11 things you might not know about the Westminster Kennel Club dog show

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Like millions of people throughout the country, you may be planning to settle down in front of the television Monday and Tuesday night to view the 140th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, the Super Bowl of dog shows, as longtime announcer David Frei (who will be stepping down after this year) likes to call it.

The glittering spectacle has its roots in Gilded Age New York. It's easy to imagine the friendly arguments over whose dog was best as robber barons gathered for cocktails in the bar of the Westminster Hotel after a good day's hunting. From there, it was only a short step to forming a club and putting on a dog show in response to the claim "My dog is better than your dog."

Today, in terms of longevity, the Westminster Kennel Club dog show is second only to the Kentucky Derby. Here are 11 tidbits you might not have known about Westminster and the dogs who make it must-see viewing.

1. In 1877, members of what became known as the Westminster Kennel Club staged the First Annual New York Bench Show of Dogs, held at Gilmore's Garden (which became Madison Square Garden) in New York City.

2. The three-day show drew an entry of 1,201 dogs and garnered such great public interest that a fourth day was added. In a philanthropic bow to the nascent humane movement, the proceeds from the fourth day were donated to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to open a home for stray and disabled dogs.

3. Only the top five dogs in each breed, plus all national specialty winners, get invitations to Westminster. It's the luck of the draw for everyone else.

4. The winningest dogs at Westminster are the terriers. They've taken the top spot 46 times.

5. Smooth fox terrier Ch. Warren Remedy started the trend in 1907 -- the first year the title Best in Show was awarded -- and became the first and only dog to win Best in Show for three consecutive years. The most recent terrier to win was wire fox terrier GCH (Grand Champion) Afterall Painting The Sky in 2014.

6. Other top-winning terriers include Lakeland terrier Ch. Stingray of Derryabah, the first dog to win Best in Show at Westminster (1968) after winning the same award at Crufts (Great Britain's famous dog show), and Kerry blue terrier Ch. Torums Scarf Michael, who won Crufts in 2000 and Westminster in 2003.

7. Boxer Ch. Bang Away of Sirrah Crest was the first dog from west of the Mississippi to win Best in Show at Westminster, in 1951.

8. English springer spaniel Ch. Chinoe's Adamant James won his second consecutive Best in Show at Westminster in 1972. No dog has done it since.

9. Ch. Royal Tudor's Wild as the Wind, a red Doberman pinscher, was the first Best in Show winner (1989) to also hold an obedience title (Companion Dog).

10. Sussex spaniel Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee has the distinction of being not only the oldest dog to win Best in Show, in 2009 when he was 10 years old, but also the first of his breed to do so. The next-oldest dog to take top honors was papillon Ch. Loteki Supernatural Being (Kirby) in 1999, when he was 8 years, 1 month and 10 days old. Kirby was also the first dog ever to win both the World Dog Show (1998) and Westminster.

11. Some breeds have never been top dog at Westminster. They include Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, Chihuahuas, Dalmatians, Brittanys, bloodhounds, cavalier King Charles spaniels and Pembroke Welsh corgis.

Q&A

Dig deep to

ditch dog's itch

Q: My 8-year-old chocolate Lab suffers from allergies. I've had tests done, but they come back with only high yeast content. I thought giving him yogurt with his food might help, but he's not fond of it. I've purchased special shampoos from the vet and I give him Benadryl, but his sides usually end up with no fur; right now he's working on his chest. He eats a salmon and sweet potato food. -- via email

A: Allergies are a common problem in Labs. It's not unusual for them to suffer from allergies to fleas, certain food ingredients, cleaning agents used in the home, pollens and more.

Determining the cause of an allergy can be time-consuming and frustrating. And solving it is rarely as simple as adding yogurt to a pet's food.

Your best bet is probably to consult a veterinary dermatologist who can take you through the steps to figure out whether your dog has a contact allergy from, say, a carpet deodorizer, laundry detergent or fabric softener; air fresheners or disinfectants used in the home; or fabric or leather cleaning products. He may have an allergy to one or more ingredients in the food or treats you give or to pollens, molds, dust mites and yeasts in the environment.

An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough history, including the types of products you use in your home and everything you give your dog to eat; a physical exam, looking at such things as the pattern of hair loss and whether hairs are shed or broken off; and skin scrapings or skin biopsies to check for bacterial, fungal or yeast infections. Blood work and urinalysis may be necessary if a hormonal problem is suspected. An elimination diet, containing ingredients your dog has never eaten before, can help to determine if he has a food allergy.

