Westminster 2010 – Come Together
258 – March, 2010
Is it possible that it’s been a full year? It’s Westminster 2010, when dog fanciers set aside their workaday lives to gather in New York City and indulge their passion. Yes, the Olympics are underway in Vancouver, the Daytona 500 is happening in Florida (with a lot less snow), and behind the New York Public Library it’s Fashion Week in Bryant Park. But around Madison Square Garden, dogs are the focus. Old friends greet each other and promise to meet for dinner (but who has time?). Returning competitors and spectators all have their routines and traditions – a shop that’s always visited, or a favorite restaurant where the staff knows you.
Each year it is different, yet it’s always the same. Thousands of people are brought together by a common interest – purebred dogs and the many contributions they make to the lives of their humans.
On Saturday morning, the Hotel Pennsylvania’s lobby is already crammed with luggage, crates, dogs, and people. In the middle of it all, a TV personality is filming a “talkmercial” for orthopedic dog beds as his bodyguard fends off autograph-seekers. It’s Montel Williams, who was inspired by his own battle with M.S. to develop a line of healthy living products. He’s expanding his line to include pets, and has a stack of beds and line-up of canine models. An Akita and St. Bernard display varying degrees of willingness to try out the product. Montel’s own dog Max, a toy poodle, waits for him at home. “My wife picked him, but I fell in love with him, and now I want another,” Montel confesses. “He was the ring bearer at our wedding.”
Monday – After Westminster, I Need a Vacation: “Get your Bow Wow Bible!” He’s back, and it wouldn’t seem like Westminster without him. The vendor hawking the distinctive purple and gold catalog of the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a comedian. “Get your Directory of Dalmatians! Your Database of Dachshunds!” New York City’s Madison Square Garden is packed with a Presidents’ Day crowd of dog lovers here to see 2500 champions of 173 breeds and varieties strut their stuff. Eighty-eight of the top 100 show dogs in America have accepted invitations this year. “Get your Libretto of Labradors!” cries the vendor and, straining a bit, “Your Words of Wisdom for Weimaraners!” For two days, six rings will be filled for the Best of Breed competitions, and the fans are out in force.
At Ring Four, breeder Nancy Faville from California is settling in to watch her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Ch. Diablo’s Nick of Time, compete. Nancy doesn’t expect a win for “Nico” today. He’s a young dog that she’s just bringing out, she explains, and “there are a lot of accomplished dogs here.” “A lot” is an understatement. Forty-three Ridgebacks—the second largest entry of any breed at Westminster this year—crowd the narrow ring. Asked why there are so many Rhodesian Ridgebacks being shown, Nancy responds that the breed has lots of owner-handlers and very committed breeders. Today, Ch. Pupukea Ridge Ikaika O Spring Valley, bred by Tom and Barbara Peach and co-owned with Pam Lambie and Ian and Sonnet McKinnon, will be leader of the substantial Ridgeback pack.
Michael Gadsby is far from home as well. He’s easily recognizable – after all, he’s almost six and a half feet tall. With his partner, Jason Lynn, Gadsby breeds Poodles, American Cockers, and PBGVs at his Afterglow Kennels in Blackpool, England. On Monday, he’s on the floor, dashing from ring to ring. “I come every year,” he says. “I love the excitement and drama, and you see so many great dogs in the States.”
Crufts, of course, has a much larger entry, but Gadsby says that he’s willing to sacrifice numbers for quality. “At Crufts,” he explains, “you can watch one breed all day and really not see anything, but here you see the cream of the country, and can find great dogs in every breed.”
The only problem is the pace. “I feel that I’ve aged 10 years every time I go home,” he laughs. “I need a two week holiday after Westminster!”
Introducing…Two New AKC Herding Breeds: One of Westminster’s many pleasures is the opportunity to see breeds newly recognized by AKC compete in the ring. Exotic at first, many become instantly recognizable within a decade or so. Witness, for instance, the Australian Shepherd—admitted to AKC in 1991 and with 44 dogs the largest entry at Westminster this year.
Lisa Donnelly of Marlboro, Connecticut has one of the four Buhunds entered, Ch. Norskwynd D’Lola Of Trolheimen. “Lola” is a happy, compact dog who seems unbothered by the legions of people who crowd around her. She finished her championship in a single weekend, and is only 18 months old. Lisa had bred and shown Pembroke Welsh Corgis for twenty years, and was looking for a breed that an amateur could show.
The Buhund reminded her somewhat of a Corgi, but without what she calls “the snark factor.” Buhunds don’t mind if you break their rules, she explains. While Buhunds have sweet dispositions, Lisa cautions that they are a herding dog and a spitz breed. “They will bark and dig,” she says, “While they are suitable for active families, Buhunds are not dogs that can be left alone all day. They need to be mentally occupied.”
Lisa talks about the camaraderie of the Buhund community – there are still only about six breeders in the United States, but the demand for the breed is growing. Buhunds are shown naturally – not even the whiskers are trimmed. “We’d like to keep it an owner-handled breed,” Lisa says. On Monday, Lisa and Lola make Buhund history as they win Best of Breed at the Garden.
The Pyrenean Shepherd, known to aficionados as the “Pyr Shep,” is the second new AKC herding breed competing at Westminster. Originally bred to herd sheep in the hardscrabble pastures of the French Pyrenees, these are small dogs, standing between 15 and 19 inches at the withers, and with the deep chest, high-sprung loins, and light skeleton of a dog bred for speed and athleticism.
