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| Westminster Dog Show 2012—Best in Show—live! | Westminster Dog Show 2012—Best in Show—live! |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Pinscher: We had a Doberman earlier and now a German Pinscher. I don't care if these dogs are sweet, they still scare me. | |
| Dog de Bordeaux: I sit corrected...Hooch was not a Bullmastiff, he was a Dog de Bordeaux. And you have to respect the drooling ability. | |
| Cane Corso: This may be the saddest dog face I've ever seen in my life. It's like the Buster Keaton of canines. | |
| Bullmastiff: If you loved Turner and Hooch, then Dooley is the dog for you. | |
| Boxer: And in the clearing stands...a boxer. This one is Scarlet and she's a winner, with 88 titles. She looks like a Million Dollar Baby to me. I like her chances of making it to the finals of this Group. | |
| Black Russian Terrier: When is a terrier not a terrier? When he's this guy who has a great beard and has traits of about three other breeds. | |
| Bernese Mountain Dog: Abbott looks like the kind of dog you'd like to rescue you in the snow with some brandy. Frankly, I'd like him to bring me a box of Mallomars right about now. | |
| And some milk. | |
| Anatolian Shepherd Dog: This entry hails from Idaho. He moves pretty well for a big fella. | |
| Alaskan Malamute: Ricky has a beautiful coat that would serve him well in the snow—and evidently he loves to snowboard. I liked him right up until I knew that. | |
| Akita: Here come the big boys...and first up is an Akita. Helen Keller brought some of the first Akitas to America in the 1930s. Also, an Akita played a role in the O.J. Simpson murder trial—Nicole Simpson had one. | |
| The Working Group Release the Working Group... | |
| Dog Couture: We're now being treated to scenes from a runway show held earlier this week in New York. Will dogs actually sashay down a catwalk? Yes they will. | |
| And if you love seeing dogs dressed in costumes, this Sunday in New Orleans, there was a Mardi Gras parade featuring the dogs from the Mystic Krewe of Barkus. (A similar parade was held during Brazil's Carnivale celebration.) | |
| Best in Show before Best in Show: Because I can't get enough of Christopher Guest's mockumentary, here's another clip from Best in Show. | |
| And, yes, Glee fans, that's Sue Sylvester herself, Jane Lynch. | |
| Coming up next: It's 8:45 in New York and up next is the Working Group, then the Terriers. And in case you're wondering what the winner gets to do tomorrow, he or she will dine and Sardi's and then spend some quality time with Donald Trump. | |
| Second prize is not having to meet Donald Trump. | |
| Best in Sporting Group: And Emily, the Irish Setter, wins the group! | |
| And she's a working mom—with fifteen children. | |
| Sporting Group Finalists: Labrador Retriever, English Setter, Irish Setter, English Springer Spaniel, and the Wire-Hired Pointing Griffon... | |
| Who will it be? | |
| To the Left: Show Dog author Josh Dean tweets: "Show dogs always run on a handler's left, the side facing the judge. To make them run on the right feels wrong to them." | |
| Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon: As I pointed out last night, this dog is pronounced Grif-FON not Griffin. A little twee if you ask me... | |
| And that's the end of the Sporting Group. Who will take it? | |
| Weimaraner: One of my favorite dog breeds—mainly because of the photographer William Wegman—the Weimaraner is actually a great hunting dog. And this one has a beautiful punim. | |
| Spinone Italiano: This dog absolutely has the best beard of the entire show! And evidently it looks good wet. Just sayin'... | |
| Welsh Springer Spaniel: Closely related to the English Springer, this breed is a little smaller. But I like the English version better. That's me. | |
| Sussex Spaniel: This breed last won Westminster in 2009, with the adorable Stump. I don't see a repeat here. | |
| Irish Water Spaniel: Picture a chocolate-colored Labradoodle with a tail like a rat—that's what this breed is. That rat tail freaks me out a little... | |
| Field Spaniel: An dog of a certain age, Darcy is a seven-year-old but she still has plenty of spring in her step. | |
| English Springer Spaniel: Another crowd favorite and classic hunting dog, this breed has won Best in Show six times. I think it will make the finals of this group. | |
| English Cocker Spaniel: A beautiful dog with a coat like a silver-back gorilla. | English Cocker Spaniel: A beautiful dog with a coat like a silver-back gorilla. |
| Parti-Color Spaniel: Parti People in the house! This black-and-white Spaniel, Stanley, really worked the crowd. But his hair seemed a little long for a real hunting dog. | Parti-Color Spaniel: Parti People in the house! This black-and-white Spaniel, Stanley, really worked the crowd. But his hair seemed a little long for a real hunting dog. |
| ASCOB Cocker Spaniel: ASCOB stands for Any Solid Color Other (Than) Black. And this one is a beauty. | ASCOB Cocker Spaniel: ASCOB stands for Any Solid Color Other (Than) Black. And this one is a beauty. |
