[QUOTE=Larksmom;6143229]
Do you really think the last 5 winners of the Bis feed that stuff?[/QUOTE]
Yes, I do. 
My youngest sister handled the winning Pointer dog.
[QUOTE=Larksmom;6143229]
Do you really think the last 5 winners of the Bis feed that stuff?[/QUOTE]
Yes, most handlers will have a string of 10-20 dogs. It is not cost effective to feed an uber expensive food that costs $50-$60 for a 25# bag. They are on the road constantly so feeding raw isn’t feasible either. ProPlan is an excellent food. It was one of the first “premium” dog foods with Science Diet being the first. Before ProPlan, Science Diet and Eukanuba, there was only Purina Dog Chow, Pedigree and Friskies. I have fed ProPlan for about 20 years now and all my dogs have done very well on it.
The other reason that a great many professional dog people feed ProPlan is Purina’s excellent professional feeding program. If you are responsible for 10 or more dogs, you can join their professional feeders program. You collect the weight circles and redeem them for everything from dog food coupons to clothing, hotel and restaurant coupons, and my personal favorites, vet checks. I usually redeem my weight circles about once an year and generally get around $300 in vet checks. It just about pays for the annual vaccinations or I can keep a few back for vet emergencies. They have a similar program for people with multiple cats.
Purina also sponsors many dog events including agility trials, and lots of field events like bird dog and retriever trials, coon hunts, etc.
[QUOTE=baylady7;6144557]
My youngest sister handled the winning Pointer dog.[/QUOTE]
Fantastic!! How exciting for you!!! (And her, of course!!)
So, it appears, if you have a Boxer without cropped ears, or one that is the plain fawn variety without the chrome, you may as not show up.
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;6144732]
So, it appears, if you have a Boxer without cropped ears, or one that is the plain fawn variety without the chrome, you may as not show up.[/QUOTE]
I don’t know…check the breed standard. I believe uncropped ears are allowed, but not very common.
This isn’t just a casual gathering of neighborhood pets…it’s one of the most famous dog shows in the world. Your question is like asking why your grade QH isn’t “good enough” for WEF. If you don’t like it…don’t watch it.
A very close relative of my dog was invited, but blew most of his coat out in January. His owner decided not to go. My dog blew out right before a big specialty, and I took a loss on entry fees. You just don’t go to prestigious shows like WKC unless everything is perfect.
[QUOTE=S1969;6144782]
I don’t know…check the breed standard. I believe uncropped ears are allowed, but not very common.
This isn’t just a casual gathering of neighborhood pets…it’s one of the most famous dog shows in the world. Your question is like asking why your grade QH isn’t “good enough” for WEF. If you don’t like it…don’t watch it.[/QUOTE]
Is it? If that grade QH moves well and jumps well, then it can compete well. If it moves and looks crappy, not so much. But, the question wasn’t about meeting the standard so much as color or style. I would certainly show a nice moving/jumping WB at WEF even if it was plain bay without chrome. It might not be as flashy, but if it performs well that should be acceptable. If I had the money, which I don’t, I would even be tempted to show a plain bay TB of slighter build than the average WB at the show if it had the performance for it.
I will admit I don’t fully understand the ins and outs of the dog show and can understand asking questions, but I do enjoy it, and I do watch.
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;6144732]
So, it appears, if you have a Boxer without cropped ears, or one that is the plain fawn variety without the chrome, you may as not show up.[/QUOTE]
Nope. If you have an uncropped boxer in a plain fawn wrapper…who has his/her CH or GCH you are more than welcome to enter and show up!
[QUOTE=Mali;6143850]
Correct me if I’m wrong, but when you show dogs at that elite level, isn’t there quite a bit of “advertising” that goes into promoting the dog itself? I’d be anxious to see how much advertising dollars was spent on promoting that Peke in the past year![/QUOTE]
Yes, owners advertise. The first time I was handed a real deal show dog magazine I was amazed and could not comprehend the reasons.
Some say in helps educate the judges if they are not familiar with the breed. It can certainly help judges recognize a particular dog in their line-up ;). Judges say it does not matter and does not effect them. I am no where near understanding all of the politics (from kennel packing vs building major right down to gay handler vs straight).
Other reasons to advertise are for stud fees and litters. It also promotes the handlers and judges since often both are cited in the ads. Pro handlers in the dog world and not dissimilar from pro handlers in horse world.
Malachy has been on this page more than once, as have all the contenders at Westminster.
[QUOTE=monday;6144888]
Is it? If that grade QH moves well and jumps well, then it can compete well. If it moves and looks crappy, not so much. But, the question wasn’t about meeting the standard so much as color or style. I would certainly show a nice moving/jumping WB at WEF even if it was plain bay without chrome. It might not be as flashy, but if it performs well that should be acceptable. If I had the money, which I don’t, I would even be tempted to show a plain bay TB of slighter build than the average WB at the show if it had the performance for it.