Jarl Wathne, an experienced Pyrenean Shepherd owner and breeder in the audience today, says that there is a huge demand for the breed among agility enthusiasts. Their herding instinct is intact; Wathne will begin his dog on lambs in the spring. Though faces may be rough or smooth; only one of the Pyrenean Shepherds here today is smooth-faced, and the rough-faced version, with its whiskery face and long-haired erect ears is undeniably charming. “Honey, I shrunk the Briard,” exclaims a delighted spectator.
In the United States, “Patricia Princehouse is the Pyrenean Shepherd,” says Wathne. Out of 17 dogs in the ring, 11 are owned or co-owned by Princehouse. Others have a sire or dam bearing the name of Princehouse’s La Brise Kennels. A fan of the Pyrenean Shepherd since she first saw the breed as a teenager, Princehouse is actively involved in importing top dogs from France, scouting the true “wild” or working types, and breeding just one or two litters per year. A professor of Evolutionary Biology at Case Western University, she is “really careful with genetics,” according to Wathne. Today’s historic Best of Breed will go to Ch. Burgerhaus Grand Prix RN—known as “Pree”—a gray bitch bred by Kathy Burger from two La Brise Pyr Sheps, and owner-handled to her win by Sue Snyder.
Snyder is a vet assistant who was drawn to the breed because their low maintenance meant that she could show them herself. And, while the Pyr Shep has the energy of a Border Collie, “with adequate training, they will turn off and watch TV with you,” she laughs. Prospective owners should prepare themselves for a long wait. “They are almost impossible to get,” Snyder cautions. “You know the breed is small when you know the name of every dog in the United States!”
Monday Night Let The Groups Begin:
It’s an interesting year. Everyone knows Sadie, the Scottie who’s the number one show dog for 2009, but the unexpected often happens at Westminster. First into the ring are the 28 hounds.
The Hound Group: The hounds are judged by Mr. Everett Dean of Richmond, Virginia and Ch. Starline’s Chanel, a strikingly marked brindle and white Whippet, takes Group First. Just two years-old, this lovely bitch, known as Chanel, or more familiarly, “Cha Cha,” already has 10 All-Breed Best In Show wins, 44 Hound Group Firsts, three Hound Best In Shows and seven Best in Specialty Show wins. Handled by Lori Wilson, Chanel shows no signs of slowing down. On the podium for her winner’s photograph, she is not interested in treats or a squeaky rubber carrot, but has eyes only for her owner and breeder, Lori Lawrence. Lawrence hides behind a curtain and pops out from time to time to get her dog’s attention for that all-important pose. Like all coursing breeds, this Whippet is built for speed and, according to Wilson, can reach 35 miles per hour. Back home in California, Chanel’s passion is chasing tennis balls.
Second in the Hound Group is Ch. Grandcru Clos Erasmus, “Era” to her friends, an elegant brindle greyhound. Era’s credentials are impeccable – she won the Hound Group at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship – and here at Westminster her playful demeanor and obvious rapport with co-owner and handler Rindi Gaudet have made her a crowd favorite. Gaudet and Era have been together since the greyhound was a pup, according to breeder Melanie Steele, who shares co-ownership with Gaudet. “When this dog’s grandmother died in Rindi’s arms, she was devastated,” says Steele, “and we knew we had to find her something special.” The two women describe Era as “a big pet,” and “a crowd-pleaser who loves to have fun.” Era has good reason to be merry. Her preparation for the Westminster ring included a session of leaping for snowballs in Central Park.
Ch. Foxcliffe Hickory Wind (“Hickory”), a four year-old Scottish Deerhound takes third. She was handled by Angela Lloyd, who began showing her last year. “She’s the epitome of a Deerhound,” says Lloyd. “She’s sensitive, like the sighthound she is.”
Fourth goes to American/Australian Ch. Rokeena Carte Blanche, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen. With the harsh tousled coat of a dog bred to work the thorny scrub of the French Vendée and the reach and drive of a packhound, “CeeJay” is a proud specimen of his breed. In 2009, he was the Number 1 Hound and the Number 1 PBGV in the United States. CeeJay is co-owned by the Herrera family of Venezuela and his breeders, the Wallises of Australia, who have traveled far to see him tonight.
His handler, Jane Myers, is dapper in an orange suit that makes a perfect backdrop for CeeJay’s white and tan coat. When asked about her striking choice of color, Myers’ eyes mist. Orange was the favorite color of close friend and AKC representative, Michael Sauve, who passed away in June. She’s chosen her outfit as a tribute to him. However, there’s no time to savor the bittersweet moment. In one of those breathless turnarounds that besets the successful dog handler, she has just minutes to prep and pose CeeJay for his Hound Group photo before ducking under the velvet rope to pick up the lead of her next charge—the Papillon Ch. Forevr Errol Flynn. And with that, it’s time for the Toys. . . .
The Toy Group: Mrs. Shirley Limoges of Ottawa, Canada presides over the always entertaining toys. She awards first to a familiar team – owners Ron Scott and Debbie Burke, handler Kaz Hosaka and a tiny white dynamo of a Toy Poodle from Japanese breeder Yukiko Omura’s Smash Kennels. In 2007 and 2008, it was “Team Kaz and Vikki” (Ch. Smash JP Win a Victory). Vikki’s now retired and back home in Japan, and three year-old Walker, Ch. Smash JP Moon Walk has just powered around the ring to his own group victory.
