Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show: Difference between revisions

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Content deleted Content added
No edit summary
Line 3: Line 3:
{{Refimprove|date=May 2007}}
{{Refimprove|date=May 2007}}
[[File:StumpWestminsterShow-wiki.jpg|thumb|Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show]]
[[File:StumpWestminsterShow-wiki.jpg|thumb|Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show]]
The '''Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show''' is an all-breed [[conformation show]] that has been held in [[New York City]] annually since 1877. Currently, the breed and Junior Showmanship competitions are held at Piers 92 and 94, while the group and Best in Show competitions take place at [[Madison Square Garden]]. The number of entries is so large at nearly 3,000 that as of 2020, three days are required to judge all dogs.
The '''[[https://livetvstrem.com/wkcdogshow/ Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show]]''' is an all-breed [[conformation show]] that has been held in [[New York City]] annually since 1877. Currently, the breed and Junior Showmanship competitions are held at Piers 92 and 94, while the group and Best in Show competitions take place at [[Madison Square Garden]]. The number of entries is so large at nearly 3,000 that as of 2020, three days are required to judge all dogs.


The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is one of a handful of [[Bench show|benched shows]] in the United States. Dogs are required to be on display in their assigned locations (show benches) during the entire show except when shown in the ring, groomed for showtime, or taken outside for elimination. This type of presentation allows spectators and breeders alike to have an opportunity of seeing all the entered dogs. (In the more common unbenched shows, dogs are required to be present only at assigned ring times.)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://westminsterkc.tripod.com/benched.html|title=What is a Benched Show?|website=westminsterkc.tripod.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/allan-unleashed-engaging-positively-public/|title=Engaging Positively With the Public at Dog Shows|first=Allan|last=Reznik|website=American Kennel Club|date=March 6, 2019}}</ref>
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is one of a handful of [[Bench show|benched shows]] in the United States. Dogs are required to be on display in their assigned locations (show benches) during the entire show except when shown in the ring, groomed for showtime, or taken outside for elimination. This type of presentation allows spectators and breeders alike to have an opportunity of seeing all the entered dogs. (In the more common unbenched shows, dogs are required to be present only at assigned ring times.)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://westminsterkc.tripod.com/benched.html|title=What is a Benched Show?|website=westminsterkc.tripod.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/allan-unleashed-engaging-positively-public/|title=Engaging Positively With the Public at Dog Shows|first=Allan|last=Reznik|website=American Kennel Club|date=March 6, 2019}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:26, 11 February 2020

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

The [Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show] is an all-breed

conformation show that has been held in New York City annually since 1877. Currently, the breed and Junior Showmanship competitions are held at Piers 92 and 94, while the group and Best in Show competitions take place at Madison Square Garden
. The number of entries is so large at nearly 3,000 that as of 2020, three days are required to judge all dogs.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is one of a handful of

benched shows in the United States. Dogs are required to be on display in their assigned locations (show benches) during the entire show except when shown in the ring, groomed for showtime, or taken outside for elimination. This type of presentation allows spectators and breeders alike to have an opportunity of seeing all the entered dogs. (In the more common unbenched shows, dogs are required to be present only at assigned ring times.)[1][2]

History

Westminster Kennel Club
was formed in 1877.

The first Westminster show took place on May 8, 1877, making it the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the United States. The

Pointers, initiated by a group of hunters who met regularly at the Westminster Hotel at Irving Place and Sixteenth Street in Manhattan. They decided to create a kennel club
called the Westminster Kennel Club specifically to hold a dog show. The prizes for these first shows included such items as pearl-handled pistols, of use to the hunters and terriermen who worked these dogs in the field.

WESTMINISTER HOTEL, IRVING PLACE AND 16TH STREET

Held at Gilmore's Garden (

ASPCA
for creation of a home for stray and disabled dogs.

The Westminster Kennel Club predates the formation of the American Kennel Club by seven years and became the first club admitted to the AKC after AKC's founding in 1884. Breed parent clubs (e.g., the Afghan Hound Club of America) create the standards for judging their breeds, with the AKC administering the rules about shows and judging.

