Is Anyone Going to Westminster?

[Lightplum]

I'm all for next year! I'll just have to be sick (not too big of a strech since teachers pick up Everything the kids have this time of the year!!). I am so excited to see the backstage area, grooming, and vendors, as well as seeing the groups.

Is everyone planning on going when the herding group will be shown that day? Sharon, the train out of new haven is definitely the best way to get to the garden from CT.

I caught the train from New haven to Grand Central, than caught a cab to the garden. It was fairly easy and quick that way. I went in on the 8am train was there before 10:30 if I remember correctly, luckily shelties were on at 1pm that year. Hung out went shopping a bit walked around NY had some dinner made it back to the garden for the 8pm group, watched it till the end 11pm, was lucky and got a cab right away to grand central, caught the 11:30 train back to New Haven(ps there was some scary folk riding at that time)...made it to back to CT at 1:30am, drove home was in by 4am and exhausted!!!

 

[DebbieGilbert]

I'll be watching it on TV and rooting for the Sheltie -- though I know it's probably futile. A Sheltie has never won Westminster, never even come close.

Anybody have any theories as to why? Do the all-breed judges have some kind of bias against Shelties?

 

[tofu pup]

I'll be watching it on TV and rooting for the Sheltie -- though I know it's probably futile. A Sheltie has never won Westminster, never even come close.

Anybody have any theories as to why? Do the all-breed judges have some kind of bias against Shelties?

Actually, a Sheltie won the Herding group in 1997... that's pretty close!

I don't think it's a bias against Shelties (or any other breed). It does have to do with the dogs that are being heavily campaigned at all-breed shows, though - there might be one Sheltie a year who has a huge national campaign, but it seems like every year there's two or three German Shorthairs, a couple of Smooth Fox Terriers, a couple of Irish Setters, etc. who are in the top ten.

I think that Sheltie breeders tend to focus on specialty competition over all-breed, too. I can't speak for everyone, but I'm more interested in my dog winning Best of Breed at a big specialty, under a noted breeder-judge, than Best in Show at an all-breed, with judges who are unfamiliar with the breed. (Of course, I've never won an all-breed BIS, and I guarantee I'd be absolutely thrilled if I ever did! ) Westminster is a huge headache to enter and to attend, so many of the best dogs aren't there - but they all come out for our National Specialty.