Hosaka says that Walker is a much more complicated dog to show than Vikki. He arrived from Japan “spoiled,” and it took a year of training to get him ready for the ring. Photographers have spooked him, and Hosaka is careful to keep him turned away from any cameras. “All my dogs are special,” he explains. “I don’t treat them like dogs. I treat them like humans, and get them to trust me. Only then can I ask them to do for me.”
The success of the team is built on three pillars – “a great owner, genius breeder, and an excellent handler,” Hosaka says, placing himself last on the list. He visits Japan twice each year to look at the Smash puppies with Scott and Burke. They make their selections and establish a plan – “easy to say, but hard to do,” he laughs.
Second in the Toy Group is awarded to the Pekingese, Ch. Linn-Lee’s For The Good Times, owned by Erna Holcombe and Charlotte Carter and handled by David Fitzpatrick. Holcombe couldn’t be more pleased with “Ray.” “He’s just fantastic and as close to the standard as he can be.” Asked about his personality, she characterizes him as “a gentle, loving little dog. He’s not at all finicky, and has never met a stranger.” After the show, it’s back home to Alabama, where Ray enjoys life as her companion.
Third goes to a Shih Tzu owned by Joe and Roberta Walton, Ch. Hallmark Jolei Austin Powers. “Austin” is a beautiful dog – a sweetly flowing waterfall of predominantly white coat – bred by Luke and Diane Ehricht of Toledo, Ohio, and handled by Luke in the ring tonight. The still eye in a hurricane of grooming, Austin stands calmly as the Ehrichts fuss over him with comb and hairspray, primping him for his photograph, putting the finishing touches on what already looks like Shih Tzu perfection.
The Papillon handled by Jane Myers, Ch. Forevr Errol Flynn, brings Myers her second Group placement of the evening, as “Flynn,” takes fourth in his group. Bred by Danny and Ruth Ford, Flynn was a Top Five Papillon in 2009 and a Westminster invitee, owned by an elated Lori Landis of Seminole, Florida. “He’s an awesome show dog, just incredible – he loves to show,” Myers exclaims. Flynn has been home with her since December, and came back out for Westminster and a last hurrah before retirement and the “good life” in sunny Florida.
The Non-Sporting Group: There are only 18 breeds or varieties in the Non-Sporting group, and they are wildly divergent. Judge Mrs. Dorothy Dalton is undoubtedly tired of being asked how she can compare a Standard Poodle to a Bulldog. Tonight, some big-winning dogs enter the ring, including the Bulldog, the Group’s top dog for 2009.
First place makes Westminster history – it’s Ch. Robobull Fabelhaft Im On Fire, a brindle French Bulldog. Bred by Shelley St. John, and co-owned by St. John with Marion Hulick and James Dalton, “Bru” is the first Frenchie to win a group at Westminster, remarkable given the breed’s popularity and long history – it was first shown at the Garden in 1897. His handler, Perry Payson, says that this Canadian-bred two year-old loves to show, and that Bru was definitely “on his game” today, winning Best of Breed out of an entry of 36 before going on to this win. Bru’s owner describes him as “sweet, fun, and full of joy.” Dorothy Dalton steps up to congratulate Bru’s entourage and confesses, “I like to make noises to get their attention, but I didn’t want to do it on television. But I didn’t have to encourage him – just look at him!”
Taking second is a Chinese Shar-Pei, Ch. Chaoyang Chick Magnet at Asia. His handler, David Williams, says that “Magnum” loves everybody—a trait that’s plain to see as he solicits petting from the reporters clustered around him. Magnum is easy to show, says Williams, because all he wants is to please his handler—and the Shar-Pei recently took a very pleasing Group Second at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship as well. He belongs to Bonnie Berney and Helga Kamp of Salpulpa, Oklahoma – friends involved in regional showing and breed rescue (Berney spearheads the “Wrinkled Rescue Foundation”). According to Williams, their “bucket list” included owning a Shar-Pei they could campaign to the top. Magnum, bred by Lisa Lee Myers and Linda Cosier, is the fulfillment of that dream.
Group Three goes to a crowd-pleaser, “Uli” the Bulldog, Ch. Kepley’s Showbiz Razzle Dazzle, owned by Joan Fisher, Robert Speiser, and Barbara Wolfe and bred by Marjorie and Jack Kepley. The spectators roared as she gaited – “she has lots of personality, that’s for sure,” says handler Phoebe Booth. While waiting for her picture, Uli greets the press with a bright pink toy dangling from her jaws.
“Chagall,” a black Miniature Poodle in a stylish English Saddle trim, takes Group Four. Ch. Splash Di Caprio was bred by Doris Blacke and is owned by Brazilian breeder Zuleika Borges Torrealba. Rachel Corbin handled Chagall, who just turned two. “His forte is his movement and side picture, and the English Saddle trim shows it off,” she says. “He’s been with us since he was seven months old, and he just loves to show. He really wants to go.” Though finding time is a problem, Corbin would really like to try agility with Chagall after his retirement from the conformation ring.