| Black Cocker Spaniel: A very popular breed, with Kim Kardashian-like hair extensions, this dog was not expected to win his breed. But here he is. | Black Cocker Spaniel: A very popular breed, with Kim Kardashian-like hair extensions, this dog was not expected to win his breed. But here he is. |
| Clumber Spanlel: Here's what you need to know about this breed—it has webbed feet. Oh, like you're perfect? | Clumber Spanlel: Here's what you need to know about this breed—it has webbed feet. Oh, like you're perfect? |
| Boykin Spaniel: We have another jumper in this guy, which is a new breed for the WKC show. So far, none of the six new breeds for 2012 have won their respective groups. | Boykin Spaniel: We have another jumper in this guy, which is a new breed for the WKC show. So far, none of the six new breeds for 2012 have won their respective groups. |
| American Water Spaniel: I'm not sure why a Water Spaniel is named Digger—where exactly is he going to dig?—but this one is lively and the crowd is digging him. | American Water Spaniel: I'm not sure why a Water Spaniel is named Digger—where exactly is he going to dig?—but this one is lively and the crowd is digging him. |
| Irish Red and White Setter: Gilbey comes from Wheeler, Wisconsin, and his handler says, "Alright, handsome, let's go!" Way to fire up the dog, coach. But he looks a little distracted as he makes his turn. | Irish Red and White Setter: Gilbey comes from Wheeler, Wisconsin, and his handler says, "Alright, handsome, let's go!" Way to fire up the dog, coach. But he looks a little distracted as he makes his turn. |
| Irish Setter: Another American favorite. It looked like they were blindfolding this dog, but the handler was just pulling Emily's ear over her face to show off her elegant neck. But you knew that. | Irish Setter: Another American favorite. It looked like they were blindfolding this dog, but the handler was just pulling Emily's ear over her face to show off her elegant neck. But you knew that. |
| Gordon Setter: This black-and-tan beauty looks a little zaftig to me—but it could just be a thick coat. | Gordon Setter: This black-and-tan beauty looks a little zaftig to me—but it could just be a thick coat. |
| English Setter: Well Dazzle is dazzling. What a beautiful greyish dog. I like her chances for being a finalist in this group. And she's having a great season so far. | English Setter: Well Dazzle is dazzling. What a beautiful greyish dog. I like her chances for being a finalist in this group. And she's having a great season so far. |
| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: Do ducks really need to pay a toll? This fellow has a lot of spirit as well. Boy, the dogs came out pumped up tonight. | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: Do ducks really need to pay a toll? This fellow has a lot of spirit as well. Boy, the dogs came out pumped up tonight. |
| Labrador Retriever: Another beloved dog—a black Lab. For 20 years, the Labrador Retriever has been the most popular dog with the American Kennel Club. And this is a very cute one. | Labrador Retriever: Another beloved dog—a black Lab. For 20 years, the Labrador Retriever has been the most popular dog with the American Kennel Club. And this is a very cute one. |
| Golden Retriever: Well who doesn't love a Golden Retriever? I'll tell you who—the judges at Westminster. A Golden has never won Best in Show. Can Shock pull off a shocker? | Golden Retriever: Well who doesn't love a Golden Retriever? I'll tell you who—the judges at Westminster. A Golden has never won Best in Show. Can Shock pull off a shocker? |
| Flat-Coated Retriever: Another jumper. this retriever can't stay on the ground—great vertical, too. And he's an old-timer—nine years old. | Flat-Coated Retriever: Another jumper. this retriever can't stay on the ground—great vertical, too. And he's an old-timer—nine years old. |
| Curly-Coated Retriever: Uh oh—Bramble is a little too fired up tonight. He is climbing all over his handler. Bad form at a dog show. But his enthusiasm is appreciated by the crowd. | Curly-Coated Retriever: Uh oh—Bramble is a little too fired up tonight. He is climbing all over his handler. Bad form at a dog show. But his enthusiasm is appreciated by the crowd. |
| Chesapeake Bay Retriever: As the name implies, this breed loves the water—and the Chessie might be the greatest water dog of them all. This one has a lot of spring in his step tonight. He seems to have brought his Bay Game. | Chesapeake Bay Retriever: As the name implies, this breed loves the water—and the Chessie might be the greatest water dog of them all. This one has a lot of spring in his step tonight. He seems to have brought his Bay Game. |
| German Wire-Haired Pointer: And we have our first good beard of the evening with Oakley, who has spent a little time in Brazil lately. Perhaps looking for his own canine Gisele? | German Wire-Haired Pointer: And we have our first good beard of the evening with Oakley, who has spent a little time in Brazil lately. Perhaps looking for his own canine Gisele? |
| German Short-Haired Pointer: Considered the SUD—the Sport Utility Dog—this canine can do it all when it comes to hunting. This breed also won Best in Show in 2005. | German Short-Haired Pointer: Considered the SUD—the Sport Utility Dog—this canine can do it all when it comes to hunting. This breed also won Best in Show in 2005. |
