The 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Part III
The 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is done for another year with top honors going to "Penny" the Doberman Pinscher, but all well-loved and cared for dogs are winners.
This week, thousands of spectators came to New York City to attend the most prestigious dog show in the United States - with thousands more watching online. Breeds were evaluated based on their specific standard - not other competitors, but to the ideal proportions, weight, size, head shape, gait and overall temperament of the breed. Only one dog is titled "Best in Show," but it's a great time to celebrate all canines, their attributes, and their importance to those who love them.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Attending dog shows is a wonderful way to learn about the different breeds and their care. This is an Australian Shepherd, a very intelligent, energetic, and loyal breed that is known for its boundless energy and love for companionship.
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- This is the Xoloitzcuintli – pronounced SHOW-LOW-ETZ-QUEENT-LEE. It is also known as the Mexican Hairless. It comes in three sizes – toy, miniature and standard. The breed is one of the world’s oldest and rarest breeds, and is said to be the first dog of the Americas.
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- The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed that needs a lot of grooming for its silky, long, straight coat.
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- You may recognize this breed – one of my favorites. The affectionate and playful French Bulldog is best known for its wrinkly face and bat-like ears.
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- Poodles come in three size varieties: standards should be more than 15 inches tall at the shoulder; miniatures are 15 inches or under; and toys stand no more than 10 inches. All three varieties have the same build and proportions. This Poodle is shown in the continental cut where the face, throat, feet, tail, legs, and hindquarters are shaved.
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- The Shar Pei is a breed from southern China. It is well known for its deep wrinkles around the head, neck, and shoulders.
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- I am quite fond of the Keeshond – I once had one of my own. This is a medium-sized sturdy breed that is smart and eager to learn.
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- The Black and Tan Coonhound is a large, powerful hunting dog known for its exceptional scent skills and friendly demeanor. It stands tall at 23 to 27 inches and weighs between 50 to 75 pounds. Their coat is short with a distinctive black coat and tan markings.
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- Owners stay with their dogs in the benching area, so visitors can meet the different breeds. The Pomeranian is a compact, short-backed, active toy dog of Nordic descent. The coat consists of a short dense undercoat with a profuse harsh-textured outer coat. The heavily plumed tail is among its distinguishing characteristics.
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- This is a Biewer Terrier – a small dog breed that originated in Germany in the 1980s. It is similar to the Yorkshire Terrier, but has a tricolored silky coat combination of white, blue, black and gold.
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- The Whippet is a British breed of sighthound that closely resembles the Greyhound, but smaller. The Whippet is loved for its speed and agility and is excellent in a variety of dog sports, including racing and lure coursing.
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- The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is a small hunting dog originating from Portugal. Bred for hunting rabbits, they have a rich history dating back to ancient times.
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- Here is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the red and white colored variety called Blenheim.
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- The Swedish Vallhund is an ancient herding breed native to Sweden and recognized for its intelligence, energy, and sociable nature.
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- The Pug is an ancient dog breed that originated in China around 2,000 years ago. The Pug became a favorite of royals around the world, and today are very popular companion animals especially for those with smaller homes.
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- This Lhaso Apso is a Non-Sporting dog breed originating in Tibet. The breed was largely used in the Buddhist monasteries, to alert the monks to any intruders who entered.
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- The Coton de Tulear is a small, fluffy dog breed originally from Madagascar and known for its affectionate and clownish personality. They typically weigh between eight to 13 pounds and stand about nine to 11 inches tall.
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- The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large-sized dog breed from South Africa. It is an all-purpose hound whose distinctive mark is the ridge, or stripe of backward-growing hair, on its back. Ridgebacks are cherished family dogs whose owners must understand its independence and strong prey drive.
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- Teaching a dog to be still is very helpful when brushing out their coat or trimming hairs on their feet. The Schipperke, Belgium’s “little captain,” is the traditional barge dog of the Low Countries. This breed is curious, lively, fun-loving, intense, and can be quite mischievous.
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- The Irish Wolfhound is a large sighthound breed known for its impressive size and gentle temperament. Originally from Ireland and used for hunting wolves and large game, it is recognized as the tallest of dog breeds.
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- Dalmatians are medium-sized dogs known for their iconic spotted coats and energetic personalities, historically used as carriage dogs and firehouse mascots.
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- And this is a Borzoi – large Russian sighthounds that resemble some central Asian breeds such as the Afghan hound and Saluki. Borzois have silky and flat coats that are often wavy or slightly curly. And at the end of the day, all these dogs are best friends and family members to those that care for them.
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