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2017 Preview of the 141st Westminster Dog Show
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 2017 began a year ago for most dogs, owners, handlers and judges! If you are staying home, see TV schedules below.
February 8, 2017
This year the Westminster Kennel Club managers thought it would add a little something extra to have people be able to "meet and play with hundreds of adorable dogs and fabulous felines while learning about responsible pet ownership." Many exhibitors have expressed mixed feelings about that idea. Our staff agrees. It might ad to the gate $$ but most dog owners and their handlers travel great distances to show off their dogs at Westminster Dog Show and do not want to be upstaged by a weird cat with wrinkles.
Meet & Compete featuring the 4th Masters Agility Championship & 8th AKC Meet The Breeds is Saturday, February 11th. Daytime Session for the 4th Masters Agility Championship (8 am – 4 pm) and the 8th AKC Meet The Breeds (10 am – 5 pm). Evening Session for Masters Agility Championship Finals (7 pm – 9 pm) *Note the Daytime session will take place at Piers 92/94 and evening session will take place at Pier 94 (711 12th Ave. at 55th St. & West Side Highway). Masters Agility Championship at Westminster Finals will be televised on FS1 and Live Stream on FOX Sports GO with TV provider login.
Everyone wants to get up close and personal with the dogs and exhibitors but be prepared to get that way with thousands of strangers - and watch your wallet! The benching sections where the dogs are on display are like a circus midway but with no room to move!
If you are visiting, remember it is the dogs and the people who bring them that make your trip so exciting so make way for them! Don’t touch the white poodle or the Neo unless you ask. Most handlers will say “not now” and continue to try to relax the dogs while surrounded by bedlam. Actually, some owners may be dozing or reading, which is a sure sign they don’t want to talk. Others will be only too happy to tell you how wonderful their breed is and show you puppy pictures. Take your business cards and be prepared to save at least a hundred from old friends, strangers, and dog handlers.
If you spot empty seats in the stands right above the breed you want to watch, okay, you can probably get away with sitting there for a few minutes. Unless you have a dog in that ring, don't even think about getting space down on the floor to watch from ringside. The dog's owners and attendants will be 5 deep. You really can see more from up in the stands or the walkway but if you are not seated KEEP MOVING!
TV Broadcast Schedule: Monday, February 13th, Breed Judging across Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups and Junior Showmanship preliminaries. Daytime hours; 8 am to 4 pm and Evening 6-11 pm.
Group Judging across Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups (televised on FS1 from 8-11 P.M. EST (7 Central) or Live Stream on FOX Sports GO with TV provider login. You can also view the all-day event on WKC website and Nat Geo Wild (check local listings).
On Tuesday, February 14th, Breed Judging across Sporting, Working and Terrier groups and Junior Showmanship preliminaries. Daytime hours; 8 am to 4 pm at The Piers 92/94 (711 12th Ave. at 55th St. & West Side Highway) and Evening 6-11 pm at Madison Square Garden (West 33rd St. & 7th Ave). Junior Showmanship Finals begin at 7:30 pm - Group Judging across Sporting, Working and Terrier groups and BEST IN SHOW! (televised on FS1 from 8-11 P.M. EST (7 Central) or Live Stream on FOX Sports GO with TV provider login. You can also view the all-day event on WKC website and Nat Geo Wild (check local listings). Doors open at 6 pm for Best of Breed benching area.
Excuse me for taking editorial license but our phones have been ringing about "Westminster going to the dogs - Mixed Breed dogs!" With dog show entries down from coast to coast, and dog clubs failing to promote the advantages of selecting a purebred dog wherein one can have a reasonable expectation of size, coat type, grooming requirements, personality and temperament, why would the Westminster Dog Show promoters betray the dog fancy in favor of $$$$ and promoting non-purebreds?
As with last year, both purebred dogs and mixed breeds are eligible. That includes purebred dogs, mixed breeds registered in the AKC’s Canine Partners program, Miscellaneous breeds not yet eligible for conformation competition, Foundation Stock Service recorded breeds, and Purebred Alternative Listing dogs (purebred dogs that cannot be fully registered).
The judging information that follows is from other websites and no one does it better so we'll let the Westminster Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club (that seems to have "gone to the dogs" and the cats, and the All American Dogs) tell you all about the judges.
Mr. Bradley was approved in 1965 to judge German Shorthaired Pointers, German Wirehaired Pointers, and Weimaraners, and he now judges all sporting breeds and Best in Show. In 1975 he joined the Westminster Kennel Club, and since then he has held many positions within the club, including communications director, but he is best known for his 15-year tenure as show chairman for the annual Westminster KC dog show in New York.