The Herding Group: Mrs. Linda More of Cary, North Carolina is judging the Herding Group and, for the second year in a row, Ch. Cordmaker Field of Dreams wins it, becoming the first Puli to win back-to-back Group First’s at Westminster. “Conrad,” a bright-eyed bundle of black dreadlocks, is deeply attached to his handler, Linda Pitts. He’s been her “house pet” since puppyhood, and sleeps on her bed. “‘Mom’ is Conrad’s favorite thing,” says Pitts – Pulik, like many herding breeds, are characteristically one-person dogs. The handler praises Conrad for his dependability in the ring. “He loves it,” she says. “He always bounces, and he’s never fazed by crowd noise.” Co-owned by Sue Huebner and Jackie Beaudoin. Conrad, the top winning Puli in the history of the breed, is now almost seven years old, and this will be his last show, says Pitts, who hopes that retirement won’t change Conrad’s role as her housedog and companion.
“Uri” – Ch. Uri De Beauvior, a four year-old Belgian Sheepdog captures Herding Group Two. Handler Heike Wehrle calls him “a fabulous dog – lots of very nice breed type and great movement.” Uri’s breeder/owner is Kate Kinnane and he is co-owned by Charlene Mascuch.
Ch. Tolkien Raintree Mr. Baggins, who ranks as the top-winning brown Bearded Collie of all time, takes Group Three. Handler Alessandra Folz says “Mister Baggins” is “a natural show dog,” and he has the honors to prove it—17 Best In Shows and 100 Group Wins, the number 1 Bearded Collie of 2009. The beautiful Beardie, with a sparkle in his eye and a spring in his step, is owned by Ellen Charles of Washington, D.C. and a consortium of breeders—Stein, Lamb, and Woodcock. When Mr. Baggins isn’t on the show circuit, he keeps in shape with Frisbee and agility, and gives back to his community with therapy work. There may be herding lessons in his future.
James Moses, a veritable institution in the Westminster Herding Group ring, is awarded Group Four with a German Shepherd Dog bitch he co-owns with Sheree Moses and Rebecca Dickson. Ch. Kridler’s Nutmeg V Signature, known simply as “Meg” was bred by Tari Kridler and Joe and Leslie Beccia. Though she’s only been specialed for a few weekends, Meg has earned six Best In Specialty Shows and two All-Breed Best In Shows. Moses, who bred her sire, terms Meg “a hoot” and says “she’s easy to show and baits well, as well as being a tremendous sidegater.”
Tuesday A Dream Comes True:
Westminster is the stuff that dreams are made of, and today is a dream come true for Sonny ZeTing Wang, entering the breed ring with his Miniature Schnauzer, Ch. Regency’s Playmaker – “J.R.” Wang is believed to be the first citizen of the People’s Republic of China to handle an American-bred dog to an AKC championship, and the first to exhibit a dog at Westminster. In a country where dogs are still used for food and clothing, there is little knowledge of how to care for and train them, and where pet ownership is strictly regulated, Wang’s passionate interest in showing purebred dogs is unusual to say the least. Growing up, Wang taught himself training, handling, and grooming from TV, DVDs, and the internet. Today, however, along with a newfound prosperity, China has its own equivalent of the AKC – the National General Kennel Club. After moving to the United States, Wang saw J.R. at a show and fell in love. At first, owner-breeder Beverly Verna refused to sell the promising Miniature Schnauzer to the inexperienced young man. But Wang refused to give up and kept calling – every week – until Verna finally agreed to co-ownership. Before the competition began, Wang said that just being in the ring at Westminster would be a dream come true. But the judge singles J.R. out for an Award of Merit, and the Chinese handler’s dream gets even better, as he and his Miniature Schnauzer pose with their ribbon for the flashing cameras.
Enter the Tibetan Mastiffs – a breed new to Westminster in 2007 and making history again last year, when breeder Richard Eichhorn’s Ch. Drakyi Gold Standard, “Midas,” took Fourth in the Working Group. These strikingly handsome dogs, with coats in shades of black, brown, and blue/grey, all with or without tan markings, and various shades of gold, draw crowds whenever they appear. Stephen Nash, who has been in the fancy since 1970 and helped to write the standard for the Tibetan Mastiff, is in the audience this year mentoring a future judge. Nash has judged as many as 200 Tibetan Mastiffs at a time at specialty shows in the People’s Republic of China. He is concerned about coats too effusive for a true working type, and believes judges should especially reward soundness and athleticism. Midas, the Number 1 Tibetan Mastiff for 2008 and 2009, is in the ring again this year, and takes an Award of Merit, upstaged for Best of Breed by Ch. Seng Khri Bartok of Dawa, a striking red-gold dog bred by Eva Marton.
Not every breed shown at Westminster is on the rise. The Skye Terrier has been pleasing fanciers since it was “brought out of barbarous borders” north of England in Shakespeare’s time. Skyes have been AKC-recognized since 1887, but today the breed seems to be in decline, with only about 300 Skyes registered last year. “It’s so sad,” says AKC judge and Skye breeder Sandra Goose Allen, who has joined the audience at ringside to see the competition. There are just seven dogs in the ring, and the win goes to Ch. Cragsmoor Buddy Goodman, a dog with a magnificent flowing coat running from silver platinum to cream, owned by Carolyn Koch and Victor Malzoni, Jr.