Until the problem is diagnosed, medication can help to relieve the itch, whatever its cause. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Experts seek info

about your dog

-- A project called Darwin's Dogs is collecting anecdotal and genetic information from up to 5,000 dogs in the hope of learning more about genetic links to conditions such as cognitive dysfunction -- similar to dementia or Alzheimer's disease in humans -- and canine compulsive disorder, which causes dogs to lick, chew, spin, chase or perform other behaviors in an exaggerated manner. The dogs enrolled in the study -- 3,000 so far -- include purebreds and mixed breeds. Owners provide DNA samples and answer questions about their dogs' behaviors, environment, physical traits and more. Researchers will begin analyzing DNA samples next month.

-- Looking to adopt a cat? Shelter volunteers can help you make the best choice by asking about your lifestyle and home. Are you and family members active or quiet? Do you have young children or other dogs or cats? The answers can help determine which cat will be the best fit for your family, says Elaine Mata, who volunteers at the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter in San Clemente, California. "We try to match to the type of household in terms of the people there and the activity level," she says.

-- Cold weather can be tough on senior dogs, especially if they suffer from arthritis. A heated bed can help to soothe achy joints. Your golden oldie will appreciate it if you place the bed in his favorite spot, where he can see what's going on in the house or watch for squirrels outdoors. Choose a bed that regulates heat to no more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit (close to canine body temperature) and comes on only when the dog is on it. If your dog still likes to spend time outdoors, purchase a weatherproof heated dog bed to place on your deck or other sheltered area. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: In 2011, Grand Champion Foxcliffe Hickory Wind (Hickory) became the first and so far only Scottish deerhound to win Best in Show at Westminster. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Shelter volunteers can help you look past a cat's appearance to find the treasured personality beneath. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

Looking for Mr. or Ms. Right? Your dog or cat can help

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Remember the meet-cute scene in "101 Dalmatians," where the couple's dogs bring them together? It happens in real life, too.

Molly McNamara of Lyons, Colorado, met her husband-to-be, Jeff McGlynn, at the obedience class she was attending with her dog. It was love at first sight -- for her dog.

"My dog was so bananas for him that he wouldn't pay attention after Jeff arrived," she says. "At first I used to just get mad when he and his dog showed up because my well-behaved 1-year-old bearded collie, Max, would lose his mind and drag me across the room to see them. So, clearly, the dog knew first."

It took six months before the pair started dating, with many of the dates involving taking their dogs hiking or to the beach. McNamara discovered later that McGlynn was staying in the class only to see her. His Saint Bernard was already well-behaved and didn't really need the practice.

"Introduction by dog" is a time-honored method of finding true love, and now science has confirmed its efficacy. In their study "The Roles of Pet Dogs and Cats in Human Courtship and Dating," published in the quarterly journal Anthrozoos, researchers -- who surveyed more than 1,200 Match.com users -- found that 35 percent of women and 26 percent of men said they had been more attracted to someone because he or she owned a pet.

Men are more likely to use a pet -- generally a dog -- as "date bait," with 22 percent admitting to the tactic. Only 6 percent of women said they had used a pet to attract potential dates.

Women, on the other hand, are more likely to rely on their dogs and cats as barometers of a date's trustworthiness. Nearly half of the women responding said they judged dates based on how the person responded to their pet, and 76 percent evaluated dates based on whether their pets liked the person.

"My dogs have helped me see who is and isn't a good match based on how the guys responded to the dogs, and vice versa," says Elizabeth Barden Ackerman of Los Angeles. "The ones who are scared of my giant black Lab are quickly let go. The one who naturally pats and plays with him, refills his water bowl without being asked and who watches the dog and hilariously narrates his thoughts? He's special."

Allia Zobel Nolan of New York City knew the man she met was her true love because of the way he treated her cats, even though at heart he was a dog person.

"He loved me, so he loved my cats," she says.

Gail Parker of Philadelphia stopped seeing one man after her dog, a German shepherd, growled at him. She gave another the heave-ho when he called her Irish setter stupid.

The study's lead author, University of Nevada Las Vegas anthropology professor Peter Gray, suggests that pets' status as family members could explain the significant influence they wield in the choices people make about who they date. He and fellow researchers, UNLV graduate student Shelly Volsche; Justin Garcia of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University; and Helen Fisher of Rutgers University say dog ownership may signal "a potential mate's caregiving capacity." How a person treats a pet could indicate how he or she would treat a mate and children.

McNamara and McGlynn? At their eventual wedding, more dogs than people were in attendance.

"Max is turning 14 in a month, and Jeff is still his most favorite human ever," McNamara says.

Q&A

Bird's bald spots

can have multiple causes

Q: My African grey parrot is losing his feathers, and my veterinarian wants to run lab tests. I thought feather-plucking was a behavioral problem. What can lab tests tell us? -- via email

A: Feather-destructive disorder is a common and complex problem in birds. Among the species in which we typically see it are cockatoos, African greys, macaws, conures, cockatiels and lovebirds.

