Madison Square Garden is still not Madison Square Garden, but at least the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is back in New York City.
Just 7 train rides from Midtown, champion dogs invaded the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, this weekend for the 147th edition of the competition, which organizers claim is the second-oldest continuously held sporting event in the United States. Very Good Dogs (very good dogs) competed in agility and obedience tournaments over the weekend before moving on to two days of judging to determine the best in each breed and group, and of course the best in show, which will be judged on Tuesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Once a staple in the park, the show has, like the rest of the world, been completely derailed by the coronavirus pandemic. The last two contests, both delays, were held at Lyndhurst, a property in Tarrytown, New York. While it took some of the live experience, the shows were still huge on TV and online, with Wasabi the Pekingese named best in show in 2021 and Trumpet the bloodhound taking first place in 2022.
This year, fans should be even more spread out as the show comes a little closer than people expect. But first, the dogs had to prepare.
In an embarrassing misstep, all seven of these Dalmatians reported a day of competition in the same outfit.
You might also be a little grumpy if you spend a lot of time grooming.
Huge crowds turn out to the US Open every year to watch humans chase tennis balls. Dumping a little during Westminster can yield some exciting results.
Spectators would be wise to invest in a set of binoculars when smaller breeds, such as the Pomeranian, are strutting their stuff.
Custom dog purses are good signs that you’re not into the US Open. (No, they didn’t have dogs in them.)
In fact, all of these outfits and accessories would likely play well at the World Open.
There is something wrong with this mirror.
There’s focus and then there’s Peggy Beisel-McIlwaine, on her eighth umpire at Westminster, checking out a group of collies.
The silence before the hurricane.
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