Maida Connor, who co-owns Gleanntan Kennels with Michael Pesare, has two winning Skyes at Westminster this year, both black. Ch. Gleanntan Glindathegoodwitch, a coquettish girl who frolics in the ring and flirts shamelessly with the judge, takes Best of Opposite Sex, and her kennelmate, Ch. Gleanntan Comeflywithme!, receives an Award of Merit. Back in the benching area, Conner shows off “Glinda” and “Mick” to passers-by and talks enthusiastically about her breed. “The Skye Terrier is very misunderstood,” she says, “Maybe because of its long coat. This is NOT a toy dog,” she emphasizes. “The Skye has real heft and muscle, and weighs around 35 pounds. They are meant to be working terriers, with a jaw the size of a German Shepherd’s for punishing small animals.” Indeed, the motto of the Skye Terrier Club of Scotland is “Wha daur meddle wi’ me?” But Mick and Glinda are also beloved family pets, and therapy dogs who routinely work at a Ronald McDonald House. While she talks, Connor brushes back Glinda’s hair to show her lovely, soft dark eyes to two enchanted little girls. Of course, the legendary Greyfriars Bobby, faithful to his master even after death, was a Skye. “But now,” says Connor sadly, “Skye Terriers are so hard to come by that they’re doing a remake of the Greyfriars Bobby movie with a Westie in the title role.”
Bringing Family and Friends Together: Tyler Wells is 12 years old and nattily dressed in a dark suit, matching shirt, gold tie, and pocket square. He’s accompanied by his parents, Shawna Wells and J.R. Lerby, his extremely proud grandfather, Chuck Wells, as well as friends and supporters from back home in Smithfield, Ohio. The most important member of the party is undoubtedly “Trace,” Ch. Diamondt’s Comin’ On Strong, a three year-old Siberian Husky that Tyler will show in breed and junior handling competition.
Trace is not only a show dog, he’s the lead dog on the family’s sled dog team and “my best friend since he fell asleep on my lap when he was two months old,” Tyler explains. The Wells-Lerby family is clearly a close one, and the sport of dogs is part of the glue that holds them together. At home, 12 more Siberians wait for them, as well as an Irish Red and White Setter and a beagle.
Tyler is home-schooled and goes to as many as 70 dog shows in a year with his family. He also participates in dog sledding with his dad. The focus is on fun as opposed to winning, Shawna Wells explains. They travel together in an RV, and Tyler views junior handling as a chance to “meet friends and have fun.”
While in New York, Trace and Tyler had a photo shoot for Martha Stewart Living and they’ve been featured on Oprah Winfrey’s website. Tyler plans a career as a handler, but “only after college,” his mother is quick to add.
Up in the stands, you can’t miss a group of ten women dressed in identical lime green T-shirts. It’s the Col. Potter Cairn Rescue, and the women have come from seven states to attend Westminster together.
The organization’s name is not a tribute to a military hero, but rather a Cairn named Col. Potter who died when he was hit by a car. A star was named in his memory, but the greater tribute is this rescue group, numbering 700 volunteers in the United States and Canada. They’ve rescued and placed thousands of Cairns – 417 in 2009 alone.
Penny Mahar of Whitesboro, New York says that the group gave her a “whole new life” after she lost her husband, and then her Cairn. “I sat at the computer, crying,” she remembers. “Then I searched Cairn rescue, and found Col. Potter.” In addition to working with the group, she’s adopted two Cairns herself. Coming to Westminster has been a dream for her – and what better way to do it than with a group of friends, some of whom she’s meeting face-to-face for the first time.
Meet the Irish Red and White Setter: The Sporting Group is adding a fourth setter this year. Because of its name, one can’t help but compare it with the Irish Setter; indeed, the Irish Red and White was the foundation for that breed. To see one up close is to become an instant fan, if “Aidan” is any indication. Ch. Machias Forged in Fire is almost three, and his soft expression and silky coat seem to beg for hugs.
Owner Helen Riggle of Aleppo, Pennsylvania saw one at a hunt test and knew that the breed was for her. “They seem to know that they descend from royalty,” she says. “They are very willing, companion-oriented, and easy to live with,” she continues. “But they are not a kennel dog, and they need interaction. They are best trained with positive reinforcement – you have to convince them that it’s a good idea to do what you want them to do.” Riggle has seen the demand for pet Irish Red and Whites increase since their AKC recognition. In the right home, they are great companions – “they are versatile and easygoing,” she says. As for Aidan, this is his last show – he’s headed for the field and the job he was bred to do.
Tuesday Night Three Groups and Best In Show
It’s BIS night, and the judges and other dignitaries file in, the men in tuxedos and women in evening wear. This year, Bernadette Peters, well-known to fans of Broadway, is in attendance, her abundant red curls making her easy to spot.
The night begins with the Junior Handling finals. The juniors are uniformly practiced, professional, and very serious. A young man with a Pointer gains the crowd’s approval when he shows great determination in lengthening his stride to match that of his dog.
Competition is keen, and first place goes to 15 year-old Aaron Bradshaw of Seaside, Oregon. He’s handling a Bullmastiff bitch, Ch. Barb’ Eric’s Heavy Metal, and receives high praise from Judge Ms. Jennifer Pahl. “That breed is difficult to show,” she exclaims. “He has a beautiful, beautiful hand with a dog!”
Aaron has worked for professional handler Ed Thomason for a year, and Thomason is clearly overjoyed at Aaron’s win. He’s quick to point out that Aaron, who is home schooled, has better than a 3.0 GPA, and will attend college before launching his own career as a professional handler.
As for Aaron, who proudly wears the pink and green victor’s sash, “I’m speechless,” he says. “It’s overwhelming! She’s my baby and I love her to death.” Ed Thomason leans in and whispers “Enjoy this moment.”
