Dog Show

No, despite what the title looks like, this post has nothing to do with a wonderful SNL sketch involving Mr. Bojangles and Rocky Balboa. This is about the real thing. In case you haven't been around me the past couple of days, tonight and last night was The Westminster Dog Show, arguably the largest and most prestigious of its kind in this country. I mean it does take place at Madison Square Gardens. So hundreds of dog owners and dog lovers converged upon the Garden to make the first ever sold out crowd for the Show.
In case you know nothing of dog shows, I will give you the kindergarten version. The AKC- American Kennel Club - is the daddy of pure breed dog organizations in this country. They decide what makes a pure breed and split them into 7 groups: the working, herding, sporting, non-sporting, terrier, toy, and hound groups. Im not gonna go into each breed in each group or this post would be even longer than my others (which Im told can be lengthy). At a dog show they choose the best of each breed which then competes against the best of the other breeds in its group. A judge then selects a dog from each group to move on to the Best In Show competition where 7 of the best dogs (one from each group if you are keeping up) compete for the title of Best In Show, or in the case of Westminster, the title "America's Dog".
Well Im gonna start by saying that the Great Pyrennes got ROBBED! Now I have a love for the Japanese breeds (Akita and Shiba Inu), but they are too fun to win their groups normally. But tonight the German Shorthaired Pointer won best in show. Over the beautiful Great Pyrennes, and the ever so wonderful Border Collie. Obvioully the woman judging was just an idiot. But I will go on, knowing that the Shiba is the greatest dog (ahem, and i would love to own one) and that the Great Pyrennes should have won Best In Show. Damn New Yorkers, cant trust them to judge anything.
On a closing note, I have recently learned that watching the dog shows on tv is apparently not a normal thing. I mean my parents, and my sister and her husband, and myself all watch it every year, along with the National Dog Show. I guess I just thought it was normal. Until I got funny looks from everyone when I mentioned it. When they realized I wasn't joking the looks usually broke down into laughter. I guess Im just a dog lover (and a cat hater, damn devil creatures). So until next time, be good to your dogs, they will help you live longer.