Westminster, dogs, & etc.
There are a lot of useless dogs out there, toys just are too easily stepped on and broken, besides sitting in someone’s lap usually are not treated like a dog but a cosseted toy and suffer as a result. Miniaturization of dogs like Australian Shepherd is an obamanation and is usually weirdly yappy and neurotic. The origin of that herding dog, much to my surprise was decided by the Westminster announcer as California. Did not mention that what used to be called the French Poodle was actually a working dog of German origin.
As well, a lot of politicking with the “grandeur” and glitz of the show ring and vast sums of money of course is just par for the course. The Affenpinscher I knew was going to win best of show because that was the dog that was pictured on the MSN stories before the start of the show, his owner jetted off to the Netherlands afterwards, and the quality of the Portuguese Water Dog has already been commented upon. This is another breed that seems to have no hunting drive for the most part, and are not water dogs really. I have seen Pits with a better drive than the ones that sprang up because people love imitating the rich and infamous on Bainbridge and many were purchased after you know who made his choice. That did not help a breed that may have been a good dog. I don’t know, all I know are the ones I met were particularly stupid, impossible for the owners to control, and had no water drive.
Of course, there being reductionists among us, anyone making a fair comment about the ridiculousness of this display is accused of being the old Debbie Downer, because, of course, Americans don’t like to have fantasies disrupted until it becomes almost too late. I have a great passion for most dogs, but this insanity of long haired dogs with silky coats, the Skye Terrier for instance, having that coat hang to the ground, the overwrought domed headed Irish Setters, and I could go on, just has the normal effect on anyone who really cares about their betterment.
I wish all of the dogs who worked in one sense or the other, could only win the right to go to Westminster if they also won significant points or championships in what they were bred to do. That would help a lot in weeding out neurotic dogs but it still makes me sad to see a great working dog like the so called Australian Heeler, otherwise known in Australia as the Queensland Heeler, hauled around those rings, all of the jerking, yanking and pulling is pretty sad to see also. I certainly have the right to express what I think of it, as do others have the right to swoon. I confess, I swooned over the gorgeous male Chesapeake Bay Retriever, a genuinely handsome, well put together and happy dog, with a good handler who did not have to spit out food in their hand to catch his attention. I find that pretty gross but does show to go why treat training is not such a hot idea.
By the way StG, thank you so much for the link to the hunting poodles. I am so glad some people are reviving that quality in those wonderful dogs. I am totally infatuated with Irish Water Spaniels but have not succeeded in finding a breeder near enough to me, when I am ready to have another dog, I will hunt up the hunting poodle breeders…wow. On another note, when I was a child (a long time ago) I read a story about an Irish Water Spaniel, and a swimming test or episode in the story where the dog had to swim a great length along a sea wall in heavy surf. That is all I can remember of the story, do you know it?
My dog will eat anything, that’s the easy part. It can’t “dissolve” like cheese; it can’t taste very bad; it can’t be greasy in my pocket or on my hands, and it can’t be too tasty so I want to eat it. 
Still searching for the elusive perfect bait.