I will admit I don’t fully understand the ins and outs of the dog show and can understand asking questions, but I do enjoy it, and I do watch.[/QUOTE]
No, I’m sure there is probably a better horse comparison - like “Why doesn’t the grade QH ever win the hack? It doesn’t seem fair.” Or that it doesn’t seem fair that the Haflinger cross isn’t considered “fancy” enough for an A show. “I guess if you’re not a Welsh pony with a cute dish shaped face, you might as not show up.”
I’m sure there are plain (no white) colored boxers, but I am not sure I’ve ever seen one at a dog show…then again, it’s not my breed…I will pay attention next time. Probably someone who shows boxers can tell you how common they are, and how likely they are to win.
In my breed (Brittanys) it is entirely acceptable to show a liver and white dog, a roan (orange or liver) or even a tri-color. But you never see tri-colors in the show ring (and they are rare to begin with), and roans are typically not as successful, nor are liver dogs. Unless they were really awesome, you probably wouldn’t show at Westminster. But, maybe they would be successful at the nationals, where it’s breed only competition.
Brittanys being your breed, did you like the one that was in the sporting group?
I thought it lacked a bit of balance, the parts didn’t tie in as smoothly as others I have seen in other years.
Now, I thought the pointer was awesome.
All that remembering that from a TV screen, we can’t really see that much.
[QUOTE=Amwrider;6143664]
Yup…it was PETA with the disruption:[/QUOTE]
Video of the two rather brazen protesters - I don’t think I’ve seen slower security guards react to a live-televised event in my life.
Really dislike the Peke. But he was bound to win, he’s been passed over at least once. But this was SUCH a beautiful lineup, can’t believe the Peke took it. Sigh. No comparison with the lovely Deerhound from last year.
[QUOTE=Bluey;6144998]
Brittanys being your breed, did you like the one that was in the sporting group?
I thought it lacked a bit of balance, the parts didn’t tie in as smoothly as others I have seen in other years.
Now, I thought the pointer was awesome.
All that remembering that from a TV screen, we can’t really see that much.;)[/QUOTE]
I watched the breed judging video and thought he looked better there, and from that I thought he was a good choice to win the breed. But again, that was just the “highlights” so I would like to see the live feed which showed more, I think. I’d like to watch it again and see whether I agreed with the judge’s pick.
I have never seen Cam in person but I have seen several of the others so of course I am biased to some degree. I am not sure he is quite the caliber of a lot of the other dogs in the group ring, however. Certainly does not have 100 BIS wins to call his own (I’m not sure he has any). I’m not sure any of the Brittanys that were entered have a best in show win…hmm wonder how I can find that out?
I dislike the camera angle at Westminster (group ring), though, because I think it makes a lot of dogs look crooked. They did show the side view of the down and back and I think you got a good look at their movement, but the front angle of the down and back, and the angle of them going around very often makes the dog look strange.
ETA: looks like he has one best. But I also want to say that he’s a nice package - maybe not so much a flashy show dog but a really solid example of the breed. Has his JH, too.
Since USA repeated last night’s broadcast today, I watched again. And again re-examined the Dobie to try to find ANYTHING that might have gone awry via the standard.
The only thing I could REMOTELY question was the neck. It was a little more swan-like than I’ve seen on other show Dobies. Any Dobie specialists want to weigh in on that?
I know, I know - I’m grasping at straws here for a reason - lol! Our first Dobie was adopted from a friend who bought her from a first-rate big-time show breeder, & she was bumped down to pet quality because of something having to do with her nipples. Too many? Too few? This was back in the 1980’s, so I don’t exactly remember, but boy, what a dog. Cemented me to Dobies forever.
Oh, & is anyone here besides me old enough to remember when Dobermans were “THE” horse dog to have? As a horse-crazy kid, I remember walking through our local show grounds (Old Field, Long Island, NY), & nearly every single trailer/stall compound had one or more Dobermans in attendance. Jack Russells were non-existent back then.
We had dobies in the late 1970’s early 80’s as they were the breed to have in obedience then.
Agility had not started yet and border collies were not heard of for other than herding.
I would not count her light neck against her, being female, it is more refined and classy than a thicker one would have been.
[QUOTE=Bluey;6145167]
I would not count her light neck against her, being female, it is more refined and classy than a thicker one would have been.;)[/QUOTE]
Heck, I wouldn’t count it against her either. I was just grasping at straws for a reason as to why she didn’t make BIS. She was/is such a fabulous representative of the breed.
Do the losers get pointed cards?
Don’t know, but they get bragging rights from being in Westminster Best In Show.
If I were the Dobie owner, I’d sure like to know what put my dog out of first place.
Not to slam the judge - but just to know what the judge thought were the shortcomings. Otherwise, how will breeders know what’s what.
