Westminster Dog Show Tonight!

[JewelFreak]

One of my dogs always watches. She loves animal shows.

VL, is that your kid at the Garden? Too adorable for words!

 

[iLander]

It won't be a Siberian. Only 1 has won ever; both mine have him in their lines.

The Chins are adorable, girls! They look just like Foo Dogs -- were those ceramic dogs modeled on them? Caribari, congratulations on your baby's sire. Super. Maplefemme, be glad your breed -- fascinating dogs, btw -- isn't AKC recognized. Once they get into shows, breeding turns to What Wins, & bad stuff gets into the gene pool. It has sure happened to Siberians, and to any breed I can think of.

Anyway, will be fun to watch. I like the Herding group too.

--- Laurie

I think so too! The breed actually originated in China, and they look just like foo dogs when they are playing "fierce"; their little ears go back, and they bear their teeth (which are the size of rice grains, so mostly comical). But for some reason, the Pekinese breeders think their breed is the foo dog. I don't think so.

 

[iLander]

maplefemme|1329185188|3125774I often have a car full of punk kids pull over and ask me what he is, I tell them he's a mutt :lol

Atta girl! The less popular & well-known a breed is, the better for it.

People often stop me & ask if my Siberians are wolf mixes. I explain carefully that they are ALL dog, back a thousand years; that's how old the breed is. And that wolf mixes are NOT pets, more like a tragic example of neither species. Oh no, they say, & go on to tell about the one they had. Worst part is there are lots of sleazy jerks who breed Siberians w/German Shepherd or similar breed & sell pups as wolf mixes -- buyers get the idea they are fabulous temperament-wise, when there's really no wolf in them at all. Many times they say how much they want a Siberian -- uninformed people think they're like retrievers in exotic bodies. Couldn't be less true! They end up in shelters constantly when owners realize how labor-intensive, determined, & manipulative they are, definitely not a breed for everyone. So I start talking about the cons of the breed first when anyone asks; better to discourage them before they wreck a dog.

Here's my 14-yr-old beloved, Buck. Edit -- Oops! Didn't realize that was such a big pic!

Gorgeous dog! What a beauty! I can tell he's smart just by looking in his eyes.

 

[iLander]

]

OMG! I LOVE pugs!! They are so cute! I seriously considered a pug . . .

 

[VapidLapid]

JF, No my critter is no show dog. If he were at MSG tonight he would terrorize the working group; especially the Bernese! Otherwise he's a great little man, eleven years old. I love all the critters, and ahve been to the show a few times. It is JUST like in the movie!

 

[iLander]

JF, No my critter is no show dog. If he were at MSG tonight he would terrorize the working group; especially the Bernese! Otherwise he's a great little man, eleven years old. I love all the critters, and ahve been to the show a few times. It is JUST like in the movie!

Vapid, that is the cutest pug in the world! How sweet! What a cutie!

 

[iLander]

PEKINESE? SERIOUSLY? How did that thing come up as best in show?

My vote was for the magnificent Doberman, that was a stunning dog. Then I would have picked the Dalmatian for second, and the Dachshund for third.

My grandparents had a wire-haired Dachshund, and that little guy ran the house. He ate ON TOP of the dining room table, while the family ate around him, just like it wasn't weird. He was gone by the time I came along and I never got to have a dog.

But now I have two, so I can't complain. But I still do . . . the PEKINESE?!

 

[Fly Girl]

Loved the dalmation and the doberman. The peke was amazing, but it's not really my kind of dog. Prefer them to look like dogs. It does have a cute little black face, and tons of hair.

 

[maplefemme]

maplefemme|1329185188|3125774I often have a car full of punk kids pull over and ask me what he is, I tell them he's a mutt :lol

Atta girl! The less popular & well-known a breed is, the better for it.

People often stop me & ask if my Siberians are wolf mixes. I explain carefully that they are ALL dog, back a thousand years; that's how old the breed is. And that wolf mixes are NOT pets, more like a tragic example of neither species. Oh no, they say, & go on to tell about the one they had. Worst part is there are lots of sleazy jerks who breed Siberians w/German Shepherd or similar breed & sell pups as wolf mixes -- buyers get the idea they are fabulous temperament-wise, when there's really no wolf in them at all. Many times they say how much they want a Siberian -- uninformed people think they're like retrievers in exotic bodies. Couldn't be less true! They end up in shelters constantly when owners realize how labor-intensive, determined, & manipulative they are, definitely not a breed for everyone. So I start talking about the cons of the breed first when anyone asks; better to discourage them before they wreck a dog.