The Sporting Group: The first group of the night enters the ring under the watchful eyes of the judge, Dr. Donald Sturtz, Jr. Among sporting dogs, the first impression was clearly a good one as the Brittany, Ch. Willowick Talltean, “Tally” is the first to enter the ring and carries away the Group First. Tally is a five year-old red-and-white bitch and one of America’s top Brittanies. Her win seems to surprise her handler, Kellie Miller. Clasping the blue ribbon, a rosette the size of a dinner plate, Miller is flushed with the thrill of victory. “I’m stunned!” she says, fanning her face. “I need to breathe! My phone is blowing up!” Breeder-owner Catherine Fitzgerald has to fight her way through the crowds to reach her triumphant dog and receive Miller’s report – “Tally gave everything she had!”
Ch. Poole’s Ide Got Water, RN, an Irish Water Spaniel, takes second with handler and co-owner Stacy Duncan. “Keegan” is also owned by Colleen McDonald and Gregory Siner who, along with Debbie Patterson, bred him. He’s just finishing his first full year of showing and will likely continue for another year. After that, it’s time for field work. He already has his Rally Novice title, and is hard at work on his C.D.
Third in the Sporting Group is the Gordon Setter, Ch. Firethorn and Sandpiper Easy on the Eyes, handled by Eileen Hackett, and described by his fans as “tall, dark, and handsome.” Co-owned by Pat and Dan Coller, along with breeders Mary McLoughlin and C. Kirby (J. Beattie and C. McWeeney also bred him), “Carson” began his show career in Indiana and Pennsylvania, where he finished his championship at 18 months. Then, because Gordons are slow to mature, Carson took time off to ripen – like a fine wine. Now six, the magnificent Gordon setter returned to the ring as a special at age five, and swiftly added three All-Breed and 15 Best In Specialty Shows to his impressive resumé. In 2009, Carson was the nation’s number 1 Gordon Setter.
Fourth place goes to a crowd favorite – a black Labrador Retriever named “James” – Ch. Beechcroft Study’s Top Secret. The top specialty-winning Labrador in the history of the breed, James was handled by Fabian Negron for owners Magdy Caban, Cecilia Martinez, and Mary Wiest. He was repeating his Westminster breed win, as well as his Sporting Group Four. “He’s got type and movement, and he’s wonderful, just like any Labrador,” Negron exclaims. Wagging his tail, James seemed to agree.
The Working Group: The Working Group is in the ring with Judge Mrs. Kimberly Meredith-Cavanna, who wears an iridescent gown with a graceful train that sweeps behind her as she walks. There’s a lot of variety in this group, from the massive Neapolitan Mastiff to the sporty Portuguese Water Dog.
The winner brings back memories more than two decades old. Ch. Allure Blazing Star Alisaton (“CJ” for “Calamity Jane”) is the great-granddaughter of the last Doberman to go Best In Show at Westminster, Ch. Royal Tudor’s Wild As the Wind, UDTX, who won in 1989. Like her ancestor Indy, CJ is red, and to some observers, it seems as though they’ve traveled back in time to see Indy going around again.
CJ was bred by Carmen Pitts and Gwen DeMilta, and she’s handled by DeMilta’s daughter, Carissa DeMilta Shimpeno. Gwen DeMilta is overcome with emotion, and tears flood her eyes as she opens her cell phone. Shimpeno keeps a newspaper photo of Indy’s win 21 years ago taped to her mirror. Her mother photographed the mirror and carries the shot on her cell phone. “CJ and Carissa are just so connected,” she says. No one who saw their performance in the group ring and Shimpeno’s happy tears afterward would doubt it.
A fawn Boxer named Scarlett, Ch. Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, wins Group Two. She has 24 Best In Show wins to her credit, and is only two and one-half years old. Handler Diego Garcia can’t take his eyes off her as they wait for their picture. “She’s pushy, and she loves to be the center of attention,” he laughs. “It is an honor to handle her. I am so blessed to have this dog in my hands!” Scarlett was bred by Tina Porter and Lee Stanton, and is owned by Debbie McCarroll, Mark Fagan, Mrs. J. Billhardt and S. Tennenbaum.
Ch. Aviators Luck Be a Lady, a Portuguese Water Dog bitch handled by Amy Rutherford, is third. Co-owned by Victor Malzoni Jr., Jerson Valle, and breeder Cathy Dugan, “Ladybug” was the number 1 Portuguese Water Dog in 2009, and 2010 is certainly off to a good start. Rutherford pronounces herself “totally” pleased by Lady Bug’s placement, and adds that having Bo in the White House has made the past year an exciting one for Portie enthusiasts.
Ch. Sno Klassic Play the Game is perhaps the happiest winner as he waits for his Group Four photo. “Player” lives up to his name, wagging his tail, smiling, laughing, and clearly delighted that his people are so pleased. Erin Gimbut handled him tonight for breeder/owners Patricia and Martin Peel. Player was co-bred by Cindy Benson. “He was awesome, he loves the crowd,” Erin exclaimed. The feeling was mutual – judging by the applause, Player is a crowd favorite tonight. “Malamutes are a breed people grew up with,” explains Erin. “They can relate to them.”
The Terrier Group: It’s the final group of the evening. The clock is ticking and Judge Mrs. Loraine Boutwell of Kansas City, Missouri knows that she has to be efficient as she moves through the line-up. The Miniature Bull Terrier entertains the spectators with his frolicking as he finishes his go-around. But the focus is on last year’s group winner and the number 1 Dog of All Breeds for 2009 – Sadie, the Scottish Terrier and her handler, Gabriel Rangel. Her full name is Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, and she’s just won the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship and Philadelphia’s National Dog Show. She’s won the breed here the last two years. But before she can move on to the BIS ring, she has to win the always-competitive Terrier Group.
