Westminster Breed Showcase 2024

By Amy Fernandez

Westminster unbenched just seems all wrong. From the start back in 1877, the gate has been the linchpin of this show’s fame and success. And those thousands of paying spectators are certainly not paying for the Westminster experience.  Crazy, crowded, stressful, confusing–that was something they endured for the pure joy of up close personal time with every breed they love and plenty of breeds they discovered as part of the deal.

As much as exhibitors hated the benching, the public needed it. And they still do, so Westminster has introduced its own version of Meet the Breeds (or Discover Dogs if you want to get technical)­–the Westminster Breed Showcase–which sort of takes on the task. And that was a big feature of today’s show. The club designated two tents for clubs to show off their breeds, and 45 clubs took advantage of this crucial opportunity to set the record straight on purebred excellence.

Every volunteer deserves our gratitude for donating their time, energy and creativity to this showcase.  Especially for lesser known breeds, this kind of public interaction is so important to their future. Dandies were once the most popular purebred and that’s easy to understand once you get to know the breed.  The problem is how, where?

DDTCA was on the job today. Jann Jaffe, with 29 years in the breed, was doing public education with Hugo and Minnie, explaining temperament, grooming, and everything that potential owners need to know. The Tibetan Spaniel is another great and often overlooked breed. Tashi, Sipsy and Yaden were out there today, setting things straight for the dog loving public. (They are also Canine Chronicle fans, for the record).

The Xoloitzcuintili, a breed that’s experienced more than one brush with extinction, was on display thanks to Jacob and David who drove up from North Carolina to ensure that their breed was represented today. Their eight hour drive spun out to a grueling 14 hours of crummy traffic. Now, that is dedication.

Brussels, both rough and smooth were there, three generations of beauties that are also owned by a Canine Chronicle fan. Nirvana, Journey and Harlow, came from Rhode Island to keep the Griffon banner flying.

Normally, you expect pro handlers to be taking today off, prepping for the show. Tara Hartman, who is working both Monday and Tuesday, was there with her daughter making sure that all three Dachshund varieties were on display.  That is a true demonstration of loving the breed. Of course, they had some beautiful dogs to show off for delighted fans.

Once again, Tabitha, the legendary Doberman, was keeping her breed in the spotlight, and Dobermans could not ask for a better ambassador. Tracking, obedience, rally, detection dog work, and an AKC champion, she is a walking talking example of what this breed can do.

Brussels, Shar-Pei, Clumbers, these are only some of the breeds that took advantage of this opportunity. Today made a difference by shining a light on the special qualities purebred dogs possess.

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Posted by Liz on May 12 2024. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.