Showtime

For the past two nights we have been watching the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on television. I am not sure what to think of it. I'm not one for beauty contests, and I'm not a purebred, so the value of such a competition--when one considers the effort and unnatural hairstyles that many of these dogs must undertake--is a bit beyond me. I hope I don't sound too much like a "Debbie Downer," to use a common phrase, but those are my thoughts. Mother said that the white dogs are covered in chalk to make them look even whiter. How uncomfortable!
That said, many of the doggies seemed to be having a good time. Especially in the sporting group! I was particularly pleased to see the Golden Retriever, who reminded me of my friend Cayda, although Cayda is far more beautiful.
As many of you know, I am mostly BMC, or blackmouth cur. This breed is not recognized by the AKC or WKC. Personally, I find this to be a good thing. To quote Gene Weingarten:

Plotts were only recently fully recognized by the AKC, meaning there aren’t many Plott breeders yet, meaning the breed hasn’t yet been ruined. No one has yet done to Plotts, for example, what was once done to collies. When it became clear that Americans liked Lassies with exceptionally narrow noggins, breeders obliged, creating a dog with an aerodynamic head shaped like a doorstop wedge; the only downside was that there was room for only one brain cell. (From "The Plott Sickens," Washington Post Magazine, Nov. 23, 2011)

So, although I could not root for my BMC heritage in the show, I could root for the Hounds. Like Weingarten's dog, I am part Plott.



Announcing the Hound Group.



I believe this is a coonhound breed new to the WKC. You can see the similarity in our houndly features.



I was a little bored with the show at this point.

Finally, the Plott came on screen. What a wonderful dog! Reminds me of my birth mother, Ana. Beautiful Ana.

The majestic jowls common in the Plott heritage.

An interesting show with many worthy and handsome group winners. But then we reached Tuesday night's finale. [Valentine's Day! We had steak for dinner. Oh yes, we--mother and father gave me the steak bone to chew. Delicious] An array of strapping animals, and for Best in Show they chose....this?!
 

Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP



It looks like an ottoman. Ah, the mysteries of Doggywood.