The drama — the pageantry — the dog hair… We’ve been glued to our screens for the last two nights, cheering for the wee toys and the hulking giants, the sleek and the wrinkly, admiring the wild and wacky hairstyles (of both dogs and handlers, ahem) and the big Best in Show Ribbon of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show goes to… Banana Joe! Full name and title: “GCH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari” a.k.a. “Banana Joe,” an Affenpinscher (find out why they are called the ‘moustached little devil’ here), he really rocked the show floor last night.
The 2013 Reserve Best In Show was awarded to “Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect,” nickname “Swagger” an Old English Sheepdog — hands down a crowd favorite, and dare we say it… an underdog. The Washington Times says: “The showstopper of the night was the winner in the final group of the evening, the Herding Group. To much applause, an old English Sheepdog just 20 months old named “Swagger” lived up to his name with the win. Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect is called a “class” dog, allowed to enter after winning a major competition despite not yet earning his Champion status. This is like a rookie pitcher throwing a shutout against a Cy Young Award winner – not impossible, but unexpected.”
Congratulations go out to all of the Group Winners and Best of Breeds — these dogs are considered the ideal of their breed types, and exemplify the many forms and functions that dogs fill in our lives.
From the Daily Beast: “The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which concluded Tuesday evening, brought out dogs of every variety—but eventually the top prize went to Banana Joe, a feisty, 5-year-old Affenpinscher that (even at his most majestic) resembled a furry gremlin….”
If you’re as obsessed with your dogs as we are, or just want to relive the gorgeous drama of the past two days, you’ll want to watch the Best of Breed and Best of Group Judging videos, on the WKC web site HERE >
I love looking at dog pictures, they are always so cute.
I greatly enjoy watching these dog shows on tv with my family. We always choose our favorites. The sporting group is our favorite as we have two Weimaraners in our family. I find it amazing the dedication these owners have to the training and grooming of these beautiful doge. Great pictures!
Even though those dogs are in competition, some of those pictures still tug at the heart strings!