Westminster Dog Show - Articles - Zimbio

Dogs Have Bad Hair Days Too

Sun, 17 Nov 2008 22:52:05 GMT

posted by tatiana

(Getty Images)more pics »If you think you're having a bad hair day, somewhere out there is a dog that feels your pain.

Actually, a dog's bad hair day might be far worse. Dogs are covered in hair so when they have a hair dilemma it affects their entire body. Humans can simply put on a hat, or even re-style their hair, dogs don't usually have hats and lack the opposable thumbs and fingers necessary to operate such hairstyling tools as blow dryers or curling irons. Instead they just have to live with their embarrassing hair.

Also, don't forget that dogs have to rely on humans to style their hair, and let's face it, sometimes humans make the worst canine hairstyle decisions imaginable.

Don't believe me? Let's take a look at the Standard Poodle haircut:

Getty Images

Some evil person designed this hairstyle, which often includes shaving a poodle's hair, but leaving pom pom-shaped fur on the bottoms of the feet, top of the head and the butt. Whoever invented this style did not have their dog's best interests in mind.

So, if you're ever having a bad hair day, just be thankful you're not a poodle and remember that you'll most likely never have to live through the embarrassment of looking like this:

The Bichon Frizee

This poor Bichon Frise. Someone went a little too far with the teasing, and this helpless animal was left to look like a dog trapped in a snowball. (Getty Images)
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The Standard Poofle
It's quite possible that what this woman has done to her Standard Poodle could be considered animal cruelty. No dog should have to live with this kind of embarassment, or this hair. (Getty Images)
more pics »

KJ The Pampered Yorki

For the most part KJ the Yorkshire Terrier enjoys being pampered by his owner, but at this moment he wonders if the curler on his butt is actually necessary. (Getty Images)
more pics »

More Photos:

Image Source Getty

Dog Names Breed

Mon, 2 Sep 2008 16:47:00 GMT

posted by subesh06
Dog Names Breed :
The Site Index detailed above provides a doorway to all of the various sections of the Dogs Names and Breeds Web site. All of the famous and popular dog names and breeds have been featured in this site together with a section dedicated to Rare and Other names and breeds of dogs. Every one of the dog breeds have been covered in considerable detail and provides a whole host of interesting information. You can access full details of the breeds of your choice via the Group Dog Breeds, such as Sporting or Hound Dogs or via the Dog Breeds Alphabet ABC List. A unique feature for each of the dog names and breeds are the pictures of the dogs which provide a size comparison between full size dogs and an average man and woman - at last an answer to the age old question "I wonder how big the puppy will become?"
An Educational ResourceThe Site Index reflects the scope of dog related facts and information available. The information is clearly presented and easy to navigate. The facts, information and pictures of the various dog names and breeds provides an interesting and illustrated educational resource for dog lovers of all ages - check out the link to the History of Dogs and Canine Health with our Online Encyclopaedia of Common Dog Health Problems.
Dog Names and Breeds by Groups
Man's passion and pride in his dog led to the desire to show his dog and compare it to similar dog breeds. The organised dog shows were therefore born in the middle of the 19th Century. Problem ! At this time the dogs were unidentified except for their kennel names! This led to real confusion - there were lots of dogs with the same dog names - Rover, Spot etc. These personal dog names insufficiently described the dog according to its breed or type. Organisation was required - descriptions and breed standards were needed - the Kennel Clubs were born!
Dog Breeds and Names approved by Kennel Clubs
Official Standards for many dog breeds are produced by the Kennel Clubs. Two major Kennel Clubs are the Kennel Club (KC) of Great Britain and the American Kennel Club (AKC). A dog breeds standard is simply what the ideal dog of that breed should look like. Each AKC recognised breed of dog by size dogs and dogs A -Z index.
Dog Names and Dog Breeds by Groups
There are a total of 157 types of dog breeds recognised by the AKC (American Kennel Club). The names of dog breeds are separated into different dog types which are referred to as Dog Groups.
Unrecognised & Rare Dog Breeds - Gaining RecognitionA Kennel Club unrecognised breed standard can obtain recognition once the breed has become sufficiently established within the country. Considerable research is conducted into the historical background, health and temperament of any new breed before Kennel Club recognition is granted. This site covers an additional 22 dog breeds which have been grouped under the title of Rare and Other Breeds.
Interesting Information about Dogs Group Names and BreedsEach of the main groups have been explained together with information about Sighthounds and Scent Hounds. Individual dog names information is covered separately and provides details of history and origins of dog names and breeds, details of height, weight, coats, colors, character, temperament, care and grooming - there are even details of potential health problems for each of the dog names and breeds!

Rick's Roadshow in New York: Westminster Dog Show Finale

Tue, 13 Feb 2008 11:32:00 GMT

posted by Owenlaz
Rick's Roadshow in New York concludes with the height of excitement in the second day of judging and finale of The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Having spent the past few days with the top breeders, handlers and show dog owners I now had the inside scoop on the odds-on favorites. I was also up to speed with the politics of a dog show of this magnitude, and felt a connection to some of the top dogs I had personally met. I had my favorites and was pulling for a few in particular. I kept track of the scoring with the official Westminster Kennel Club 2008 show book (see left). At first I had no idea what I was doing, but the wife of a former top judge schooled me on how to keep up with the proceedings. I was quite fortunate to have great seats. This evening I was a guest of Purina Pro Plan brand dog food, I was sitting right behind the judges, on the floor of the judging ring. I had a birdseye view of it all, and was on TV a few times when the cameras panned the judges table.

