Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 2007

 Westminster Show is one of the most outstanding events in the history of sports and certainly the most important  for our activity.

It’s a show that has survive all kinds of obstacle throughout history and it is even older than the Madison Square Garden itself. This show began on 1877, organized by a group o sportsmen in Manhattan and has been taken place in the same location, surviving four different Madison Square Garden buildings. Today it’s still the place to where we all travel every February to celebrate this show.

One of its most particular features is the fact that it is a “benched show”, therefore since the day that we are invited to participate till the day we return home it’s a whole experience on its own, completely apart from most of the traditional shows. Having participated as a simple attendee, the experience of participating as a exhibitor is unique, and the only way to truly feel and live thoroughly what  Westminster Kennel Dog Show is all about. 

Two full days in which the city is invaded by dogs, dogs on the sidewalk, dogs on the hotel, dogs on the airport, dogs all around the Garden, dogs posing for pictures, dogs on TV, elevators, and hotel rooms. The whole city is paying attention to what’s going on the corner of 7th avenue and 33th street. Times Square is also a good place to spot a couple of show dogs having a picture with their owners after competing. Once a year Manhattan is taken over by the Dogs. 

In front of the stadium is the Pennsylvania Hotel, that hosts most of the participating dogs at the show. We stayed there as well, as it is very convenient as they are part of the event also. They collaborate to help all of us enjoy with minimum inconvenience a harsh city as New York. The hotel receives all dogs with open arms, dogs ride on the elevators and the service elevators are open to allow the movement of kennels and other materials that breeders and handlers need for the show. The lobby elevators also welcomed dogs but waiting times and lines there were longer. We had in total 12 elevators available to choose from and that alleviated the wait.

Also on the basement , one of the Hotel Ballrooms became a huge park of plastic wrap with wood ashes on top and plastic water pumps ( very funny indeed) to be used for dog owners as a place to walk them and let them do their need without having to walk out to the city. This space was wonderfully equipped with bags, trash cans, shovels and it was always kept clean and open. From the hotel itself you can walk underground to the stadium by the subway entrance or you can just cross the 7^th Avenue and be at the door of the Garden.

Inside the MSQ are several sections, the rings are in the center,  the benches are on the side organized by breed, there is also a multibreed bench usually used by Handlers traveling with several breeds. This space has also areas to take your dog for a walk and take care of their needs and beyond that are the vendors’ booths loaded with promotional products, offers and samples. On the other side is the grooming sector where you can find a spot to prepare your dog, bath them, dry and get them ready for the ring. 

About the benches, I can tell you that they are tiny spaces and with a large amount of people, crowded, walking around between the alleys. Some are breeders or handlers and others are just enthusiasts of each of the breeds that come to talk with us looking for information or potentially buying a puppy.  That’s why some breeders bring business cards, books, pictures, candies, flags and banners to make there bench more attractive. The dogs are on the Kennels and that protects them from the people around them. However the people does not let them rest too much, thus when deciding to participate in this event breeders must accept the rules of the game. A bench show means that, dogs available and at the reach of the public that wants to meet them. 

The rings are much more comfortable of size and the judge does several cuts on the breeds so he can appreciate better each of the dogs. The dogs in general here in good physical shape and I’ve noticed a great quality on the rings. It’s been really a pleasure to sit down and enjoy breed after breed. The breeds had a great judging, I might disagree in some cases but most of the judging was consistent regarding what they were looking for and appreciating from the dogs as candidates for the group. Although they did not have enough time in some cases, judged dedicated every second to compare the dogs in the ring with extreme concentration and detail.

We showed a female CH. Chesabar Renaissance of Sailorsbay " Mel", who was the youngest dog in the ring. We decided to show her as with just 18 months as she already had the American Championship with 09 months, traveled to Latin America and in only 7 months she achieved 4 championships and 13 group placements a second best in show in a specialty show of sporting dogs. We decided she had enough character for face the competition of this caliber among the top 5 dogs in the country. Of course that we all want to win the breed, group and BIS, right? But we survived several cuts and remained among the top 8 selected by the judge for the final of the breed. We are very proud and satisfied with her performance. May be the next time we could achieve a little bit more, we have more time.

Regarding the handling I believe that was one of excellent quality. Very well prepared on both sides, handlers as well as breeders and exhibitors. They gave proof of the weeks days and hours preparing these dogs, training, showing on all shows possible besides all the grooming time dedicated. I’ve seen a teamwork, lots of coordination, and dogs in a magnificent temperament at all times. They deserve being on the screen for the whole world to see them. One of the dogs the impressed me the most and I applauded it standing was the PBGV. Representing its group, movement and structure as well as expression.  It was an spectacle seeing him show his personality on the ring. 

Everything came out wonderfully, the atmosphere of a great event. I have not had the chance to travel to Cruft, but besides that event, I don’t think there anything similar. There is no other show with that greatness, beyond Westminster Show. I hope we meet again next year, the adrenaline was the queen of the night and we were left exhausted, frozen by the low temperatures and with no means to transmit and share the pleasure that is to be part of it.

Mercedes Roizman

Sailorsbay Kennel

Miami- Florida