It's normal for birds to preen, or groom, their feathers to remove dirt or parasites, but when they start chewing the feathers, pulling them out altogether or even mutilating their bodies, the cause can be medical, behavioral or a combination of the two.

Underlying medical causes of feather-plucking can include inflammatory skin disease, low levels of thyroid hormones, liver or kidney disorders or tumors, to name just a few. Among the possible environmental causes are low humidity, poor lighting or changes in the bird's routine. Behavioral causes include boredom, anxiety and frustration. Sometimes the condition can have multiple causes. Because of this, diagnosing it can be a challenge.

A thorough medical history and, ideally, an environmental and behavioral evaluation are the foundation of a diagnosis, but a complete blood count, chemistry profile, screening for infectious disease, bacterial and fungal cultures, fecal exam and skin and feather follicle biopsies can all provide valuable information.

Treatment takes time and patience, and it may not lead to a complete cure. Depending on the cause, medication can help to reduce inflammation, itchiness and anxiety. Even if the cause is medical, enriching the bird's environment with interesting toys, opportunities to climb or fly and foods that require the bird to work to get at them is a valuable component of treatment. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Breeds to watch

at Westminster

-- Seven breeds will make their bow-wow at the 2016 Westminster Kennel Club dog show next week. They are the Bergamasco, a dreadlocked herding breed from the Italian Alps; the berger picard, a French herding breed known for a starring role in the 2005 film "Because of Winn-Dixie"; the boerboel, a giant-size South African guard dog; the cirneco dell Etna, a small Sicilian sighthound; the lagotto Romagnolo, an Italian truffle-hunting breed; the miniature American shepherd, a small, but highly active, herding dog; and the Spanish water dog, a versatile, curly coated farm dog.

-- Curious about what's most likely to poison your pet in your state? The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center has released a map showing the most common reason for toxin calls in each state. Rodenticides top the list in 14 states, many in the West and Southwest. Chocolate takes second place, leading the list in eight states, including California, New York and Pennsylvania. Ant baits generate the most calls in five states. South Carolina is the only state where the sago palm is the leading cause of toxicity, but it is a popular houseplant and landscaping plant nationwide. Idaho pet owners call about sugar-free gum, and Nebraskans are concerned about herbal supplements. Check the ASPCA's website for information about your state.

-- Three huskies and a cat? No, it's not the latest feel-good movie. Lilo, Infinity and Miko, Siberian huskies in San Jose, California, have become best friends with a rescued kitten and taught her to be, well, a dog. Lilo mothered Rosie, who was found near death when she was about 3 weeks old, and the kitten began mimicking everything the dog did, including walking on-leash. Now the four go hiking, kayaking and paddle boarding with their people, cuddle and even eat together. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: In a recent survey of singles with pets, 75 percent of women and 54 percent of men said they would not date someone who did not like pets. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: The shaggy and sassy berger picard is a medium-size dog who is highly active, brainy and comical. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1

Words and phrases about pets and how they entered the language

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Have you ever thought about how many words and phrases we use every day that come straight from the horse's mouth? Expressions that are the cat's meow? You might even say our language has gone to the dogs.

Animal-related terms are delightfully descriptive. Some are built upon animal characteristics -- eagle-eyed, bird-brained, dog-eared -- irrespective of accuracy (birds are actually pretty darn smart). Others come to us from languages such as Greek, Latin or Icelandic. Learning about their origins is fascinating. Here are some fun facts about pet phrases and how they came to be.

-- "Animal attraction." A reference nowadays to strongly attractive personal charm, this phrase harks back (itself a phrase used in hunting with hounds) to the 18th century, when Franz Mesmer coined the term "animal magnetism" to describe his theory of an invisible natural force that could play a role in healing and other physical effects.

-- Other words describe our affinity for certain animals. An ailurophile is a person who loves cats. It comes from the Greek words "ailouros," meaning cat, and "philos," meaning loving. While people have been crazy for cats for more than 5,000 years, this term is relatively new, with its first known use in 1914.

Dog-lovers have their own distinctive description, also deriving from ancient Greek. They are cynophilists, or cynophiles.

-- Collective terms. You're probably familiar with the term "litter" referring to a group of kittens, but did you know that they can also be called a "kindle"? The word comes from Middle English "kindlen" and means "to give birth." The first-known use of the phrase occurs in the 15th-century "Book of St. Albans" as "a kyndyll of yong Cattis."

There are many different collective, or group, names for dogs, most of them related to hunting. These are called "terms of venery" and include "a mute of hounds," from the Old French "meute," meaning "pack" or "kennel"; "a leash of Greyhounds"; and "a couple of spaniels." In modern times, dog-loving wordsmiths have invented their own fanciful collective terms for specific breeds, drawing on wit and word play: a waddle of Pekingese, a snobbery of salukis, a rumble of Rottweilers, a snap of whippets, a grin of Japanese chin, a bounce of beardies, a shiver of Chihuahuas. I'm partial to a court of Cavaliers, myself.