In the end, it’s Sadie’s night. She’s showing beautifully, and acts as though she owns the ring. This wasn’t easy, Rangel confesses. Two years ago, Sadie felt one of the carpet tiles that cover the ring shift as she moved over it. She was a little “spooked” by the flooring and Rangel spent the next year wheeling her around shows on top of a rolling crate. Now accustomed to a false floor, Sadie’s movement is even and balanced.
Smooth Fox Terrier, Ch. J’Cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice, takes Group Two. Handler Amy Booth, who co-owns the dog with her husband, Phil, and Sandra and Howard Hoffen, says that “Dodger” is “incredibly smart” and “crazy like a fox.” The only way to show him, according to Booth, is to outwit him. Bred by William Dalling and Stacy Turner, Dodger is a perfectly built dog whose smooth coat hides nothing. He has 41 All-Breed Best In Shows, including 10 this year and it’s only mid-February, to prove it. “He’s a complete ham,” says Booth, “and loves the camera.” And that’s a good thing, because a small army of puparazzi is waiting to photograph Dodger with his red rosette.
The Norwich Terrier, Ch. Skyscot’s Poker Chip repeats his Group Three from 2009. Handled by Brenda Combs for owner Caroline Dodwell, “Pokey” was the number one Norwich and number six Terrier last year, with 12 BIS wins. “ I’ve shown him since he was seven months old,” says Brenda. “It took a little while for him to grow up.” The judge’s opinion – “what a cutie!”
Fourth place goes to Ch. Stirling Cool Hand Luke, a dapper Airedale handled by Ernesto Lara. Owned by Torie Steele and Frank Pulice, and bred by Shirley Good and Susan Rodgers, “Lucas” has been Best of Breed at Westminster now for three years running. According to Angela Lloyd, who was assisting with Lucas, this will be the Airedale’s last show. He will be retiring to “be a dog,” and spend time with his extended family of people in California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
Best In Show: If there is a favorite, it’s Sadie the Scottish Terrier. But favorites don’t always win, and the suspense isn’t dampened in any way. There are six other magnificent group winners in the line-up – the Doberman, the Puli, the French Bulldog, Whippet, Brittany, and Toy Poodle—all dogs with breathtaking credentials and the charisma to get the spectators cheering.
The pressure is immense. It’s almost eleven o’clock at night, when any dog would like to be curled up in bed, and Sadie has already spent the day in Westminster’s hectic benching and grooming area and has been shown to her breed win. Because the Terrier Group is the last in the ring before Best In Show, Sadie has no time to refresh herself. Instead, she is mobbed, posed, photographed, and rushed back into the ring.
If that’s not enough pressure, two sign-wielding PETA members, young women in their twenties, evade security to enter the Best In Show ring, bearing signs that say “Mutts Rule” and “Breeders Kill Shelter Dogs’ Chances.” Before the women are whisked away by Garden security, Sadie and her fellow competitors hear something they’ve probably never heard before – a large crowd loudly booing the activists – but the dogs remained unruffled. Gabriel Rangel said later that while he was distracted by the protest, Sadie was so focused on showing that “she didn’t even notice.” And up in the stands, there are other, more appropriate signs in view: “Sadie Rules!”, “Go Sadie!”, and “Cute Little Bitch!”
In the end, the night belongs to the almost five year-old Scottie, owned by Amelia Musser of Mackinac Island, Michigan and bred by Mary O’Neal and Anstamm Kennels. Judge Mr. Elliot Weiss found her remarkably balanced at both ends – a rarity in a breed with short legs and a thick body – and compliments Rangel on Sadie’s excellent condition and coat. Weiss also admires her attitude—“She thinks highly of herself, as a Scottie should.” Perhaps that’s not surprising. Rangel describes their relationship as a “happy marriage” with “Sadie in charge.” “No one ever tells her no,” he says. “I just say ‘yes, honey.’” And the Scottie is believed to know the words “cookie” and “hot dog” in five languages.
Ivonne Rangel, Gabriel’s wife and handling partner, is crying with joy as she heads to the press room for the interviews. “He really loves the sport, and he really loves the dogs,” she says. “Dog show people are like a second family to us.”
What’s next for Sadie? “I don’t like the word retirement,” says Rangel. “Basically, she’s just won everything there is to win.” Instead, Sadie will become “a Mama.” Rumor has it that the lucky mate is Swedish, and that she’ll have time to vacation at Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel, which is owned by Musser and her husband.
Wednesday – Until Next Year… The morning after Best In Show, the lobby of the Hotel Pennsylvania is once again crowded with tired people and tired dogs, waiting for their transportation. People cover every available surface where a human can rest – including the floor. A Siberian Husky stretches full-length on a leather sofa, sound asleep. A black cocker trying to nap in his crate is awakened by a persistent admirer and yawns hugely. Papillons and Pomeranians are tucked under their owner’s arms; Mastiffs on-lead wait patiently by their owners’ sides. Waiting trolleys bearing mountains of dog paraphernalia make the lobby almost impassable – the average show dog seems to travel with as much luggage as an opera diva.
