It was 1877 when a group of New York gentlemen, dog lovers, decided to organize a very special gala in Manhattan, with the aim of talking about their favorite hobby and sharing experiences. It was a competition featuring dogs that, by 1908 (without the help of social media or television), surpassed 2,000 dogs entered in the event for the first time. In 1937, 3,140 dogs were entered. Its popularity continued to grow until, in 2012, participation had to be restricted to 2,000 competing dogs.
Today, what we know as the Westminster Kennel Club is the largest dog show in the world. It is a major event for dog enthusiasts. In fact, a few days ago, the 141st edition of this impressive dog show was held at Madison Square Garden in New York, under the watchful eyes of dog fans and lovers from around the world. This edition featured 2,711 dogs representing 192 breeds, coming from 16 countries together with their ARISTOPADRES or handlers.
In this annual competition, animals are invited to compete under strict entry requirements, such as having a record of victories in other competitions. Therefore, it is not suitable for all dogs.
The competition is divided into different categories made up of different groups: sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting, and herding. Dogs compete to be the best in their breeds, then compete to be the best in their group, and finally compete to win the award for best in show.
On this occasion, the undisputed winner was a spectacular and wonderful German shepherd named Rumor. Rumor, together with her handler, Kent Boyles, was crowned the queen of the competition. And the victory tasted all the sweeter because last year she narrowly missed out on winning the award. Not everyone believed in her, but Rumor gave it her all. Thanks to that, she is adding to her winning record, which includes more than 103 awards earned over her five years of life. Bravo, champion!
Trick also deserves a special mention for winning the Masters Agility competition. Trick proved to be a master of precision, elegance, and agility. Watching him jump, it looks like what he does is a piece of cake, right? But nothing could be further from the truth. Only he and his trainer know how many hours of training they devoted to beating so many dogs that were so well prepared and fit.
Nor can we forget Adrian, this incredible Irish setter, with natural class and a magnificent coat worthy of admiration, who won the Sporting Group award.
As you can imagine, attendance at this event is also limited. But fortunately, we have this video, where you can watch part of the incredible show that took place a few days ago. And, of course, marvel at the talent and beauty of these SUPERDOGS. You can also better understand the criteria judges use to score them.
To date, more than 300,000 dogs have taken part in the 141 editions of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. If you want to learn more, plenty of additional information is right at your fingertips. You can download the Westminster Kennel Club app here.