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Winning
at Westminster Now that the 125th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is in the record books, here are a few reflections not only on this year's show but on shows past - and a statistical look at what it takes to go Best in Show at "the World Series of Dogs." The 2001 show truly marked the end of an era because, for the first time in 25 years, Roger Caras was not behind the microphone as the "voice of Westminster" and, even more sadly, with his death on February 18, he never will be again. I join the legions of "dog people" and fans that mourn the loss of this talented and dedicated individual. (See Steve Dale's column for a tribute to Mr. Caras and his tireless efforts on behalf of animals of all kinds.) History was very much a part of this year's show. Probably the booth doing the most business in the benching area was the one selling the newly-released history of Westminster titled simply, "The Dog Show: 125 Years of Westminster." Written by Club member, William Stifel, who was on hand to autograph copies, "The Dog Show" chronicles the history of the event and features a gallery section with photos and information about previous Best in Show winners. At $50 each, it's a small price to pay for a piece of history, or so it appeared from the many people I saw carrying one or more copies around the arena. For those who didn't make it to New York this year, or didn't want to lug it home on the plane, the book is available by mail order from the Club's web site, www.westminsterkennelclub.org. Like most people who compete seriously in the sport of pure bred dogs, and even some who compete casually, I dream of becoming part of dog show history myself by winning Best in Show at Westminster. Each year I watch the groups and Best and imagine what it would be like to be out there on the green carpet as one of the final seven. Because, you see, to make that win really count in my book, I'd have to handle the dog myself. Of course, my chances of ever achieving this Nirvana of dogdom are about as good as that proverbial snowball down under but it's still fun to dream. To make it even more difficult than being an owner-handler in a sea of well-known pros, I have not selected breeds that would be considered the judges' darlings at America's most famous canine conclave. Not a single Dalmatian, Beagle or American foxhound has been among the 94 winners since the club began awarding the top prize in 1907. In case you'd like to take a more scientific view and select your potential winner statistically, let's take a look at Westminster's record books and see who wins and, unfortunately for my chances, who doesn't. By far, if you want the odds in your favor at The Garden, get a Terrier. Forty-two BIS winners have come from the Terrier Group. The Wire Fox Terrier is the biggest winner taking home the top prize 13 times. The Scottie is the next most successful Terrier with seven wins. The "winningest" individual dog at Westminster is a Smooth Fox Terrier with three BIS championships in 1907, 08 and 09 and three Wire Fox have won Best twice each. While J.R., the Bichon, moved the Non-Sporting Group into a tie with Toys when he became the ninth representative of the group to go Best in Show, by far the most popular bet from Non-Sporting is the Poodle with four wins for the Standard and two for the Miniature. While the Dalmatian has won the Group on more than one occasion, no Dal has even received the big prize. In case you're keeping score, Pekingese are most popular in the Toy Group with three total wins. Now to the Hound Group, or when it comes to Westminster, we might call it the hapless Hound Group - the least successful group for Best in Show wins of all. Wait, you say, what about the Herding Group? There's only one Herding winner, the great German Shepherd dog, Ch Covey Tucker Hill's Manhattan. Ah yes, but remember, the Herding Group only came into existence in 1983, prior to that these breeds were part of the Working Group. And, of breeds currently in the Herding Group that won BIS while representing the Working dogs there are two Old English Sheepdogs and one Rough Collie. So, if you add those to the one Herding winner, it comes to four and that's one more than the poor Hounds. Not only do the Hounds have just three total winners, but all three are from what I consider the glamour part of the group - the scent hounds -- with two Afghan hounds and one Whippet taking home the top prize. To make matters even worse for we Hound aficionados, the group has not had a Garden win since 1983 when Ch Kabik's the Challenger, an Afghan, was named Best in Show giving this group the longest current losing streak - 18 years! While a
Pointer, Sensation, is on the logo of the Club, Pointers, with three
Westminster BIS awards, come in behind English Springer Spaniels and
American Cocker Spaniels with four wins each as most successful in the
Sporting Group. A total of 16 dogs from this group have won. And, the
Working Group boasts 14 winners if you count those breeds that have
moved to the Herding Group, and 11 if you don't. In all only 38 breeds
have achieved greatness at The Garden out of the nearly 150 breeds recognized
by the American Kennel Club (there seem to be so many new ones recently,
I'm losing track!) As another old saying goes, "hope springs eternal" and we'll all have another chance to put our hopes and dreams on the line and go for the gold (and purple rosette) when the 126th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show takes place at Madison Square Garden, Monday, February 11 and Tuesday, February 12, 2002. NOTE: To see the record-holding show dogs of 2000, visit the web site for Nature's Recipe Show Dogs of the Year winners: www.woofs.org/showdogs
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