Mr. Bradley is also a founding member and executive director of Take The Lead, a charitable organization established in 1993 to support people in the dog sport with terminal or life-threatening illnesses.
Group judges are; Mrs. Robert D. (Polly) Smith of St. Stephens Church, VA, hound; Mrs. Charlotte P. Patterson of Destin, FL, Toy; Mrs. Anne Savory Bolus of Harrison, TN, Non-Sporting; Dr. Robert D. Smith of Church, VA, herding; Mrs. Paula Nykiel of Washington, MO, sporting; John C. Ramirez of Downey, CA, working; Mr. Kenneth M. McDermott of Newburgh, NY, terrier.
Three new breeds will be eligible for Westminster for the first time in 2017: the American Hairless Terrier (Terrier Group), the Pumi (Herding Group), and the Sloughi (Hound Group). The addition of these breeds makes a total of 190 breeds and varieties in competition.
Here is the entire 2017 Westminster Kennel Club judges panel (subject to American Kennel Club approval):
SPORTING BREEDS (32): Mrs. Mary Ann Alston, of Ocean Pines, MD: English Springer Spaniels, Lagotti Romagnolo, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, Sussex Spaniels, Welsh Springer Spaniels. Dr. Steven Herman, of Dade City, FL: American Water Spaniels, Boykin Spaniels, Brittanys, Clumber Spaniels, German Shorthaired Pointers, German Wirehaired Pointers, Pointers, Weimaraners. Mrs. Joan Savage, of Banks, OR: English Setters, Field Spaniels, Flat-Coated Retrievers, Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, Irish Red and White Setters, Irish Water Spaniels, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. Mr. Terry Stacy, of Chapel Hill, NC: Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers. Mr. Mark Threlfall, of Merrimack, NH: Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Curly-Coated Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels (all Varieties), English Cocker Spaniels, Spinoni Italiani, Viszlas, Wirehaired Viszlas.
HOUND BREEDS (33): Mrs. Mary Ann Alston, of Ocean Pines, MD: American English Coonhounds, American Foxhounds, Black and Tan Coonhounds, Bluetick Coonhounds, Cirnechi dell’Etna, English Foxhounds, Harriers, Plotts, Portuguese Podengo Pequenos, Redbone Coonhounds, Sloughis, Treeing Walker Coonhounds. Mr. Espen Engh, of 3405 Lier, Norway: Beagles (both Varieties) Dachshunds (all Varieties). Mr. Age Gjentes, of 3405 Lier, Norway: Borzoi, Ibizan Hounds, Whippets. Dr. Steven Herman, of Dade City, FL: Afghan Hounds, Bloodhounds, Greyhounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Salukis, Scottish Deerhounds. Mrs. Kimberly Meredith-Cavanna, of Pleasant Hill, CA: Basset Hounds. Mr. James Reynolds, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Basenjis, Otterhounds, Petits Bassets Griffons Vend?ens. Mr. Jay Richardson, of Elgin, IL: Norwegian Elkhounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
WORKING BREEDS (30): Mr. Jon Cole, of Nashville, TN: Anatolian Shepherd Dogs, Chinooks, Komondorok, Kuvaszok, Leonbergers, Neapolitan Mastiffs, Siberian Huskies. Mrs. Dorothy Collier, of Sapphire, NC: Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Great Pyrenees, Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, Samoyeds, Standard Schnauzers. Mrs. Kimberly Meredith-Cavanna, of Pleasant Hill, CA: Bernese Mountain Dogs, Boxers, Bullmastiffs, Cani Corsi, Giant Schnauzers, St. Bernards. Mr. Walter Sommerfelt, of Lenoir City, TN: Boerboels, Dogues de Bordeaux, German Pinschers, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, Tibetan Mastiffs. Ms. Joyce Vanek, of Evergreen, CO: Black Russian Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Mastiffs, Portuguese Water Dogs.
TERRIER BREEDS (32): Mr. Jon Cole, of Nashville, TN: American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers (both varieties), Miniature Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Ms. Julie Felten, of Wauconda, IL: Kerry Blue Terriers, Lakeland Terriers, Parson Russell Terriers, Rat Terriers, Russell Terriers, Sealyham Terriers, Standard Manchester Terriers, Welsh Terriers. Mr. Jay Richardson, of Elgin, IL: Airedale Terriers, American Hairless Terrier, Border Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Irish Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Scottish Terriers, Smooth Fox Terriers and Wire Fox Terriers. Mr. Bruce Schwartz, of Los Angeles, CA: Australian Terriers, Bedlington Terriers, Cesky Terriers, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Glen of Imaal Terriers, Norfolk Terriers, Norwich Terriers, Skye Terriers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, West Highland White Terriers.