above left: the line up of Bernese Mountain Dogs and Black Russian Terriers. above right: Anatolian Shepherd Dogs, Bernese and Black Russians.

above left: From the Toy group: Pugs, Toy Poodle, & Pomeranians. above right: Toy dogs: Toy Fox Terrier, Silky Terrier, Shih Tzu

above left: The Pug awaits a decision by the judge, but she would eventually be passed over. above right, the judges confer for the Best in Show decision.

above: "Uno" the Beagle, who won "Best In Show". He was smiling and happy as can be as he sat next to his trophy. It was the first time in 100 years that a Beagle has won the competition.

above left: The board at Madison Square Garden announces the Beagle as Best In Show, which was a popular favorite. above right: the handler places Uno into the sterling silver bowl with all the ribbons and trophies.

above left: the handler shows photographers the key traits of a perfect Beagle. above right: Uno takes a moment to enjoy his time in the spotlight. It was a great evening to celebrate the sport of dogs and appreciate the beauty of mans best friend. I had a great time in New York but am ready to head home to California. If nothing else, but to escape the snow and cold temperatures!
note: "Wisdom Wednesday" featuring Dr Sidney Wang will return next week.
-Rick Rockhill

Rick's Roadshow in New York: An Evening Out on the Town

Tue, 13 Feb 2008 09:11:00 GMT

posted by Owenlaz
Day five of Rick's New York Roadshow was quite busy. Aside from a number of business meetings during the day, I was at Madison Square Garden attending the dog breed judging competitions, all of which lead up to the evening's events at the main show by group. Before heading back to the Westminster Dog Show, I had an early dinner with friends at a really excellent place called Park Avenue: Winter. It is a unique restaurant in that with the change of eash season, it undergoes a complete transformation, from the menu, the decor, to staff uniforms. Being winter now, everything was completely white. Even the menu had a number of themed dishes that were prepared with white effects and garnishes. It was really quite clever, and the food was oh-so delicious!
More Amazing Desserts

above left: red wine poached pears & warm brown pistachio butter cake with vanilla ice cream, and above right: the "Chocolate Cube", a thin dark chocolate cube filled with a chocolate mousse and dark chocolate mini chunks.
"Make Your Own Drink" BarThe restaurant also had a really cool bar station where you could create your own drink:
above left: first you picked the base, either champagne or a selection of high quality vodkas. above right: next you picked a mixer, such as some kind of pear nectar, a lychee nectar, a lemongrass nectar and other interesting things.

above left: finally, you could drop in a chunk of fresh fruit, which had been marinating in some other delicious liquor. It was really an amazing drink! above right: Me and the girls enjoy our unique beverages on the way out to the car.
We ended up smuggling our drinks outside of the restaurant where the car was waiting for us. Here I am (at left) enjoying my creation: Champagne and Pear nectar with a dash of fresh fruit. It was really delicous and a nice way to end a delicious meal. So, if you are ever in New York and go to this restaurant, be sure to check out this bar feature, it's difficult to explain but is really quite unique. Mags- if you read this, check out their website.Off to Madison Square Garden..
Soon we were on our way to Madison Square Garden for the second evening of the Westminster Dog Show. It was cold and snowing quite hard. Actually, it was sleeting-which made it difficult to navigate around the city. Fortunately I wasn't driving and was able to relax while our driver dealt with the elements! Even though the weather was a bit gnarly, it was beautiful. New York is a magical city pretty much anytime of the year.above: The snowflakes in New York were coming down heavy...soon it was a winter wonderland. -Rick Rockhill

Numero Uno

Tue, 13 Feb 2008 21:41:00 GMT

posted by ashpharr

Monday and Tuesday night- USA Network carried the Westminster Kennel Club 132nd Dog Show, Uno a 15 inch beagle won best in show. He was the first beagle ever to win Best in Show! He showed with incredible personality. My husband used to have a Beagle- and I’d just talked myself out of getting him another one for Valentine’s Day- so it was really cool to see Uno get all of the glory. I love watching the dog show- seeing all of the breeds and remembering all of the different dogs that have been special to me. I have a pound puppy Hannah now- not sure of her breed- so it’s fun to look at every dog and see if I can see what she might be! I used to have a beautiful Chow named Bear of course! There was a really handsome red chow in the non sporting group. A stunning Australian Shepherd also made it to the finals- our friends have 2 Australian Sheperds- those are smart sweet dogs! My parents dog Buzzy- is also a mix- and my step mom and I like to call back and forth and say- that a certain dog looks like- Hannah- or Buzzy or Rugby one of our first family dogs. As fun as it is to see the top of each breed- I really watch just to appreciate the dogs and their spirits. I am a 100% bona fide dog person (bad pun I know!) Are you a dog person- or maybe you have the potential to be a dog person and you just haven’t found the right dog? If you are thinking of getting a pet- check out your local shelter- most have online photos of the dogs (and cats) available for adoption- all of my pound pups have had great dispositions! Here's a really nice poem I found about the dogs that have made such a difference in our lives.

THE DOGS WHO HAVE SHARED OUR LIVES
The dogs who've shared our lives.
In subtle ways they let us know
their spirit still survives.
Old habits still make us think
we hear a barking at the door.
Or step back when we drop
a tasty morsel on the floor.
Our feet still go around the place
the food dish used to be,
And, sometime, coming home at night,
we miss them terribly.
And although time may bring new friends
and a new food dish to fill,
That one place in our hearts
belongs to them...
and always will.
---Linda Barnes ---