Sadie’s win hasn’t surprised anyone. “It went the way we figured,” says a woman with a French Bulldog, and “Heck, my wife called it in December,” adds a gent with a brace of Flat-Coated Retrievers. But everyone is contented with this year’s Best In Show, and the buzz in the lobby is universally positive: “The Scottie deserved it.” “She’s a beautiful terrier.” “Really wonderful.” “I’m a Bouvier person, but I just want to say that Sadie is not only a wonderful representative for her breed, but for all the dog world.”
Lots of folks, though, even Sadie’s admirers, want to put in a good word for the gorgeous red Doberman bitch—Ch. Allure Blazing Star Alisaton. “The Scottie deserved it, but I kind of favored the Dobe,” says one fancier. “I liked the Scottie, but I was pulling for the Dobie,” says another. “An absolutely beautiful Doberman, beautifully trained and beautifully shown. She stacked like a dream.”
However, people are spilling over with anger about the Animal Rights activists’ incursion into the Best In Show ring. “I was very disappointed that the local NBC channel gave them coverage before showing Sadie.” “There’s a time and a place for everything,” says another dog owner. “They had no right to take away from a moment that people work towards all their lives.” The chorus continues. “They made themselves look foolish. Like idiots.” “They apparently don’t know that Westminster partners with Pedigree to raise half a million dollars for shelter dogs each year.” “Security could have been better,” a very large man with a very large and very well-trained Black Russian Terrier says pointedly.
Most of all, people want to talk about how the fancy contributes to the welfare of dogs – through hard work and research into genetic health, breeders as lifetime resources for owners, spay-neuter contracts for pet puppies, expertise in care and training, breed rescue, legislative efforts to control puppy mills and backyard breeders, and fundraising for shelters. And they want to talk, as well, about how carefully-bred dogs help people – as guide dogs for the blind, service dogs for the disabled, therapy dogs, police dogs, search and rescue dogs, and more. The wealth of knowledge, expertise, and caring at Westminster is without parallel – PETA could learn a lot about the ethical treatment of dogs and about the dog-human bond from the crowd in the Hotel Pennsylvania lobby.
“Westminster—Expect the Unexpected” trumpets the show’s official guide and record book, and this year’s experience has been no exception to that well-deserved motto. Yet as people load crates and grooming tables into vans and taxis, it’s clear they wouldn’t have missed it for the world. “After all,” says the man with the Black Russian. “This is our Kentucky Derby. Only more important, because there are lots more dogs involved. It’s an honor to have been here.”
The Line is Drawn By Joan Harrigan
Westminster is the country’s foremost gathering of dog fanciers. Breeders, owners, amateur and professional handlers, and dog lovers of all ages come together each year to celebrate the dog’s myriad contributions to our lives.
The show rings are only part of the story. Westminster is a celebration of the finest dogs produced by American and international breeders. However, as the dog fancy has evolved, Westminster has become more than the sum of its winners. It’s a chance to meet a Canaan Dog that alerts to its young owner’s seizures and a Malinois champion that is a working service dog. The ASPCA and Animal Medical Center have booths in the benching area. Pedigree promotes its adoption programs. In the stands, spectators pull out cell phones to show pictures of their pets to their seatmates. Westminster is no longer just about the show dog – it’s a celebration of all dogs.
Enter PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. We’re used to seeing these fanatics outside the Garden – dressed as Klan members or setting up tombstones to represent animals euthanized in shelters. However, this year two PETA fanatics interrupted Best In Show judging, displaying large signs from the center of the ring, just as the Brittany stepped up for her moment in the spotlight.
The names of the PETA members have been reported by the media, as have their arrests and the subsequent charges. Their signs displayed the PETA logo and read “Mutts Rule,” and “Breeders Kill Shelter Dogs’ Chances.”
The crowd’s reaction was immediate and unified. Loud jeers and shouts of “go back under your rock,” were heard, with no countering support. Broadway star Bernadette Peters, well-known for the “Broadway Barks” adopt-a-thon she sponsors with Pedigree and Mary Tyler Moore, was Pedigree’s guest on Tuesday night. Her reaction was unequivocal – “a disruption like that is uncalled for.”
It’s tempting to write PETA off as an extremist group. It is that, but it is composed of activists who understand fund raising. And PETA’s resources don’t go into shelters.
We spoke by telephone with Ashley Byrne, a senior campaigner at PETA. No, she admitted, PETA does not operate shelters. They have a single mobile spay/neuter van in Tidewater, Virginia, and she states that PETA neutered more than 8600 animals last year. PETA has a Companion Animal Assistance Project for the needy, but it operates in only two states – Virginia and North Carolina.
Did PETA’s leadership know of the demonstrators’ plans? The question had to be asked several times, but Byrne denied prior knowledge, though she said that PETA supports the action. What right did PETA have to disrupt a sporting event? Byrne’s answer should be alarming to anyone who owns a purebred dog — “any activism, if it demonstrates to the public that when they buy a dog from a pet store or a breeder, they are killing a shelter animal, is worth it.”
Byrne went on to assert that no one who truly loves dogs would buy from a breeder or pet store.
PETA’s mission is clear. Until the dog fancy becomes as focused, well-organized, and effective in disseminating its own message, we’ll not face only further disruptions, but additional restrictive legislation and erosion of our ability to breed and enjoy our dogs. PETA crossed a line during Best In Show judging, and they aren’t going to stop. It’s up to all of us to advocate for the fancy, and more importantly, for our purebred dogs.
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