The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has long served as an unofficial national championship for the nation's dog-show competitors. The two-day show is always held in New York's Madison Square Garden, kicking off this year on Monday, Feb. 14.
Westminster is a special show where only champions can compete. At all other dog shows, most competitors are trying to earn their dogs' championships. And that's when following the action can get confusing.
Dog shows are supposed to be about evaluating breeding stock, with the goal of preserving and improving the dog breeds involved. But over the years, the sport has become a high-stakes and high-cost endeavor that's perhaps the most difficult of all canine competitions for beginners to break into successfully.
Even if you have a "show quality" dog with no disqualifying or major problems in appearance, winning is tough. Getting a dog to look his best in the ring is a subtle art that's difficult to master. In many breeds, the work of getting a dog groomed for the show ring takes years to learn.
A dog must match up favorably to the ideal of his breed, called "the standard." Judges mentally compare each dog to the standard, choosing the one who most closely conforms to their vision of a "perfect" dog. Even with a near-perfect physical appearance, a dog needs a skilled handler. Winning isn't easy in a sport where amateurs must compete against expert professional handlers.
At every show, one male dog and one female dog will end up with "points" toward their championship in each breed, with the number of points determined by the popularity of each breed in a given region. A dog must get two "major" wins of three points or more and 15 total points to become a champion -- a process that can often span months or even years.
Showing dogs isn't cheap, by the way, and thousands of dollars can be spent trying to earn a dog's championship. The dogs who make the cut to compete for Best in Show at Westminster often represent a small fortune invested, with little payoff for the owners except to their pride.
All of which goes a long way to explain why most dog owners will watch Westminster from their couches, with their own family champions by their sides.
(The group and Best-in-Show finals will be aired on the USA Network and CNBC on Feb. 14 and 15, starting at 8 p.m. ET with a time delay on the West Coast. For more information or for breed-ring results and videos throughout the show, visit WestminsterKennelClub.org.)
Q&A
Dog-chewed toy may
pass without problem
Q: I think our dog swallowed the head from one of my daughter's Barbies, since the doll is now headless and we can't find the missing piece anywhere. The vet said unless there are symptoms, not to worry. Really? -- via e-mail
A: If your dog is eating, drinking and eliminating normally, there's probably nothing to worry about. The piece may have been chewed to bits before the bits were swallowed, or never swallowed at all. And if swallowed, you may have already missed the head's re-emergence, because, well, how many people want to examine a dog's feces all that closely in a search for missing objects? So be alert for symptoms, but your dog doesn't need to see the veterinarian unless you notice problems.
Labradors are well-known in veterinary offices for their eagerness to consume just about anything that's not nailed down -- and even some things that are. Socks, underwear, rocks, keys, toys, cell phones -- if it can fit in the mouth, there's a Labrador who will swallow it. The best cure for this is preventive, especially with young dogs. Keep anything that can be swallowed picked up and put out of reach of your dog. (Labradors are also well-known for their appetites, which earn them the veterinary nickname of "Flabradors.")
While many swallowed objects will pass through without causing problems, others can be deadly. If a pet vomits, loses interest in eating or drinking, or otherwise seems "off" after ingesting a foreign body, you'll need your veterinarian's help. -- Dr. Marty Becker
THE BUZZ
Stress from change
may sicken cats
-- Cats under stress from change can become physically ill, according to a study conducted by veterinarians at Ohio State University. Researchers found that healthy cats were just as likely as sick cats to refuse food, vomit frequently and miss their litter boxes in response to environmental changes. The findings highlighted the need for environmental enrichment for cats, as well as the importance of routine when it comes to feline care.
-- Dogs have developed larger brains than cats over millions of years because they are more social. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Science Academy analyzed brain and body size in more than 500 mammals, finding that animals living in stable social groups have relatively bigger brains than less-social animals. The study suggests cooperation and coordination needed for group living may cause the brain to grow to cope with the increased demand for problem-solving.
-- Only one-fifth of law enforcement officials have received formal training on recognizing animal cruelty. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recognized three major obstacles law enforcement officers face when responding to animal abuse cases: 1. Cases are considered low priority by leadership; 2. Law enforcement lacks staff with special knowledge in animal cruelty; and 3. No facilities exist for long-term impoundment of animals kept as evidence. The majority of officers polled (78 percent) believe dog and cat abusers are more likely to be involved in interpersonal violence or other violent crimes. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.