Westminster Part II: Fashion Police Edition

Apologies for the delay in recapping the grand finale of the 2017 Westminster Dog Show. I was hoping to locate an online version of the telecast so I could re-watch it, in order to repeat verbatim some of the comments made by the announcers. Because I, ah, want to make fun of them and “generally speaking” feel it’s inappropriate to do so unless I can be precise about what was said.

Since there is apparently no accessible online version, I have resorted to paraphrasing some of the remarks from memory. Two caveats before we begin:

a)      Sincere apologies for any comments that I misconstrue; and

b)     Fair warning that I may have inflected some of the reported commentary with my own biases.

Not Burying the Lede

Winner of the 2017 Westminster Dog Show: Rumor, the German shepherd!

A bridesmaid to the winner in 2016 (CJ, a handsome German shorthaired pointer) the 5 year old female, described by the best in show judge as “magnificent,” came back this year and took top honors. Rumor claims a prize of zero dollars, but instant fame among the dog cognoscenti – you know, those snappily dressed people that you see toting around bags of their dog’s poop.

Honorable mention: to Devlin, the female boxer and her handler, Diego Garcia. They shared a snuggle after she won the working group. I almost teared up.

Bowing to the Breeders

What’s in a name: I mentioned in the recap of night 1 that it was refreshing to have the commentators and onscreen text finally drop the cumbersome and at times ridiculous AKC registered names of the dogs, e.g. Ch. K-Run’s Park Me In First, in favor of using their everyday or call names, e.g. Uno.

Apparently someone (most likely the breeders, whose names are typically incorporated into the registered names) also noticed that the registered names had been dropped, and must have thrown a hissy fit between nights 1 and 2. Sure enough, by night 2 the registered names not only made a reappearance in the onscreen text, but also were being used (grudgingly) by the announcers. You could hear the annoyance in commentator Gail Miller Bisher’s voice as she snapped through the registered names, saying them as if a water gun were pointed at her head, until she could get to “Charlie!”

Shifting the Focus

Speaking of changes between nights 1 and 2: Gail Miller Bisher is the new commentator, who has replaced “the voice of Westminster,” David Frei. Frei was extremely knowledgeable about the breeds, well known for injecting humor and warmth into the telecast. He also owns a Brittany, which makes him a kindred spirit of mine, and would unabashedly root for the breed to win the sporting group (which they never did during his 27 year reign).

Gail, taking over as Fox replaced USA Networks, once won second place at Westminster in the Junior Showmanship competition, and is an AKC-licensed conformation judge.

“I grew up breeding, showing and training,” Bisher told USA TODAY Sports during Saturday’s “Meet the Breeds” event on the West Side of Manhattan. “I was paid by owners to show their dogs.”

The award for self-promotion: Gail is knowledgeable about the breeds too, but focused much of her commentary throughout the night (at times to the point of overshadowing the dogs) about how difficult and exacting it is to be a dog handler. During the best in show judging, as the top dogs from each group were taking a final trot around the ring for the judge to declare a winner, her co-host asked her “at this point, how much of it is the dog and how much is the handler?” “Oh, it’s 100% the handler.” *ahem*

Fashion Police

A note about footwear: I realize handlers probably require flat, well soled shoes to run with the dogs around the ring. I am not suggesting anyone run in heels (though the judge who was wearing them looked spectacular). But you are on national TV, in a premiere event, and the camera is going to focus on that dog at your feet. Bypass the sparkly ballet flats from Payless. Take a cue from the male dog handlers - spring for a nice leather loafer. The female handlers wearing flat knee high boots: rocked it.

What’s with the boobs? Pardon me for being catty, but on night 1, Gail was wearing a dress that was so low cut the cameramen were clearly getting distracted by her cleavage. I get that we are now in an era where the chicks on the weather channel are dressed to go out clubbing as soon as they walk off the set. But this is a dog show. You are not impressing the dogs. I think Gail may have gotten a tap on the shoulder, because by the second night she was sporting much more modest attire.

For the Love of Shelter Dogs

This will be my last time covering the Westminster Dog Show. The more I have learned about breeding show dogs – which is almost entirely to achieve a rather dated and random physical “standard”, not for health, physical well-being or stable temperament – the more I have come to despise the practice. Many breeds have been nearly ruined due to overbreeding, and suffer debilitating health problems and hereditary illnesses because e.g. people think its cute for dogs to have short turned up noses, elongated necks or small faces. Ironically, veterinarians and animal scientists point out that the German shepherd breed has perhaps suffered some of the worst health and emotional consequences as a result of this type of breeding. Please adopt from a shelter or a responsible, non-show dog breeder. Dogs rule.