TOY BREEDS (23): Mr. Espen Engh, of 3405 Lier, Norway: Affenpinschers, Pekingese, Pomeranians, Yorkshire Terriers. Mr. Peter Green, of Bowmansville, PA: Italian Greyhounds, Toy Poodles, Pugs. Mrs. Jacqueline Stacy, of Chapel Hill, NC: Havanese, Japanese Chin, Maltese. Ms. Beth Sweigart, of Bowmansville, PA: Brussels Griffons, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chihuahuas (both varieties), English Toy Spaniels (both varieties). Ms. Lee Whittier, of Vancouver, WA: Chinese Cresteds, Miniature Pinschers, Papillons, Shih Tzu, Silky Terriers, Toy Fox Terriers, Toy Manchester Terriers.
NON-SPORTING BREEDS AND VARIETIES (21): Mrs. Barbara Alderman, of Moon Township, PA: American Eskimo Dogs, Bichons Frises, Chow Chows, Cotons De Tulear, Finnish Spitz, French Bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos, L?wchen, Norwegian Lundehunds, Schipperkes, Tibetan Spaniels. Mr. Jon Cole, of Nashville, TN: Bulldogs. Mr. Peter Green, of Bowmansville, PA: Boston Terriers, Standard Poodles, and Toy Poodles. Mr. Jay Richardson of Elgin, IL: Dalmatians, Keeshonden. Mrs. Jacqueline Stacy, of Chapel Hill, NC: Chinese Shar-Pei, Shiba Inu, Tibetan Terriers, Xoloitzcuintlis.
HERDING BREEDS (31): Mr. Jon Cole, of Nashville, TN: Bouviers des Flandres. Mrs. Dorothy Collier, of Sapphire, NC: Australian Shepherds, Bearded Collies, Beaucerons, Briards, Polish Lowland Sheepdogs, Pulik. Mrs. Kimberly Meredith-Cavanna, of Pleasant Hill, CA: German Shepherd Dogs, Pumik. Mr. James Reynolds, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Border Collies, Canaan Dogs, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Collies (both varieties), Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Shetland Sheepdogs. Mr. Walter Sommerfelt, of Lenoir City, TN: Australian Cattle Dogs, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdogs, Belgian Tervuren, Bergamascos, Berger Picards, Entlebucher Mountain Dogs, Finnish Lapphunds, Icelandic Sheepdogs, Miniature American Shepherds, Norwegian Buhunds, Old English Sheepdogs, Pyrenean Shepherds, Spanish Water Dogs, Swedish Vallhunds.
JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP PRELIMINARIES: Mrs. Mary Ann Alston, of Ocean Pines, MD and Mrs. Joan Savage, of Banks, OR. BEST JUNIOR HANDLER by Dr. Steven Herman, of Dade City, FL.
No matter your breed or your interest, if you love dogs, the Westminster Dog Show 2017 is one of the very best shows in the world. Comparable to the Crufts Dog Show in the U.K. (about to become England again) the New York City event is glamour and glory for all.
Send your Westminster wins, brags, and photos to be published If you don’t want to wait to receive your Westminster Win Photo, send a head study or action shot with your news.
ref {1} Chupacabra seen in 2014 Westminster Group Ring TheDogPress.com EST 2002 © 1702 https://www.thedogpress.com/DogShows/Westminster/WKC-2017-Preview.asp SSI
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For
the first time ever, cats will be seen at the elite dog show in Manhattan.
141 years of dogs-only tradition goes down the tubes as New York City
commentators wonder "what could go wrong" with cats at the dog show. Three
years ago someone reported a hairless chubracabra {1} running across
the group ring so watch out for purebred cats!
If
you have a seat (or can find an empty) you can see close-up judging on the big
screen jumbotron. If you are just going to watch your dog or your friends
from the comfort of your living room, snacks stacked, beverage handy, here is
the schedule:
Mr.
Thomas R. Bradley, III is the Westminster Best In Show judge. Mr.
Bradley competed in his first dog show as a teenager in 1955, showing his German
Shorthaired Pointer at the Adirondack Kennel Club show in Lake Placid, New York.
He went on to become a breeder of German Shorthaired Pointers, Pointers,
Labrador Retrievers, and English Cocker Spaniels under the Luftnase kennel name.
Over the years he has also owned and shown Cairn Terriers, Whippets, and Cocker
Spaniels, and more recently he has bred Border Terriers. He was co-breeder of
the great Pointer Ch. Luftnase Albelarm Bee’s Knees, CD, JH, winner of more than
50 all-breed Bests in Show, three-time Best of Breed winner at the American
Pointer Club national specialty (1989, 1991, 1992), and winner of the Sporting
Group at Westminster in 1989. Photo Courtesy: Westminster KC
