¯2009 UKC PREMIER

Dog Show Points Puzzle

figure this one out!

Disqualified?-Excused? the WKC Group answer

¯08 UKC Winter Classic

AKC Breeders Award Group Winners named "Breeder of The Year."

¯07 UKC Winter Classic

¯OK City Mid-Del-Tinker

¯06 UKC Premier Show

America’s Dog Show Is Something Else!

Dogs, Dogs Everywhere!!! Inside, outside, at the hotels, in taxis and limos.  Entering New York City’s Madison Square Garden, everyone is wondering the same thing, where do we go, where are our seats?

Finally you are seated and there are the grassy-green rings just like on TV. From your vantage point, they look like little pieces of yard with white picket fences.

You note the huge ring signs identifying the breed and the Judge. 
You open the program (they call it a catalog) and it’s full of information but the dogs are what grabs your attention. You watch them “gait” around the rings, trying to pick a favorite, wondering who the judge will pick.

Everyone is dressed up, even the dogs, how magnificent! When a dog wins, there are hugs and handshakes from all the other handlers and then… next, new breeds of dogs are brought in and the process starts all over again.

You decide it’s time to walk around a bit and you can go right to “backstage” where there are dogs on tables getting their beauty treatments. You can actually talk to the handlers and owners. It’s a wonderful learning experience until they whisk the dog from the grooming table and hurry to the arena for ring call.

So you go to the benching area where the noise is deafening, the air is hot and it’s hard to breathe. You don’t really walk, it’s more like shuffling, moving with a wave of people through rows of yellow wooden benches.

Each row has the names of the breeds benched there. It’s like going to a grocery store but instead of the cereal aisle it’s the Great Dane aisle.  You can see the dogs face to face, even pet some if the owners are there but you always ask first.

Adults are as thrilled as the kids when meeting a breed they’ve never even seen before. And the knowledge these dog folks share with the public is truly inspiring.

Everyone is looking their best, the dogs don’t have a hair out of place, the lights go down, the lights come up and the roar from the crowd is electrifying. It gives you goose bumps.

The Hounds, Terriers, Non-Sporting, and Herding breeds are judged on Monday and then on Tuesday, the Sporting, Working and Toys are judged.

The Groups are televised live each night. That’s when the four best dogs are chosen from the seven groups. The arena fills with anticipation. It has the feel of a grand pageant.

When the group winners have been picked, it’s time to choose the “Best In Show” dog. You can feel the handlers’ tension.

The judge is meticulous, the dogs are perfect, the handlers are fixing, adjusting, never still until the judge’s eyes rest on their dog. Then they freeze in perfect pose.

Then they circle the ring, showing perfection in every stride. The judge takes one last look and then goes to the table to record his choice for Best In Show.

A hush falls over the crowd. No one knows which dog has won until, with the club officials, Dr. J. Donald Jones walks back to the center of the ring and congratulates Aaron Wilkerson, the Beagle’s handler.

The crowd roars with excitement! The Judge from Georgia, a college Dean, has thoroughly tested those dogs. “Uno” barks for the crowd which in turn howls with approval.

Wow, what an exciting, breathtaking, exhausting two days!!!

After the picture-taking on the main floor, the happy little dog and his handler are escorted to the Press Room for still more photos and press opportunities.

My crew and I would like to thank David Frei, Director Of Communications for making everyone so comfortable in the Press Room. We also appreciate the consideration shown to us by Linda Duane and Ranny Green who assisted all the press and photographers.

- D.Flynn, Multimedia Mgr. Media@TheDogPress.com