Diamond Jim Wins 131st Westminster Dog Show

The Westminster Kennel Club held its 131st dog show at Madison Square Garden earlier this week. The winner was James, a 6-year old English Springer Spaniel. When he isn’t competing in dog shows, he works with Alzheimer patients. No kidding.

The English Springer is a fine breed, a dog that serves as a companion gun dog. While they actually have a function (unlike the toy breeds that exist merely to exist), they are reasonably compact so they can live in smaller homes, and they are rather friendly. This makes for an all around good family dog.

James beat out 2,628 entries in 165 breeds and varieties, each judged against the ideal of their individual breed. When it comes to best in breed, a judge only has to know the specifics of that breed. Best in group (toy, sporting, working, etc.) requires a broader range of canine knowledge, and best in show can only be decided by those with years of experience.

Therein lies with problem with dog shows such as Westminster. Should it really be competitive? The subjectivity is inherently as bad as any East German ice-skating judge’s. Moreover, the real fun for spectators isn’t on the arena floor watching the dogs. It’s backstage in the bench area where one can meet and greet the dogs. Ever pet a Newfoundland or seen a Great Dane in person? There is almost no smell, and very little barking. The average kindergarten class is not as well behaved.

And of course, the various breeds leave out the finest of them all – the mutt. They have no genetic problems to speak of, they are well-balanced psychologically (at least that’s how they start), and when it comes to the magic of a kid with a dog, it helps if the dog has a scruffiness. Otherwise the child is upstaged. Still, another success for Westminster and for James. And a special thanks to Pedigree, makers of dog food, who sponsored an adoption drive for shelter dogs. While there may be charities that have a greater impact on society, none will ever help a more grateful recipient.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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