Here's my 14-yr-old beloved, Buck. Edit -- Oops! Didn't realize that was such a big pic!

Buck's a beauty!
My Step Mother used to breed, show and race Sibes. She's agree, great dogs, not for everyone.
JewelFreak, it's ironic how we focus on telling people the cons and challenges of these breeds first and foremost, as a protective way of not just educating but filtering out those who might be not so compatible.

My Dogo was a lot of work for the first two years, tons of socializing and training every day. He has grown into a great dog, I have never had a problem with him. Every stranger is a long lost friend and he's extremely dog social, but he's not a people pleaser like my Corso. She'll do anything I ask, she's beyond compliant and so responsive to the most subtle of commands, such a people pleaser. Him, he's more of a what's-in-it-for-me type. If it's something he wants to do or if I have something he wants then he's on point and jumps to commands, if not, he'll do what I ask because he has to, he's obedient because he respects me and knows I won't back down, but he gives me a look like "Pffff...do I have to" and takes his sweet a$$ time. In the wrong hands he'd be a nightmare if they let him get his way.
Dogos...sensitive as hormonal teenagers - stubborn as mules!

 

[Efe]

How adorable are they?! Awww so cute! Do yours get the "zoomies and spins", running all over and spinning around in circles? Mine will "defend" a throw rug with the cutest "toughness" you ever saw and my other dog will pretend to "attack" the rug. Do yours play together?[/quote]

The boys say thank you. They do think they are pretty adorable and yes to the "zoomies and spins". It is quite a site when they get going. They also "face fight". Do yours do that?

I have to say I do the same as some others regarding inquiries. People never know that they are Chins and when I do tell them I always say right away that they are great dogs but are very needy and shed everywhere, which they are and do.

I love everyone's beautiful dogs, especially the little pug.

 

[JewelFreak]

My Step Mother used to breed, show and race Sibes. She's agree, great dogs, not for everyone.

Him, he's more of a what's-in-it-for-me type. If it's something he wants to do or if I have something he wants then he's on point and jumps to commands, if not, he'll do what I ask because he has to, he's obedient because he respects me and knows I won't back down, but he gives me a look like "Pffff...do I have to" and takes his sweet a$$ time. In the wrong hands he'd be a nightmare if they let him get his way.
Dogos...sensitive as hormonal teenagers - stubborn as mules!

Very like Siberians. They do not have an intrinsic need to please; in fact, their independence saves lives on the trail. I love the description from Siberian people: "If a German Shepherd is leading a team & the driver tells him to turn right, he'll do it immediately. A Siberian will wait for a break in the trees." Sums it up well, but does not make for easy pets. Sounds like Dogos were bred for hunting, though, which should make them more cooperative -- maybe yours has his very own take on the world? He obviously couldn't have found a better home, where he's understood & has an owner able to give him limits that allow him to be a happy camper. Do you find the challenge fun? I love Siberians because of the mental agility they demand, though I blame a good deal of gray hair on them!

Maplefemme, any way you could tell me who your stepmother is? I may know her. I showed my dogs in the 90s & also know a number of racers as well as breeders. Peggy Koehler, in fact, was one of the best friends of my life. I was just leaving the house to go see her in the hospital when a mutual friend called to say she'd died. I helped clean out the Siberian mementos & history from her house & miss her every day.

Not surprised a Peke won Westminster. Has anybody ever counted up how many tiny dogs have won as opposed to medium/big ones? It's almost always a little breed, seems to me. Bigotry!!

--- Laurie

 

[JewelFreak]

VL, your kid is so cute! Personality all over, like all pugs. My grandmother always had them & I have happy memories every time I see one. Hers were fat & spoiled but so darned darling. She fed them shrimp, crab, filet mignon, etc. I don't know how they avoided pancreatitis or worse, but they lived to venerable ages.

iLander -- PEKES? Naw, they don't look like Foo dogs at all, wishful thinking! The Chins are it! So they spin around too, though? That's one thing Pekes do that's irresistable -- on their hind legs, front paws up as if begging, & turn in circles. You'd think they were circus-trained but it's a breed trait. I think Chins are prettier -- stylish dogs.

--- Laurie

 

[maplefemme]

My Step Mother used to breed, show and race Sibes. She's agree, great dogs, not for everyone.

Him, he's more of a what's-in-it-for-me type. If it's something he wants to do or if I have something he wants then he's on point and jumps to commands, if not, he'll do what I ask because he has to, he's obedient because he respects me and knows I won't back down, but he gives me a look like "Pffff...do I have to" and takes his sweet a$$ time. In the wrong hands he'd be a nightmare if they let him get his way.
Dogos...sensitive as hormonal teenagers - stubborn as mules!

