Playing the nation’s oldest and most prestigious dog show by the numbers, odds are a terrier will win the 130th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, February 13 and 14 at Madison Square Garden.
In fact, in the 98 years of competition, a member of the terrier group has taken the Best in Show (BIS) big bone 43 times.
A moderately popular breed, the wire fox terrier has won Westminster BIS 13 times over the years, far more than any other breed ever. The wire fox terrier is the 76th most popular breed in the country, according to the American Kennel Club 2005 registration numbers. The two most popular breeds, the Labrador and golden retrievers, are among the many breeds that have never fetched top honors at the Garden.
“Those retrievers just aren’t very flashy,” says David Frei, who will be providing TV commentary for the 17th consecutive year. “However, terriers have more attitude; it’s their world and we’re living in it.”
They have spunk. And perhaps spunk and flash matters. Judges aren’t supposed to be paying attention to personality or flashiness; after all a dog show is supposed to be a beauty contest. “That’s not completely true,” counters Frei. “Breed standards do include some description for temperament. Last year, Carlee (a German short-haired pointer) blew the crowd away with her stack (the way she stood, and posed for the judge and the capacity crowd at the Garden). The crowd did go crazy. But the judge wouldn’t have expected a Pekingese to stack like a pointer.”
For many years, Frei’s broadcast partner was Joe Garagiola, followed by Mark McEwan (former weathercaster for “CBS This Morning” and “Early Show”) and then Lester Holt (from NBC and MSNBC) “Nothing against looking at those guys, but this year sure looks better,” says Frei.
His new broadcast partner on the USA Network will be former Miss America Dr. Debbye Turner, a contributor to “The Early Show” on CBS. “Well, I’m not a dog show person, per se,” she says. “But then I do have some knowledge (being a veterinarian), and I plan to mine what I know. I mean, for example, I know what the judge is looking at looking into the dog’s mouth.”
In fact, if there’s a close up shot, Turner might even comment on the tartar on the dog’s teeth. Well, perhaps not.
As far as anyone can recall, she’s the first veterinarian to broadcast a major dog show. “I’m thrilled,” she says. “And I’m coming into it all at an interesting time. These televised dog shows are so incredibly popular.”
Last year’s broadcast produced an increase of five per cent in viewership over the previous year making Westminster arguably the biggest and most popular of the pack of televised dog shows. Frei’s theory is that people love seeing dogs they don’t typically encounter on the street or at the local dog park (examples include the Otterhound and the giant schnauzer). There’s also what he calls the alma mater factor. “There you are sitting with your own dog as you watch, and rooting for your own breed.”
Also dog show competitions aren’t decided until the very last second. Turner says it’s exciting and suspenseful. She’s right, of course. Every dog show is like a photo finish in horse racing.
During the day at Westminster, judges follow the written breed standard to choose one dog to represent each breed. (While not televised, the breed judging can be viewed via streaming video at www.westminsterkennelclub.org.)
All dog breeds fall into one of seven groups. In the evening, when the show is on live TV, the groups are judged; four groups on Monday night and three on Tuesday (as well as Best in Show on Tuesday).
Still, the dogs aren’t judged against one another, per se. For example, both the German shepherd dog and the Australian shepherd are among the breeds in the Herding Group. The Herding Group judge will simply compare each individual dog in the group – including the top German shepherd dog and top Australian shepherd – with the written breed standards. The dog that most closely resembles the standard will win.
The other six groups are: Hound, Non Sporting, Toy, Sporting, Terrier and Working.
Seven dogs take part in Best in Show, one representative is chosen from each Group. Amidst the decibel shattering cheering from the sold out New York City crowd at Madison Square Garden, a seasoned judge will deliberately approach all seven finalists, take a deep breath, and point to one winner.
“There’s nothing like it,” says Frei, who once bred Afghan hounds. “There’s no question, Westminster is the Super Bowl and World Series rolled into one; 96 of the top-100 dogs in the country will be there.”
Frei’s Top-four picks to win the show are:
- Ch. (Champion) Oldiron Margaret River, an Airedale terrier, the number one terrier in the country.
- Ch. Rocky Top’s Sundance Kid, a colored bull terrier.
- Ch. Heather’s Knock on Wood, a bloodhound (He recently won the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.)
- Ch. Yakee If Only, a Pekingese, the number one dog n America last year.
Joining Frye and Turner on the broadcast will be Jill Rappaport, entertainment reporter from “The Today Show” on NBC. The USA Network airs Westminster February 13 and 14, 8 p.m. /9 p.m. Central.
Here’s more of Westminster by the numbers:
- Oldest dog to win Best in Show: 8-year old Papillon, 1999
- Youngest dog to win BIS: 9-month old collie, 1929
- Individual dog to win BIS at Westminster most often: Three time winner (1907, 1908 and 1909), Ch. Warren Remedy, a smooth fox terrier.
- Best in Show by sex:
Male: won 64 times
Female: won 34 times - 2006 Best In Show Judge: James G. Reynolds of Ottawa, Canada.