2015 Westminster Dog Show & Masters Agility Championship

Tibetan Spaniel Being Shown

It’s almost here!  The 2015 Westminster Dog Show is next Monday & Tuesday (2/16 & 2/17) and the group competitions will be televised at 8pm.  If you’ve never seen the Westminster Dog Show (or any dog show for that matter), don’t miss it – this is a SPECIAL one to see!

Westminster is considered the most prestigious dog show IN THE WORLD, and is the 2nd oldest continuous sporting event in the US! Westminster differs from other shows in a few ways: 1) it’s the fanciest show around.  Exhibitors are all dressed up and judges are often seen in long gowns and tuxes.  2) All of the dogs showing already have their AKC (American Kennel Club) championship.  3) It is considered a “benched show” meaning that there are designated times when the dogs are available for your close-up admiration and often owners, breeders, and handlers will happily answer questions in hopes to educate the public about their chosen breed.

Mike Reed and “Frankie”
Border Collie

You may think you don’t have any interest because maybe you don’t have a pure breed dog, but whether your beloved canine is a pure breed, designer cross, or a “Heinz 57 mutt” (I mean that most affectionately) they all go back to at least one of these foundation breeds.  You may notice a trait in your dog that you just can’t figure out, and the explanation my lie within the background stock.

Westminster also gives you a chance to try your skill at picking the winners!  Keep in mind – each dog is not compared to the next.  They are judged against the “standard” for that breed, as set forth by the AKC.  What you get to see on TV are the group competitions, which are the winners from that day’s breed competition (which is why you will only see one of each breed).  There are seven groups – Herding, Working, Toy, Terrier, Sporting, Non-Sporting, and Hound.

If you are truly interested, you can find out the judging program for each breed during the day, buy your ticket(s) and take a trip into NYC to see the breed competitions in person!  Then make an entire day out of it and stay for the groups at night.

Golden Clears Agility Jump

The Masters Agility Championship is live Saturday 2/14 and airs Sunday 2/15 from 12-2.  What you get to see on TV are the winners (10) from each of the size groups.  The dogs are amazing works of art in motion, and are true athletes.  Agility is very different from the breed competition in that the dogs & owners are scored on their abilities to get through the courses accurately and quickly, with no emphasis on their looks.  This is purely a performance event, and an extremely exciting one at that – I am often on the edge of my seat!

There are other types of dog shows, trials and competitions to attend: obedience, herding, earth dog, field… just to name a few.   I hope you will investigate and expand your horizons!

Mike Reed & “Ben”
Tibetan Spaniel

I hope you will check out these up coming events  – there’s so much to see and learn! Sometimes they update the rules, sometimes they allow new breeds – whatever the case, you’ll never see the same show twice! Go to: http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2015/show/info.html to get all of the details for watching on TV or going there in person.

To all of my friends showing at Westminster – best of luck, especially Mike & “Ben” (and Sue) and Mike & “Frankie” (and Stephanie)!!!

Stacie & Ronan

PS…have you hugged your dog today???