Very like Siberians. They do not have an intrinsic need to please; in fact, their independence saves lives on the trail. I love the description from Siberian people: "If a German Shepherd is leading a team & the driver tells him to turn right, he'll do it immediately. A Siberian will wait for a break in the trees." Sums it up well, but does not make for easy pets. Sounds like Dogos were bred for hunting, though, which should make them more cooperative -- maybe yours has his very own take on the world? He obviously couldn't have found a better home, where he's understood & has an owner able to give him limits that allow him to be a happy camper. Do you find the challenge fun? I love Siberians because of the mental agility they demand, though I blame a good deal of gray hair on them!

Maplefemme, any way you could tell me who your stepmother is? I may know her. I showed my dogs in the 90s & also know a number of racers as well as breeders. Peggy Koehler, in fact, was one of the best friends of my life. I was just leaving the house to go see her in the hospital when a mutual friend called to say she'd died. I helped clean out the Siberian mementos & history from her house & miss her every day.

Not surprised a Peke won Westminster. Has anybody ever counted up how many tiny dogs have won as opposed to medium/big ones? It's almost always a little breed, seems to me. Bigotry!!

--- Laurie

What a perfect example of Siberian's mind set, that gave me a chuckle, I'll have to share that with my Step Mother. You asked her name, it was Jennifer Popowich and she lived in Saskatchewan when she was showing back in the day, I'm not sure of the dates she was active.
I'm very sorry about the loss of your friend, Peggy. Good friends are such blessings, to loose them we loose a part of ourselves. We are better people for them in the wake of their loss, a true testament to the depth of your friendship.

The thing with Dogos and the way they hunt is they aren't wired to retrieve or return to you, they go find the prey at great distances away from you and you catch up on horseback, so coming back doesn't occur to them naturally, you come to them.
Many of my friends in Texas who hunt have to have GPS on their dogs for this reason.
They are also bred to not let go of a boar, they hold on until the boar is dispatched, no matter what noises or distractions are going on around them - this includes your voice and your commands. Letting go before could mean getting gored, or his owner getting gored. Contrary to aggression, it's a survival and protection trait that serves them well in the field - not so well as a pet, just like Siberians and their mindset, common sense and strong independence in the great outdoors and in their "jobs", but problematic within the confines of suburbia.
But I do love the challenge, yes, it's definitely mental agility.
You are such a great match for Siberians yourself, gray hairs an all, I can tell it's worth it to you!

I remember when I first bought my Corso puppy home. She had a great appetite, but after a couple of days she'd stop eating just a few bites into her food. I was concerned, my ex figured she didn't like the new food and gave her leftovers to our Dogo because it was raw so it doesn't keep. The next day I discovered the problem, he was hiding behind the kitchen island, eyeballing her whilst she ate, intentionally out of my view. I walked over and met his gaze and right away he ducked and took off to his bed with an "oh, I am in such $hit!" look on his face. They are very sensitive to harsh corrections, a look is often more than enough when you have good rapport. Too verbally harsh and they'll avoid you for days, it's a very strong breed trait.
But that was our fault, we had rewarded him by giving him her food and Dogos will manipulate if they see an angle where they can - you have to be one step ahead.

The Peke won, oy... I'm not surprised either, I think little dogs are just adorable, I'd just love to see something bigger win, just once!!

 

[amc80]

PEKINESE? SERIOUSLY? How did that thing come up as best in show?

My vote was for the magnificent Doberman, that was a stunning dog. Then I would have picked the Dalmatian for second, and the Dachshund for third.

That doberman was amazing. It was the only dog standing it a show pose without the owner handler to move its legs around all the time. That dog knew it was a show dog.

 

[maplefemme]

PEKINESE? SERIOUSLY? How did that thing come up as best in show?

My vote was for the magnificent Doberman, that was a stunning dog. Then I would have picked the Dalmatian for second, and the Dachshund for third.

That doberman was amazing. It was the only dog standing it a show pose without the owner handler to move its legs around all the time. That dog knew it was a show dog.

She was a beauty

 

[Autumnovember]

I loved the winning dog! I really liked the German Shepard too. Man, I love dogs.

 

[iLander]

Here's pictures of the show!

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-1328842437-slideshow/

Here's videos of each breed being judged, so you can look up your dog!

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2012/video/breed/ Day 1

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2012/video/breed/index2.html Day2

I was surprised that only 2 Japanese Chin showed up!