Dogs are judged against their breed standards (a written description of the ideal specimen of that breed), to see how close each dog matches their assigned description. Standards may include references relating form to function in the performance of the job that the dog was bred for. It may also include items that seem somewhat arbitrary such as color, eye shape, tail carriage and more. Many breeds no longer need to perform their initial jobs, and thus, are bred mostly for companionship. However, they should still have the innate ability and physical makeup to perform those jobs, and thus, this criteria is taken into account for judging.

Because of space considerations at Madison Square Garden, the show sets the maximum number of entries to 2,800 dogs, and breed judging takes place during the day at Piers 92 and 94. Group and Best in Show judging occurs in the evening at Madison Square Garden. The entry fills immediately on the first day that entries are accepted. Since 1992, the club has invited the top five dogs in each breed to be pre-entered. This criteria is determined by the number of dogs defeated at shows during the previous year. This arrangement is to assure that all the top dogs have the chance to compete.

Today, Westminster takes place over two days and nights every February. During the day, the dogs compete at the breed level (i.e., against other dogs of the same breed). Each Best of Breed winner (BOB) advances into its respective group, of which there are seven (Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding). Group competition occurs during the evenings, and the seven group winners advance into the final round of the show, which one judge will select one of them as the Best In Show winner. Since 2014, the show allowed mixed-breed dogs to compete in an agility event.[3]

Westminster held competitions in Junior Showmanship (for handlers ages 9–18) since 1934. The eight finalists all receive scholarships for post-secondary schooling. Also, each year the club (through its Westminster Kennel Foundation) awards veterinary school scholarships for students from six schools.

The winning dog becomes "America's Dog" for the next year. It begins its reign with a media tour on the day following the show with appearances on virtually all television network morning shows, a visit to the Observation Deck at the Empire State Building, and much more.

The event is widely celebrated in New York City every February. First, there are salutes from world-famous partners as the Empire State Building, which lights its tower in purple and gold (Westminster colors) during the show. Second, Saks 5th Avenue features a street window with a Westminster-themed display. Third, the New York Stock Exchange invites the winner to ring the opening bell following its big win.

Controversy

Animal-rights advocates such as

spay-and-neuter programs, referring to such legislation as "anti-dog."[7]

Also, during the 2019 broadcast,

Mars Petcare
.

143 years after its founding by "sporting gentlemen" in 1877, the 2020 the Officers, Board of Governors, Governors Emeriti, Dog Show Committee and Agility & Obedience Committee of the Westminster Kennel Club remains all-male with the exception of Dorothy Collier, widow of Chester Collier who was Westminister’s show chair from 1978-1989, club president from 1989-2001 and who died in 2007.

Announcers

For many years, Roger A. Caras was known as "The Voice of Westminster" for providing the narration for the breed descriptions during the show.[8][9]

In 2001, Michael J. LaFave was named show announcer at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.[10] He was replaced by Jim Fagan in 2010 but returned in 2011.[11]

Television

CBS Sports covered the event from the late 1960s to the 1980s as part of its CBS Sports Spectacular anthology series.

From 1984 until 2003, Universal's

NBC Universal, from 2004 until 2016, the show aired under the NBC Sports label. From 2006 through 2016, the Monday coverage was aired by business news channel CNBC due to conflicts with WWE Raw on the USA Network. On July 28, 2015, Fox Sports announced that it had acquired rights to the event under a 10-year deal beginning in 2017. For the first three years, Fox Sports 1 and Nat Geo Wild
provided joint coverage the show.

During NBC's coverage from 1990 to 2016, David Frei co-hosted the event with partners, Al Trautwig (1990–1991,[12][13] 1993[14]), Bud Collins (1992[15]), Joe Garagiola (1994–2002[16]), Mark McEwen (2003–2004[17][18]), Lester Holt (2005, 2007–2008[19]), Debbye Turner (2006[20]), Mary Carillo (2009,[21] 2011[11]–2016), and Tamron Hall (2010[22]).

