(By Karin Brulliard, Washington Post )
A bichon frise named Flynn won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday night, snagging what is essentially America’s top canine beauty prize…
Over the weekend, a border collie called Fame (watch video below) leaped and wove her way to dominance in the show’s agility championship, a feat of canine athletics.
But in between those moments, past the cacophonous rows and rings of breed contenders, at the chilly end of a warehouse, a judge in a tuxedo awarded a third title to what could be considered the best of all these very good dogs: The winner of the Masters Obedience Championship. It is Westminster’s newest and least glitzy honor, but it is one that enthusiasts insist is central to the whole show dog world.
“It’s really the foundation of all performance events,” said this year’s judge, John Cox, a retired toy train collector and broker who has been judging obedience competitions for 40 years. “You’ve got these two species out there, and they’re communicating back and forth.”
Watch Fame win the agility championship:
Obedience title
In its third year at Westminster, the obedience title goes to the dog-handler team that best demonstrates the commands many ordinary pet owners have aspired, and perhaps failed, to get their pooches to heed: Sit, stay, heel, fetch.
Yet it is far more complicated than that. Dogs must follow hand signals, dart away from their handlers, drop to the ground while running, soar over jumps to retrieve dumbbells and sit perfectly, perfectly straight. Westminster, unlike other obedience events, also features a six-minute “freestyle” routine, many of which are like skits and involve costumes. This year, in an odd coincidence, three of 23 teams chose a “Wizard of Oz” theme.
Among the 23 contenders were Heart, a laser-focused black Labrador who won the previous two years, and Streak, a bouncy golden retriever who won the National Obedience Championship in 2016. Then there was the underdog: Sissy, a gray 9-pounder whose owner got her at a flea market. She was the competition’s first-ever mixed-breed, or what Westminster calls an “All-American” dog.
Heart won with 294 points:
Take a look at some of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show contenders below:
Dog Day Afternoon at The Westminster Kennel Club Finals. pic.twitter.com/XzdLgrundV
— Bill Evans (@Evansweather) February 14, 2018
After winning the Toy group yesterday, Biggie will be competing tonight for Best in Show! #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/t1XWQm6RrI
— Westminster Dog Show (@WKCDOGS) February 14, 2018
Wink if you’re ready for @WKCDOGS to begin! 😉 The #WKCDogShow Sporting, Working and Terrier Breeds competitions and Best in Show are LIVE on @FS1 in 5 MINUTES! 🐈🐩🐕🐾pic.twitter.com/c8TCBM6GBf
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) February 14, 2018
Hundreds of dogs compete in the 142nd Westminster Kennel Club dog show’s agility contest in #NewYorkCity pic.twitter.com/UK2j9R6LjB
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) February 11, 2018
Here’s Winston! #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/ekEV8TVJnY
— Westminster Dog Show (@WKCDOGS) February 14, 2018
It is estimated that during 300 years of rescue work, the #SaintBernard has saved over 2,000 lives. #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/AQaSNmNzhD
— Westminster Dog Show (@WKCDOGS) February 14, 2018
The working group is pretty magical you guys. Here is a Komondor and it looks like a mop #WKCDogShow @WKCDOGS pic.twitter.com/jH7c7s7BiW
— Liam Stack (@liamstack) February 14, 2018
The #GreatDane stands as high as 32 inches at the shoulder. #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/ruBiNUFQlU
— Westminster Dog Show (@WKCDOGS) February 14, 2018
The German name of the #GiantSchnauzer is Riesenschnauzer, meaning “the giant.” #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/e3han025Qy
— Westminster Dog Show (@WKCDOGS) February 14, 2018
#Boxers move like the athletes they’re named for: smooth and graceful, but powerful. #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/Kamd7bp3I8
— Westminster Dog Show (@WKCDOGS) February 14, 2018
Author: ANA Newswire