(I did this three years ago and I’m doin’ it again.)
The dog show is coming! The dog show is coming!
I don’t own any dogs, but I love watching the dog show. It’s the Olympics, the Oscars, the Miss America Pageant of the dog show world. It will air live on Feb. 13th and 14th on the USA network and be re-aired the following mornings. The very best of the best of every recognized breed: the Westie, the German shepherd, the Pomeranian, the Akita, the Papillon, the greyhound, the Bichon Frise, the Newfoundland, the Chihuahua, the Siberian husky, the standard poodle, the toy collie, the border terrier. Handsome dogs, goofy dogs, elegant dogs, powerful dogs, foofy dogs, lovable dogs. See the snooty owners and breeders! The totally focused handlers! The judges, with the power of God in their decisions! Drama! Excitement! Pathos! Best in Breed! Best in Group! Best in Show! Man, I can’t help myself. I get sucked in every year. I love it, I love it.
Me, me, me!
I was there in 2004. Not with a dog, though.
One of my Rottweiler’s half brothers won first award of merit in breed last year, a dog I knew as a pup. Naturally I’ll be watching the working group, if nothing else.
And if a damn poodle wins again, I’m going to kick the next one I see.
As it happens, the uncle of my dog won… I do believe he won the whole thing, a few years back. We discovered it was the uncle because, as my dog was watching the show, he sat up, whoofed, and then charged the TV and tried to climb inside it. The name was familiar, and the family resemblance was uncanny. So, we called the breeder, and by goodness, it was the dog’s father’s littermate, as I recall.
Go, Poodles!
I, too, get excited about The Dog Show! I loves me some dogs! I’m really, really partial to any kind of spaniel (including toys), but also quite fond of several of the sight hounds and the really big dogs.
One of my dog’s brothers has won some major prizes, I think. He’s an English Springer Spaniel, and I’m guessing he didn’t inherit the psycho gene that Maggie has. So I root for them, but my real favorite is still the Gordon Setter. I’m also a fan of Huskies and Greyhounds. Those are my other ‘future dogs.’
Oh…“Best In Show” is hilarious. It’s a spoofumentary, (well, it’s a word now) by the same folks that did Spinal Tap and The Mighty Wind.
Even if you have no interest in dogs, it’s well worth renting.
My SO’s sister and boyfriend are there showing - they’re both professional handlers. Some of the stories they come home with from these things… There is a LOT of behind-the-scenes “drama” from what they say. So far I haven’t heard that they’ve won anything yet this year that will get them on tv.
That’s exactly what we did, although my mother rented the movie by coincidence.
I’m not the only one who heckles the dogs on TV, am I? To each his own, but when I see a lot of these weird looking tiny toy breeds walking around, I think, “call that what you want, it’s not a dog.”
What is the vibe I get off dog judges? I know the dog fancy comes from traditions of blueblood society and “obedience” culture, but some of these people just ooze self-importance. That despite their barely getting to say a word. There’s just something in the curt stony way the judge says “All right, let’s bring 'em around please,” while chuck-chucking a spotty bejeweled hand or glaring down a long bony nose, that makes my populist hayseed skin crawl.
I was pleased that Coco, the norwich(?) terrier, did not win her class again and I am especially please that the sad excuse for a canine, the troll like Jeffrey the Pekenese didn’t win either.
I was especially pleased that the Pug won, but disappointed that the Dalmation won. I am not a big fan of Dalmations.
I was pulling for the English bulldog, cause they are just so ugly and adorable.
Rufus, whom I love for all things squatty and goofy looking, made me very happy. My husband does not like Rufus because of his egg shaped head.
I am not particularly interested in the Hounds, but always watch and root for the lesser breeds like Otter Hound (Very rare breed) and Spinone ( which I am not sure if it is considered a or Sporting/Gun Dog in the AKC or Useless Class. Several Dog books I have have them in either.)
What amuses me to no end are the handler’s shoes. Payless Old Lady and Old Man Collection.
The Golden Retriever won the Sporting Group, which just does not make my heart sing. It seems like such a boring choice to me. But we did get to see a nice Gordon and English Springer.
