Great article doesn’t provide any background about this years contenders but gives some good insight to what we’ll be watching over the next couple of nights.
Few outside the dog show world can understand exactly what goes into breeding, raising and showing a champion dog. Most dog owners use a scientific selection process called the “cuteness factor” when selecting which puppy to take home, but owners of show dogs must look for more.
Valimaki had 20 years of experience with Afghan hounds when he selected Cole’s father at just 8 weeks old as his future winner.
“Look at the angles, the top line, the front of the dog, the eyes, the walk,” he said. “Watch them move.”
The movie “Best in Show” gave outsiders a satirical, but insiders say accurate, look at the world of showing dogs in 2000. Frei and Valimaki said the portraits of neurotic owners were right on target.
“The movie didn’t make fun of the dogs or the sport. It only made fun of the people. I saw it and recognized the characters. My wife has yelled at me for not bringing the right squeaky toy before,” said Frei.
1 response so far ↓
1 jo // Feb 12, 2007 at 4:53 pm
For those of us who like to see the conformation judging, you can watch the videos here:
http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2007/video/breed/index.html
They’re free for a week, after that you have to buy a cd. They are posting each breed as they are finishing judging them, and there’s a listing telling you when to expect your favorite breed’s conformation judging.
By the way, if anyone watches the Malamute judging — is it just me or do a couple of those Mals seem to have luxating patellas? (they didn’t win, anyway)…
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