# The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 2008 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 11, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174 "2008-02-11T17:50:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/21 "2008-02-12T15:51:15Z")
**Dinsdale** - That’s the wire fox terrier. Many of the terrier breeds are dogs that are plucked - airedales, for example. You can clip a wire haried terrier, but their coats lose the crisp colours and tend to look grey and tan instead of black and brown, because the dead hairs don’t come out. StG ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/22 "2008-02-12T15:55:01Z")
I watch with my dogs. Together, we wait with bated breath for the arrival of the adorable cocker spaniels. (They are both blonde American Cockers.) Lucy and I sit on the couch. She watches and cocks her head as if considering the nuances of breed standards. Linus stands on the floor and protects us by threatening the dogs: _Come outta that TV and I’ll kick your ass! That’s right: Keep going! Don’t even turn around!_ At the commercials we break for Baked Lays and Milkbones. A good time is had by all. ---
**Author:** ![ACC\_Expat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@ACC\_Expat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ACC_Expat)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/23 "2008-02-12T15:58:08Z")
[QUOTE=Dinsdale] Saw most of the hounds and about 1/2 of the terriers. Really like the way most terriers look, but not so crazy about their personalities. I’ll be watching my faves - sporting - tonight. Which beagle won - 13" or 15"? Impressed me as a particularly silly distinction! I thought the wire-haired dachsie was beautiful. [/QUOTE] The winning beagle was the 15"–the judge called him the “big” beagle! The wire-haired doxie was stunning; I’ve never really been a wire-haired coat fan, but I _loved_ that dog and thought it was gorgeous. Having known a lot of Russell terriers in my life, all I can say is that it is exhausting to be in the same room with them! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/24 "2008-02-12T16:09:12Z")
I was just passing through the show last night. Did one of the winning dogs belong to Patty Hearst? THE Patty Hearst, or is it just one of those coincidental names? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/25 "2008-02-12T16:16:57Z")
[QUOTE=Sean Factotum] I was just passing through the show last night. Did one of the winning dogs belong to Patty Hearst? THE Patty Hearst, or is it just one of those coincidental names? [/QUOTE] No, it’s really her. Story [here](http://edition.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/02/11/patty.hearst.ap/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/26 "2008-02-12T16:25:05Z")
According to wiki: > [@](#): > > Best in Show has been won by a Terrier Group dog 44 out of the 100 times that the prize has been awarded since 1907. This is a curiously high percentage, since only 27 of the 157 (or 17%) officially recognized AKC breeds are terriers. The past 100 winners since 1907 have been these: > [@](#): > > ``` > * Terrier: 44 > * Sporting: 18 > * Working: 15 > * Non-Sporting: 10 > * Toy: 9 > * Hound: 3 > * Herding: 1 > > ``` It’s rigged, I say! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/27 "2008-02-12T16:46:43Z")
Another thing - what is the deal with referring to dog shows as a “sport”? :dubious: Competition isn’t good enough? Did anyone else notice that a couple of the handlers seemed a little rough with their dogs? I’m thinking about one dark-haried guy with glasses, who had dogs in both the hound and terrier groups. A couple of times he kinda slapped the dog on the snout. Just seemed a little different - an unattractive - compared to what I remember from past shows. At least I didn’t see any of the handlers keeping their doggie-snacks in their mouths! Anyone have any clue how much you can make as a dog show handler? What exactly is involved beyond trotting around the ring? (I know it is more involved than that, but it sure doesn’t look it.) ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/28 "2008-02-12T16:50:36Z")
So, what did you think of the Plott as a breed? He was much darker on TV than photos of him suggest. And if anyone in the Northeast wants a Standard, I have a good breeder. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/29 "2008-02-12T17:08:43Z")
**Bearflag70** - in the years 1907 - 1937, only 7 non-terriers won BIS. Of course, the country was enamoured with Fala, FDR’s Scotty, and terriers like Asta were popular in the movies. In the 70 years after that, terriers only took BIS 14 times. StG ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/30 "2008-02-12T18:45:29Z")
I’m biased towards beagles (I have two tri-colored overlords) but corgis are rather cute. I’ve always been a fan of them. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/31 "2008-02-12T19:03:55Z")
[QUOTE=StGermain] **Bearflag70** - in the years 1907 - 1937, only 7 non-terriers won BIS. Of course, the country was enamoured with Fala, FDR’s Scotty, and terriers like Asta were popular in the movies. In the 70 years after that, terriers only took BIS 14 times. StG [/QUOTE] Ah, so the competition is based upon how well a breed performs in pop culture and not based upon the qualities of a particular dog in the competition itself. I see. 😉 So, I shouldn’t hold my breath for a Pharaoh Hound victory anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/32 "2008-02-12T22:46:19Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] So, I shouldn’t hold my breath for a Pharaoh Hound victory anytime soon. [/QUOTE] I won’t hold my breath for a Ibizan Hound victory although I was rooting for Bunny in '03 & '04. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/33 "2008-02-12T23:57:22Z")
And hey, how about that Australian Shepherd that won the Herding Group! And they’ve changed the group order, haven’t they? We usually have to wait till the last night to see the Herding dogs. We were surprised that the herding group came up the FIRST day. ---
**Author:** ![ACC\_Expat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@ACC\_Expat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ACC_Expat)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/34 "2008-02-13T00:02:14Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] Ah, so the competition is based upon how well a breed performs in pop culture and not based upon the qualities of a particular dog in the competition itself. I see. 😉 So, I shouldn’t hold my breath for a Pharaoh Hound victory anytime soon. [/QUOTE] OTOH, lower exposure for your breed means there’s a smaller chance that it will become the next fad and be improperly bred in large numbers by idiots looking to make a quick buck. You have to look at the positive side! 😃 PS. Yay sighthounds! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/35 "2008-02-13T01:34:54Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] So, what did you think of the Plott as a breed? He was much darker on TV than photos of him suggest. [/QUOTE] I thought he was fantastic. But then again, almost all my favorite breeds are the short-haired, long-legged, pointy-nosed type, like GSPs, Dalmatians, and Greyhounds. Bonus points for spots or brindling. So it’s no surprise I’d like that Plott! ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/36 "2008-02-13T01:49:51Z")
I’m flipping between primary coverage and the dog show. (Insert easy jokes here.) Anyway, at this point there’s far more drama in the dog show. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/37 "2008-02-13T02:25:43Z")
I like the pug on now, but then I do prefer short haired dogs. The Peke, or the Pomeranian, the Maltese, don’t look like dogs but like walking furballs. ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/38 "2008-02-13T03:40:09Z")
Interesting that there’s the best in show group has two poodles. With them being the same colour and all, if you stand them side by side they’d look like two Russian nesting dolls that needed even tinier teacup size poodles to complete the set. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/39 "2008-02-13T03:58:11Z")
I don’t actually know anything about judging, I just know what I like. Looking at the final contenders, I kind of liked the Australian Shepherd. But that isn’t the dog that won. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2008/437174/40 "2008-02-13T04:03:14Z")
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