By special correspondent Greg Kleva
The 134th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was held earlier this week at Madison Square Garden. Sadie, a Scottish Terrier, was America’s #1 dog heading into the competition but that didn’t assure her a win here. In the past 20 years, only 6 times has the country’s top ranked dog gone on to win Westminster.
Westminster is a Champions only dog show which means that every dog in the competition came into the ring, not only with impressive pedigrees, but with impressive resumes of their own as well --2,500 of them in fact, from 173 different breeds! All 7 dogs competing for Best in Show were breathtaking but none could defeat Sadie. The favored Scottish Terrier did win at Westminster; however it was not without plenty of competition.
I was there to catch all of the action, and to share updates with the radio channel. As hard as I tried, I did not get to pet them all, however, I met a lot of the dogs. You can meet them too -- in the photo gallery below.
1 A French Bulldog is pretty in pink. Apparently she is a fan of Francesca and Sharkey's "The Daily Wag" blog.
2 Fluffy and happy-go-lucky Old English Sheepdogs wait for their turn in the breed ring.
3 Dog De Bordeaux -- he looks much better with wrinkles than I do!
4 Old English Sheepdog looks stoked to get a good grooming!
5 Don't mess with a Mastiff and his jowls!
6 Crowds gather on the floor of Madison Square Garden, which is set up with rings for breed judging.
7 Golden Retriever offers a smooch to her handler.
8 A Bull Terrier -- they've become famous lately because of those Target ads.
9 A different kind of dog!
10 Glen of Imaal Terrier. They're as cute as can be!
11 Real life cotton balls! A Bichon Frise gets pampered.
12 "Don't shave off the beard!" warns this Lakeland Terrier.
13 Awwww! A Dachshund rests after competition.
14 This is not a stuffed doll. He's Jellybean, a Westhighland White Terrier.
15 Wire Haired Dachshund and his reindeer friend.
16 A solemn-looking Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
17 "Be careful with my tail!" A Tibetan Terrier and Old English Sheepdog on the grooming tables.
18 This Shipperke looks like he's LOLing!
19 The doggie bathroom "facilities." I love the "Dogs Rule" trash can.
20 "The Real Housewives of NYC" pay a visit to a Collie.
21 A long and lean Pharoah Hound.
22 Zzzzz. Two Borzois rest up for their chance to compete.
23 "Oh my Gawd! Where is my hair straightener?" asks the Tibetan Terrier.
24 "I just got my hair DID!" A Briard shows off her hairdo.
25 A Keeshond dog -- they're the ultimate furball (no offense, cats).
26 "Shhh! I need my beauty rest," says the Toy Poodle.
27 A Toy Poodle with "pom pom protection."
28 "I could've been a contender!" screams this Finnish Spitz.
29 A junior handler with her Wire Haired Dachshund.
30 Rhodesian Ridgeback --- check out the ridge of hair running down the center of her back!
31 "Mmm, what's for dinner?" asks the Belgian Tervuren dog.
32 An Irish Wolfhound -- one of the biggest breeds in the world!
33 An adorable and affable Border Terrier.
34 Don't touch my jowls! A Bulldog line-up in the ring
35 "I'm not an old man! I'm a Parson Russell Terrier."
36 Swan, a beautiful Greyhound, won "Best of Opposite Sex."
37 Rottweilers wait to go into the breed ring.
38 "I just finished up in the ring. Where's my beer?" asks the Rottweiler.
39 CJ, a Doberman Pinscher won Best of Breed and Best of Group to compete for Best In Show.
40 "Hahaha! Careful with my paws! They're ticklish," explains the Alaskan Malamute.
41 A sleepy looking Clumber Spaniel.
42 A Saint Bernard looking for his barrel. :)
43 Sleeping beauty! An English Springer Spaniel rests before her big competition
44 Could Presidential Pooch Bo Obama be related to this Portuguese Water Dog?
45 This Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has the prettiest eyes!
46 Elliot (a Staffordshire Bull Terrier) is a trained seizure alert dog!
47 One of the most popular breeds in the US: a Labrador Retriever.
48 A fluffy Great Pyrenees
49 A Bernese Mountain Dog shows of his beautiful colors.
50 A Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier hides his eyes.
From: Lorraine Lennon | 2/19/10 at 12:37 am
Jelly Bean is a she
From: Monty | 2/19/10 at 12:51 am
Love the blog, Greg! The bull terrier always reminds me of Spuds McKenzie.
From: Alexis Tirado | 2/20/10 at 1:23 am
Hahaha! I remember Spud!