After two days of competition featuring about 2,500 dogs from more than 200 breeds, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has narrowed the field to just seven finalists competing for the most prestigious prize in U.S. dog shows.
The winner will take home a trophy, ribbons and bragging rights, along with the distinction of being crowned best in show at the landmark 150th annual Westminster event.
Among the finalists are Zaida the Afghan hound, JJ the Lhasa apso, Cookie the Maltese and Graham the Old English sheepdog. Also still in contention are Cota, a Chesapeake Bay retriever, and Penny, a Doberman pinscher. One final competitor was due to be selected Tuesday night before all seven meet at Madison Square Garden for the best in show title.
While only a handful advance to the final round, many dogs captured the crowd’s attention during the semifinals with memorable and lighthearted moments. Spectators cheered enthusiastically for Calaco, a hairless Xoloitzcuintli that moved confidently around the ring, while Beamer the vizsla amused fans by hopping into a box meant for his handler’s tools.
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Storm the Newfoundland drew laughter by leaping up on his handler, nearly matching her height, and cheers for Oliver the golden retriever were so loud they drowned out the arena announcer. Chants also echoed for Lumpy the Pekingese as he strutted before a judge.
One standout semifinalist was Millie, a Danish-Swedish farmdog that made history by competing at Westminster for the first time after the breed became eligible this year. Millie outperformed about 10 other farmdogs to reach the evening round.
“It’s been a very exciting journey” to establish the breed in the United States, said Brita Lemmon of Seal Beach, California, who competed with her own farmdog, Coyote. Lemmon said she first discovered the breed in an encyclopedia and imported her first dog from Denmark in 2000.
Although Westminster titles often go to dogs handled by seasoned professionals or owners with generations of experience, simply qualifying for the champions-only show is a major achievement. That is especially true for newcomers such as Joseph Carrero and his Neapolitan mastiff, Dezi.
Carrero, a heavy equipment operator from Indian Springs, Nevada, said he had wanted a Neapolitan mastiff since his teens and finally got one at age 35. He began showing the dog at the breeder’s request and now both breeds and handles his dogs himself while working full time. “It’s really hard for us to do this, but we enjoy it, and he enjoys it,” he said as visitors gathered to meet the 190-pound mastiff.
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Another first-time competitor was Natalee Ridenhour of Royse City, Texas, who entered the show with a Boerboel named Invictus. The powerful South African breed played a major role in her personal life, including how she met her late husband and her move from city life to a farm.
Invictus did not advance past the opening round, but Ridenhour said the experience was still a victory. As visitors eagerly petted the dog, she remarked, “Honestly, the big win is: You’re about the 50th person who’s gotten down in his face and loved on him.”