pet connection

This is Westminster’s 132nd annual show. The groups tonight are Sporting, Toy and Working.

The Sporting Group is first, judged by Elliott B. Weiss. These are the dogs I’d have if I didn’t live in a condo with no yard. Like the hounds, they’re canine classics, sleek and streamlined.

I noticed when I was watching Flatcoats earlier today that their tails wave as merrily as those of Cavaliers. Ch. Quillquest Etched in Stone JH OA AXJ reinforces that as he goes around the ring. This is such a happy, multitalented breed. I love it when breeders and owners work as hard as they do in Flatcoats to produce a well-rounded dog.

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, one of the newer breeds at Westminster, has a vocal cheering section.

“Get yer doggie diary! Here’s yer bow-wow bible.” The vendors are still trying to sell programs. I don’t know that the show sold out this year, although the stands are certainly more full than they were last night, which is typical.

I wonder why Cockers and English Toy Spaniels are shown in color varieties but Cavaliers aren’t. I’m sitting next to Canadian journalist Clive Davies who opines that it’s probably because someone at some point had a dog of an odd color and wasn’t winning with it.

Field spaniels have really improved–in my opinion–since I started writing about dogs some 20 years ago. Their heads are nicer and they just have a more put-together look. And it used to be rare to see more than three or five entered in a show. There were 10 entered here this year.

I saw the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon earlier today when he was having his show photo taken. He looked wired then, and he looks wired now.

The judge has pulled the Pointer, the particolor Cocker, the Chessie, the buff Cocker, the English Cocker, the English Springer, the Vizsla and the Weimaraner, who’s getting roars from the crowd. Now he brings the Weimaraner up to the front followed by the Pointer, the buff Cocker, and the English Cocker, and it goes to the Weimaraner, the gray ghost.