Frei provided the commentary of the 140th event for his final time. According to a report in the

New York Times, the Westminster Kennel Club might not allow Frei to announce both the Westminster Dog Show and the Kennel Club of Philadelphia's National Dog Show. The latter of the two shows airs on Thanksgiving Day on NBC. Westminster pressured him because the show was leaving NBC for Fox starting in 2017.[23]

The 141st event in 2017 marked the beginning of the

National Geographic Wild. For 2017, daytime breed judging was hosted by Justin Kutcher, Paula Nykiel and Jason Hoke and primetime coverage hosted by Chris Myers and Gail Miller Bisher. In 2018, daytime bred judging was hosted by Kutcher, Kimberly Meredith Cavanna and Don Sturz in 2018, while Hoke joined the evening booth of Myers and Bisher. In 2019, the male judging experts were swapped, with daytime hosted by Kutcher, Cavanna, and Hoke and primetime by Myers, Bisher, and Sturz. [24]

Following the acquisition of National Geographic Wild to The Walt Disney Company in 2019, coverage in 2020 air solely to the two Fox Sports channels, Fox Sports 1 for primetime and Fox Sports 2 for daytime judging. John Strong replaces Kutcher as host for daytime breed judging, while Fox will go with an unchanged evening booth of Myers, Bisher, and Sturz.

Since the 141st event in 2017, Fox Sports 1 has a one-hour documentary, typically airing around Easter. Crowned: Inside the Westminster Dog Show features various dogs, their handlers, and owners as they went through the dog show from a few days before to the dog show itself.

Requirements for entry

In 1884, the AKC began requiring that all dog participants be registered with the AKC and recognized for conformation show competition. In 2016, there are 199 breeds and varieties eligible for Westminster. Because of the show's popularity and prestige, starting in 1992 the AKC limited entries by requiring that dogs must have already earned their breed championship before appearing at Westminster. Later, the AKC amended that rule - dogs only need one of the two required "major wins" towards their championship titles. However, they don't need to be finished champions to enter.

The top five dogs in each breed (based on breed points earned in AKC conformation showing through October 31 of the preceding year), as well as the Best of Breed winner from each breed's national specialty show, receive printed invitations by mail and are eligible for early entry. After that entry deadline passes, other dogs with at least one "major win" may enter, up to a cut-off entry total of 2800 dogs.

There is no prohibition against a winner competing again in future Westminster shows. Seven dogs have won multiple Westminster championships: six dogs in consecutive years (including Warren Remedy, the only three-time champion of the event) and one dog in non-consecutive years. Since 1972, however, there have been no repeat winners. (See List of Best in Show winners of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.)

Dogs of all breeds, including mutts, may participate in the show's agility competition. There is a title for the highest-ranking mutt in the agility round - the "All American Dog."

Winning breeds

Through the 134th Westminster Show (February 2010),

Best in Show has been won by the Terrier group 45 out of the 103 times that the prize has been awarded since 1907,[25] more than twice as many wins as any other group. The single breed that has won the most is the Wire Fox Terrier, which has won 14 times. Two of the most popular dog breeds in the United States have never won Best in Show - they are the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever.[26]

The oldest dog to win Best in Show was a Sussex Spaniel named Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee (a.k.a. Stump), at ten years of age in 2009. The youngest dog to win was a Rough Collie named Laund Loyalty of Bellhaven, at nine months old in 1929.[27] One dog, a Smooth Fox Terrier named Ch. Warren Remedy won Best in Show three times (1907–1909), and six other dogs have won twice.[28] Dogs (males) have won Best in Show 68 times to 35 for bitches (females).[29]

List of show winners and breeds

Following is a list of WKC Best in Show winners since 1990.[30]

Popular culture

  • The 2000 comedy film Best in Show takes place at the fictional "Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show," based in part on Westminster.
  • Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog
    has used the setting of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show three times in his skits; ostensibly, he was the winner in the "Best Insult Comic Dog" category at Westminster 1997.

