Anyone watch Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show?(not do you like it-did you watch)

[lisa]

Originally Posted by MsBoop

I watch it every year. I have to watch the first night of it for the Toy group because I have Pugs and the Non-Sporting group because I have a Bulldog. I was so glad to see the Newfie win and not the Standard Poodle, I just hate the haircut on the Poodle and besides that they always seem to win.

I do not even remember the last time the Standard Poodle won Westminster, but it was over 5 years ago-for sure. By the way-did the toy poodle win?? Why no-it was Les the pekinese. So they do not always win!!!!!

Let me clear up the haircut issue-
Standard Poodles are (and were specifically bred to be) retrievers. They are duck hunting dogs and have soft mouths. The hair on a poodle is just like the hair on an Irish water spaniel or portugese water dog. It resists penetration by water. The haircut is specifically done that way to cover all of the joints and chest of the dog. To keep the water and cold off of the joints and chest. The rest is shaved for ease of movement in the water. You can say the cut is ugly all you want, but it did have a purpose. I am not saying that the poodle retriever of today wears that trim-most of the poodles bought for hunting purposes are not kept in a Continental Clip. But I do want to defend my breed-they are beautiful animals and if I had the time to brush and band, you can bet my poodle would wear that haircut (my first Standard DID show and was pointed, but had to stop because he had a benign tumor on his tail and it had to be docked-too short for breed standard). By the way-Miki was outstanding and showed well (except for the yawning, but he is 6.5 years old). He meets breed standard to a tee and not only that, he is healthy and sound and has already had issue that are champions and being campaigned as specials! I heard several people say-his skin is black. According to breed standard all white/cream colored dogs are to have liver colored skin-not pink or white. All blacks should have white skin showing. This is another reason why the cut is necessary-so that breed standard can be recognized. Just trying to inform the public!!!

By the way-not to take anything away from Josh (he is BEAUTIFUL), but he won his group last year at Westminster (same as Miki) and the BIS judge was the same judge that put him up for working group last year-favoritism???

[MsBoop]

Originally Posted by lisa

I do not even remember the last time the Standard Poodle won Westminster, but it was over 5 years ago-for sure. By the way-did the toy poodle win?? Why no-it was Les the pekinese. So they do not always win!!!!!

Let me clear up the haircut issue-
Standard Poodles are (and were specifically bred to be) retrievers. They are duck hunting dogs and have soft mouths. The hair on a poodle is just like the hair on an Irish water spaniel or portugese water dog. It resists penetration by water. The haircut is specifically done that way to cover all of the joints and chest of the dog. To keep the water and cold off of the joints and chest. The rest is shaved for ease of movement in the water. You can say the cut is ugly all you want, but it did have a purpose. I am not saying that the poodle retriever of today wears that trim-most of the poodles bought for hunting purposes are not kept in a Continental Clip. But I do want to defend my breed-they are beautiful animals and if I had the time to brush and band, you can bet my poodle would wear that haircut (my first Standard DID show and was pointed, but had to stop because he had a benign tumor on his tail and it had to be docked-too short for breed standard). By the way-Miki was outstanding and showed well (except for the yawning, but he is 6.5 years old). He meets breed standard to a tee and not only that, he is healthy and sound and has already had issue that are champions and being campaigned as specials! I heard several people say-his skin is black. According to breed standard all white/cream colored dogs are to have liver colored skin-not pink or white. All blacks should have white skin showing. This is another reason why the cut is necessary-so that breed standard can be recognized. Just trying to inform the public!!!

Lisa, sorry if I upset you, I didn't mean to do that. I already knew the reason for the way the hair is cut like that on the Poodle, I have been into dogs for years having worked in and managed pet stores and working in a vets office and entering dog shows with my Bulldogs.
We owned 2 Poodles when I was a kid, a Chocolate and an Apricot so I do know somethings about the breed.
I have watched the shows for years and it just seems there is a Poodle always winning, I know they don't but IMO it just seems that way.
Like I said before I didn't mean to upset you I was just stating my opinion, but I guess I will keep my mouth shut from now on.

[Dreamacre]

Originally Posted by MsBoop

but I guess I will keep my mouth shut from now on.

MsBoop,

Unfortunately, that is becoming the norm. You are not alone.

[lisa]

Originally Posted by MsBoop

Lisa, sorry if I upset you, I didn't mean to do that. I already knew the reason for the way the hair is cut like that on the Poodle, I have been into dogs for years having worked in and managed pet stores and working in a vets office and entering dog shows with my Bulldogs.
We owned 2 Poodles when I was a kid, a Chocolate and an Apricot so I do know somethings about the breed.
I have watched the shows for years and it just seems there is a Poodle always winning, I know they don't but IMO it just seems that way.
Like I said before I didn't mean to upset you I was just stating my opinion, but I guess I will keep my mouth shut from now on.

I was not at all upset, just wanted to clear up the hair issue. I do get a little tired of people looking at the poodle and ONLY seeing the hair. On a lighter note-here are some notable quotes about dogs-

DOGS

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead
of his tongue.
-Anonymous

Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are
wonderful.
-Ann Landers

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they
went.
-Will Rogers

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.
-Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves
himself.
-Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.
-Andy Rooney

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can
spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has
ever made.
-M. Acklam

Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who
are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate.
- Sigmund Freud

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious
cult.
-Rita Rudner

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three
times before lying down.
-Robert Benchley

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.
-Franklin P. Jones

If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have
known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.
-James Thurber

If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise.
-Unknown

My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can.
That's almost $21.00 in dog money.
-Joe Weinstein

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back
from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a
cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth!
-Anne Tyler

**Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea.
-Robert A. Heinlein

Speak softly and own a big, mean Doberman.
-Dave Miliman

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite
you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
-Mark Twain

You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look
that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'
- Dave Barry

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your
pocket and then giving Fido only two of them.
-Phil Pastoret

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.

-Unknown


Notice the quote from Rita Rudner-See what I mean-to everyone the poodle is just hair. So sad for the breed that people can't see beyond the hair. Sorry if I gave you the impression I was mad (not at all-I have to explain this all the time), I just go to the poodles defense when the hair issue comes up, they are WAY more than just a haircut!!!

P.S.-My Rowdie does not have that haircut-he does look like a dog.