-- "Hair of the dog." Did your English teacher tell you that humans have hair while dogs and cats have fur? Technically, there's no real difference. It's all made of a protein called keratin. The ground hairs -- soft, insulating fur -- and the coarser protective guard hairs on pets are considered fur. The hair on your head has a texture that's somewhere in between ground and guard hairs, so it's not wrong to describe pets as having hair.

But why do we call for "hair of the dog" the morning after a night on the town? The idea of taking a nip of the same alcoholic libation that gave you a hangover dates at least to the 16th century, when John Heywood wrote in "Proverbs" (1546): "I pray thee let me and my fellow have a haire of the dog that bit us last night." The concept is related to the even older folk remedy of placing the burnt hair of a dog who had bitten someone on the wound, according to Christine Ammer in her book "It's Raining Cats and Dogs."

-- "Chowhound." I think most of us who have dogs understand why this term is applied to enthusiastic eaters. It was also the title of a 1951 Looney Tunes animated short featuring a bulldog always in search of a meal. He probably would have enjoyed a hush puppy, a fried cornmeal cake supposedly named because it was tossed to noisy hounds with the admonition, "Hush, puppy!"

Lucky dogs!

Q&A

Other conditions

may mimic seizures

Q: I found my 14-year-old dog trembling as if she were having a seizure. As far as I know, she doesn't have epilepsy, but she does take medication for mitral valve disease. Should I be concerned? -- via Facebook

A: Seizures, sometimes referred to as convulsions or fits, are a common reason that owners bring dogs and cats to the veterinarian. They result from uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, and they may cause signs such as loss of consciousness, trembling or shaking, drooling, vomiting, urination or defecation.

One cause of seizures is epilepsy, a chronic neurologic condition. It's the most common chronic disorder of the nervous system veterinarians see in dogs and is often manageable with medication.

Dogs or cats with epilepsy have recurring seizures. Often, we don't know why pets develop epilepsy. Some forms of the disease appear to be heritable in certain dog breeds, including Australian shepherds, beagles, Belgian Tervuren, Bernese mountain dogs, border collies, boxers, cocker spaniels, English springer spaniels, German shepherd dogs, golden retrievers, Irish setters, Irish wolfhounds, keeshonden, Labrador retrievers, Shetland sheepdogs, standard poodles and vizslas.

Not everything that looks like a seizure is a true seizure, though. Conditions that can cause signs resembling seizures include syncope, a temporary loss of consciousness -- like a faint -- that can have a number of causes; vestibular disease, a sudden disturbance of balance that's not uncommon in older dogs; narcolepsy, a sleep disorder that's seen in Doberman pinschers, Labrador retrievers, miniature poodles and other breeds; and certain behavioral disorders.

If you note a recurrence, a medical history, veterinary exam and certain lab tests can help to determine whether your dog is having a seizure or some other problem. Always take your pet to the veterinarian if a seizure lasts for more than five minutes: That's a real emergency. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Pet dental care

good for health

-- Does your dog or cat have pearly white teeth or grungy brown ones? In either case, if he has bad breath, he needs to see the veterinarian for a professional cleaning. Bad breath and tartar -- the hard brown stuff on your pet's teeth -- are signs of periodontal disease, which is bad news for tooth structure. It can lead to tooth loss, receding gums and even bone infection. February is National Pet Dental Health Month, which means there's a good chance your veterinarian is offering a discount on professional cleanings, which aren't just cosmetic, but get below the gumline, where bacteria lurk.

-- Going skiing? You might want to see if the ski area has an avalanche rescue dog on staff. The dogs, who are trained to find human scent rising up from the snow, can search an avalanche site the size of a football field in as little as five or 10 minutes, reports AP's Sue Manning. "The fastest thing is a dog -- faster than a beacon or echo," says Craig Noble, ski patrol and dog supervisor at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Resort in Olympic Valley, California. The dog and handler teams have specialized training and are recertified annually.

-- Zero to 60 in 1/100th of a second? We're not talking time trials for the latest Lamborghini, but the speed of a chameleon's tongue. Yes, you read that right. The small but mighty lizards can flick their tongues toward a cricket at up to 264 times the force of gravity, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports. The anatomy of the tongue gives it spring-loaded power, allowing chameleons to capture more prey, and its speed beats out that of any other reptile, bird or mammal. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: The phrase "sleuth of hounds" comes from the Icelandic word for "trail." Position: Main Story

Caption 02: After a veterinary dental cleaning, regular brushing helps keep teeth and gums healthy. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1