Houston Comical:

"Sommer said Sussex spaniels can live to be 15. The previous oldest winner at Westminster was an 8-year-old Papillon in 1999, and Stump was the first of his breed to capture the silver bowl.

Stump barely made it past 5 or so. He left the show ring in 2004 and later nearly died from a mysterious medical condition. The vets at Texas A&M saved him."

What Wiener dogs want to be when they grow older.

They should have a prize for frumpiest female handler in a far too long dress with the chunkiest flatest heels trying to prance with her canine object.

While I congratulate Stump and the rest of the best, I must say that there is still something to be said about the "mutt". Some of the handsomest, smartest and kindest creatures, both four and two legged, have been mutts.

And as for PETA... ho hum, better work on your acting careers (or become a community organizer).

Thanks, Kate. I watched the bloodhound and English setter breed judging -- the videos are quite an improvement from previous years. The minimal narration is much appreciated: give the judge's name and number of entries and then shut up so we can watch them being gaited.

Crufts will be very interesting, as well, what with the idiocy emanating from The Kennel Club over the past year.

Just as Jews are right to object to gratuitous comparisons to the holocaust, blacks should object to comparing dog breeding with the KKK.

We had a local dog win best in breed for Basset Hound. She did way better than Miss Vermont in her green hemp dress with "re-purposed" gold trim.

Is it just me, or were the 7 finalists all pretty ugly? If I picture a dog, I think of a Lab, or a Golden, or a Cocker Spaniel or a German Shepherd. With the exception of Stubs, the others were all .... peculiar-looking. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure every breed has its advocates, but in the top dog show, shouldn't there be some 'normal' looking dogs in the Best of Show? Even Stubs, the winner, although the closest to what I would call a normal-looking dog, had grey on his chest and watermarks at his eyes. Obviously, I don't understand how these things work.

My apologies to Stump - I called him Stubs in the above post.

Free Michael Vick and give him back his dogs, that PETA moment may never be recreated on earth again.

Imagine if those hyena and baboon owners from South Africa just happened along.

here's a liddle pome in john lennon's 60's book called "in his own write'...it's called 'good dog nigel'.

arf arf he goes, a merry sight
our little hairy friend,
arf arf upon the lampost bright
arfing round the bend.

nice dog! goo boy.
waggie tail and beg.
clever Nigel. jump for joy,
BECAUSE WE"RE PUTTING YOU TO SLEEP AT THREE OF THE CLOCK, NIGEL.

yes i know...or rather i DON'T know.....don't ask me....having sadly sadly put down several of my "little hairy friends' yet i wonder why i find the pome so droll...

"arf arf upon the lampost bright' has every bit the awful solemnity and menace as joyce's creation, the 'dublin by lamplight laundry'....

to me anyways....but what the hell do I really know anyways eh ?

Re: KKK garb

The PETA people obviously only wanted to get more use out of their traditional Democrat outfits. After all, they didn't get to wear them at Hussein's inauguration.

Glad I avoided the links....

One fuggly dog that thing is....

"Free Michael Vick and give him back his dogs"

My favorite comment on this was Dane Cook, he said that he organized a "be nice to dogs pig roast" where people enjoyed tasty cuts of pig flesh while they tut tutted Michael Vick's cruelty to dogs.

they were dressed in white

ready for the rubber room

========================================

most dog owner treat their dogs better than those fools treat their kids

The joke's on the 'Stump'; where are they gonna find him a date? ;)
(I suppose they could accidentally leave the gate open and he could find his own...)

For years I participated in the horse show circuit. I became a judge and was asked to give my opinion on many horses. I conducted clinics and offered advice on how and where the breed (I was involved in) should be going. After awhile it occured to me that all I was offering was BS as in the show ring all we are asking for is one judges opinion. There is no objective opinion sought in the show ring, only subjective. So, in the show ring, it does not matter if a a hunting dog can't hunt, he only has to look good. As a horse judge I could no longer accept this phony standard. I stepped back and quit showing and judging. I'm now from the school that suggests that if you dog can't hunt who cares how good looking he is?

Conformation competition is only one part of the dog show world, Dodger. That's why titles for hunting, tracking, herding, obedience, draft dog, agility, etc., are on offer. It's a misconception that dog showing is only a "beauty contest."

Charles, I realise there are contests that judge hunting herding etc. My complaint is with the beauty contest part of the dog show world. Ultimately dog breeds themselves are hurt by this type of endeavour.

It's not a beauty contest. Conformation assesses the structural soundness of breeding stock by: (a) gaiting them; and (b) comparing each dog against its breed standard, which describes in elaborate detail the structure required for members of that breed to perform their designated tasks. The bloodhound standard, for instance, was written to describe outstanding working bloodhounds: the characteristics which are required for that breed to efficiently track and trail men or game in the field.

Conformation competition is as much a "beauty contest" as having your veterinarian examine a horse for soundness before you buy it.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/2188/pg_dtl_art_news/pg_hdr_art/pg_ftr_art

What do you make of this then? The Kennel Club's latest promotion. LOL