See also

References

  1. ^ "What is a Benched Show?". westminsterkc.tripod.com.
  2. ^ Reznik, Allan (March 6, 2019). "Engaging Positively With the Public at Dog Shows". American Kennel Club.
  3. ^ Jennifer Peltz, "Westminster Dog Show Adds Event With Mixed Breeds," Associated Press, January 16, 2014.
  4. ^ Jennifer Peltz, "Westminster Dog Show Adds Event With Mixed Breeds," Associated Press, 16 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Pets By the Numbers," Humane Society of the United States, September 27, 2013.
  6. ^ "The Dangers of Guardianship," AKC, accessed January 24, 2014.
  7. ^ "Annual Report, 2010" AKC, page 24.
  8. ^ Day, Sherri (February 20, 2001). "Roger Caras, 72, Animal Welfare Advocate". The New York Times.
  9. ^ http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/02/11/v-print/2226292/pets-qa-best-in-show-really-means.html
  10. ^ "2004 Announcer". The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Westminster Kennel Club. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  11. ^ a b Ullmer, Mary (February 16, 2011). "Unleashed: Unleash the hounds! Gentle giant Scottish deerhound is Westminster's Best in Show". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  12. ^ Dawson, Greg (February 16, 1990). "USA's Westminster Dog Show a cult hit". The News and Courier. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  13. ^ Zad, Martie (February 10, 1991). "TNT features 'Kisses'". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  14. ^ "The dog days of February". The Washington Times. February 13, 1993.
  15. ^ "Bud Collins to Test Commentator Skills at National Dog Show". Lexington Herald-Leader. February 10, 1992.
  16. ^ Dale, Steve (February 10, 2002). "Canine Frenzy". Ocala Star-Banner. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  17. ^ Dale, Steve. "The Voice of Westminster Dog Show". Dog Channel.com. BowTie, Inc. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  18. ^ Pennington, Gail (February 9, 2004). "Critic's Picks". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  19. ^ "Westminster puts on the dogs". Lexington Herald-Leader. February 7, 2008.
  20. ^ "TV Digest". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 23, 2006.
  21. ^ Sandomir, Richard (February 8, 2009). "Former Westminster Winners Do Not Seem Past Their Prime". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  22. ^ "USA Network & Westminster Brings Everyone's Best Friend Back to Madison Square Garden". News Blaze. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  23. ^ Sandomir, Richard (February 15, 2016). "Saying Farewell to David Frei, Westminster's Nuzzling Voice". The New York Times.
  24. ^ "Fox Sports Names Pick of the Litter for the 2017 Westminister Dog Show". Fox Sports Press Pass. Fox Sports public relations. January 12, 2017.
  25. ^ WestminsterKennelClub.org - Best In Show Awards By Breed (1907-2010)
  26. ^ "The Labrador Retriever Wins Top Breed for the 26th Year In a Row". akc.org.
  27. ^ WestminsterKennelClub.org - Oldest Dogs To Win Best In Show
  28. ^ WestminsterKennelClub.org - Multiple Best In Show Wins
  29. ^ WestminsterKennelClub.org - Best In Show Awards By Sex Of The Dog
  30. ^ Westminsterkennelclub.org - Best In Show Winners
  31. ^ Kuperinsky, Amy (February 13, 2019). "King, a wire fox terrier, crowned best in show at the 2019 Westminster Kennel Club dog show". The Oregonian. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  32. ^ Whiteside, Kelly; Das, Andrew; Lyall, Sarah (February 14, 2017). "Westminster Dog Show 2017: Rumor the German Shepherd Wins Best in Show". The New York Times.
  33. ^ Chung, Jen. "CJ The German Shorthaired Pointer Named 2016 Best In Show At Westminster Kennel Club's Big Night". Gothamist. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  34. ^ "Canadians triumph at Westminster". Dog World. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  35. ^ http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2014/results/bis/index.html
  36. ^ "Westminster Best in Show Winner: Scottish Deerhound". New York: usatoday.com. February 15, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  37. ^ Duff, Oliver (February 17, 2010). "Sadie crowned top dog despite interruption". The Independent. London. Retrieved February 17, 2010.

Additional sources

External links

Template:Wikinewspar2