| Pointer: Known for that rigid pose, the Pointer is the symbol of the Westminster Kennel Club. Presumably, Josh, our entry tonight won't pull an MIA at the Super Bowl and point with the wrong digit. | Pointer: Known for that rigid pose, the Pointer is the symbol of the Westminster Kennel Club. Presumably, Josh, our entry tonight won't pull an MIA at the Super Bowl and point with the wrong digit. |
| Brittany: First up tonight is a brown-and-white Brittany named Cam, who hails from Arkansas. he's got a great smile. | Brittany: First up tonight is a brown-and-white Brittany named Cam, who hails from Arkansas. he's got a great smile. |
| The Sporting Group: And they're letting the dogs out.... | The Sporting Group: And they're letting the dogs out.... |
| The Other Top Dog: While the four sporting groups were competing at Madison Square Garden last night, another canine contest was taking place in Los Angeles—the inaugural Golden Collar Awards, http://news-briefs.ew.com/2012/02/14/the-artists-uggie-takes-home-golden-collar/ presented to the dogs who gave the best performances on the small and big screens. | The Other Top Dog: While the four sporting groups were competing at Madison Square Garden last night, another canine contest was taking place in Los Angeles—the inaugural Golden Collar Awards, http://news-briefs.ew.com/2012/02/14/the-artists-uggie-takes-home-golden-collar/ presented to the dogs who gave the best performances on the small and big screens. |
| In the spirit of the big winner's movie, I'll remain silent about who won in the film category—but his name rhymes with "Uggie." | In the spirit of the big winner's movie, I'll remain silent about who won in the film category—but his name rhymes with "Uggie." |
| Very Hot Dogs: For those who fear Westminster withdrawal symptoms after tonight's competition, may I recommend Josh Dean's superb new book, Show Dog, which goes inside the world of competitive purebreds. You can read an excerpt about the WKC show here, but for those who like their dog stories on the kinkier side, Dean has a hilarious piece on Deadspin that reveals more about the sex life of champion show dogs than you might have wanted to know. Think of it as a shagging dog story. | Very Hot Dogs: For those who fear Westminster withdrawal symptoms after tonight's competition, may I recommend Josh Dean's superb new book, Show Dog, which goes inside the world of competitive purebreds. You can read an excerpt about the WKC show here, but for those who like their dog stories on the kinkier side, Dean has a hilarious piece on Deadspin that reveals more about the sex life of champion show dogs than you might have wanted to know. Think of it as a shagging dog story. |
| Preamble: Malachy the Pekingese is just like Mitt Romney—only better groomed. He's the presumptive favorite to win the 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show tonight, but this is why we hold competitions. Because you just never know. | Preamble: Malachy the Pekingese is just like Mitt Romney—only better groomed. He's the presumptive favorite to win the 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show tonight, but this is why we hold competitions. Because you just never know. |
| During the opening night of Westminster, Malachy (who has 114 Best in Show ribbons but has never won here) was named best in the Toy group, the most competitive category at Westminster, and the sports book at Wynn Las Vegas likes his odds this evening. | During the opening night of Westminster, Malachy (who has 114 Best in Show ribbons but has never won here) was named best in the Toy group, the most competitive category at Westminster, and the sports book at Wynn Las Vegas likes his odds this evening. |
| Other group winners from last night include the German shepherd Captain Crunch in the Herding group; Cinders, a Wire-Haired Dachshund, in the Hound group; and Spotlights Ruffian, a lovely Dalmatian, in Non-Sporting. (And for those who like rooting underdogs, no Dachshund or Dalmatian has ever been named Best in Show at Westminster.) | Other group winners from last night include the German shepherd Captain Crunch in the Herding group; Cinders, a Wire-Haired Dachshund, in the Hound group; and Spotlights Ruffian, a lovely Dalmatian, in Non-Sporting. (And for those who like rooting underdogs, no Dachshund or Dalmatian has ever been named Best in Show at Westminster.) |
| But there are more contenders to come tonight, including dogs from the Sporting, Working and Terrier groups. And it's all leading up to Best in Show at the end of the evening, when judge Cindy Vogels will determine who will be America's Dog for 2012. | But there are more contenders to come tonight, including dogs from the Sporting, Working and Terrier groups. And it's all leading up to Best in Show at the end of the evening, when judge Cindy Vogels will determine who will be America's Dog for 2012. |
| So pull up your pet and let's watch all the action... | So pull up your pet and let's watch all the action... |