The Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show is like winning the doggy equivalent of the Academy Awards. This year the top dog is Miss P, a 15-inch beagle from Canada, pictured above. According to the New York Times, the pooch, whose professional name is Champion Tashtins Lookin for Trouble, will now retire for motherhood.
The judge took 20 minutes to make his difficult selection Tuesday night at Madison Square Gardens. For a while it looked like Swagger, an Old English sheepdog, had the edge. But in the end it was the smaller tyke who trotted off with the silver bowl prize.
The judging was a two-day event. Monday and Tuesday afternoons the breeds competed in rings at Chelsea Piers on 55th and 12th Avenue to enthusiastic crowds. The well-behaved pedigrees endured judges who peered and poked at doggie joints, teeth and, ahem, more private areas, in pursuit of a dog with perfect conformation.
But the best part of the show for doggie lovers is the chance to get up close and personal with the pooches in the benching area. The dogs remain in this area from the early morning until the evening when they return to their hotel rooms. While they are benched, doggy lovers have a chance to pet the dogs and ask questions. And if they are really lucky, there’s a possibility of a lick or a chance to get a selfie.
A handsome and docile Boston Terrier named Squash was a heartbreaker. “He had fun and looked good,” said his owner. Only 2 1/2 years old, he’s already competed in 60 shows. He lives up to his breed name and lives in Boston but likes the Big Apple, his owner told me. “He likes the City but mainly he likes the attention.”
There was a handsome, rugged dog called an Australian Cattle Dog that was actually more than just a pretty face. The owner told me he worked on a 2000-acre farm in Colorado. He had just flown in the previous night at midnight and despite being exhausted was good natured and calm. “He’s got really nice movement,” his owner told me. “He was showing really well until the announcer spoke and he got a little scared.” He still managed to snag Best in Breed.
One of my favorites was a Shih Tzu named Paris who was chosen Best of Opposite Sex. The tawny beauty’s competition name is Grand Champion Falling Stars I’m in the Jailhouse Now. Her owner told me, “She’s just really sweet and she’s fun, too. She loves to play and she loves other dogs and people.” Asked if the dog has any characters flaws – my Shih Tzu likes to steal socks – the owner replied, “None at all. The first time I saw her I fell in love.”
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