6 new breeds debut at Westminster dog show, but history shows rookies face long odds to win

Doggone it, free or costly, I like dogs.

PETER LAKE:  REF; YESTERDAY ...  YUP !!!  Thats the one !!!
 
Wonder how Ol' Floyd is gonna take it when he discovers we now have TransGender Dogs ....... He will become real skittish about Introductions after this ....... He may get a Tear in his eye ... but I'll bet he won't sniff .......

O yuk! What is that thing in the pic above? Sure Floyd would not give it a sniff. I have never been to a proper dog show. Our local agricultural show has a dog section with classes like "Dog with the Waggiest Tail" and "Dog that looks most like its Owner". Somebody turned up with a Labradoodle and was laughed off the parade ground. 'Round here we don't do handbag dogs, we do working dogs. Speaking of which - cheers for the working dogs, Police, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Home help dogs who can load the washing machine, use a cash point, the 'hearing' dogs who help deaf people, dogs who visit hospitals and care homes to give a bit of love to sick and elderly people and so on.

I guess we are just going to the dogs.  Interesting article.  Not much to say.

I posted pictures of Taro, on the community page; The list of dogs I grew up with and lived with, too: Stumpy, red Brittany Spaniel;Bird dog, still was gun-shy; Champion, Pa; Elsie and Chad, two grey long bodied Dandie Dinmonts, Beaumaris, summers in Canada, Lady, black Laborador;Pittsburgh, Pa Montana,Siberian Husky Wolf, Derry, Pa. that's it ...knew English Mastif, oops forgot his name; very large dog...Siberian Husky Wolf, Montana.

I want that hair

Haze - I forget what those dogs are called - would you want to have to groom that thing.
People, what is happening here - what is wrong with just dog dogs.  These designer animals allowed at Westminster!!!  EEEWWW!!

Re: The photo at the top:

Is that a dog?

Or is it Donald Trump's hair?

Name a non-designer breed… if you can.
Herding dogs with their high demand for work or at least exercise, their habit of herding children and nipping at the hocks of other dogs are not suitable as companions in many settings.
It would be a shock to learn that the huge majority of canines, separate and apart from those raised, as has been said here, "for the table," were not bred for the purpose of providing companionship in urban, suburban and rural settings and they work like dogs to be successful at it.
Not everyone is able to keep a large dog or cares for cats. The small dog is just the ticket for them.
Call this guy and mock his pet:

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/121448799.html

REminders of the names our children gave their dogs make my heart smile...(Dog dogs all): Gumby, Pokey, Skin and Bones, Brutus, Wolfgar, Cookie, Trigger, Sam and on and on. 

I want a HY-BRID Dog, one I can plug in at night to recharge, and not have that HIGH UPKEEP like walking,training,responding,etc.......one that gets great miles per smiles, but allows me to sleep in on rainy mornings, or any morning I would need socks in my slippers.....one with a GPS enabled toy locator,so as not to make me leave my game consul(?),and not want me to share my snacks....yup, a hy-brid, not a high breed....

Had a wonderful Elkhound.  We ran the hills together and now she rest forever just off the path we used to share.  Now have a mix 1/8 wolf, some shepard, and a bit of sled dog.  My precious mutt.

My dog Snickers, a yellow Lab taught me a heckuva lot. I miss him a lot. Would never have put him in a show. He would have licked his balls in front of the judges just for kicks. The only thing he wouldn't eat was nuts and pickles. He liked salads. A Boy and his Dog is a great movie. Don Johnson was great and like his character, my dogs have always communicated with me telepathically. As old Blood said and Snickers told me about my wife: Well, I'd certainly say she had marvelous judgment, Tommy, if not particularly good taste. Mongrels are street smart. I like that. My cats are pseudo intellectuals. A couple of wiseasses. I love animals. Can't imagine the 3rd Rock without 'em.

http://www.petermanseye.com/photos/39344  ; .   and of course,Farful,my faithful cheese dog (the son of my neighbors' dogs to the east and west of our little piece of dirt up there by Superior)  Pinky used to call him an accidental pure bred, because our Vet listed him as 'Aussie", but I know for a fact that his lineage never gat closer than a Foster's....and even that was only after the Lienies were gone....

Is that pup at the top some short legged hybridization of the afghan hound? I can't imagine grooming all that beautiful fur/hair as faithfully as it seems to be combed! Yes, the look is elegant and pretty, but hardly practical. Just imagine the mats in the coat after a long romp through the fields!

Do you think that Floyd, our theSepiaTrain dog, would cuddle up with that fancy furry friend? Somehow, Floyd seems more down to earth. He probably does not like to get gussied up like that. He'd enjoy a roll on the floor with some of the boys and girls, and chasing a tennis ball down the hall or yard, I bet.

I'm with Hazel on the working dogs preference. There was a niceTV special this morning on police dogs trained to carry cameras and night vision goggles into places that humans could not stand. And I love to watch those herding dogs move the sheep and cows around! The night time show with dogs herding the lighted sheep into patterns was just wonderful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qniwI2hNhDs

And then there is the song about our pups that inspires whole football teams!

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=song+who+let+the+dogs+out+u+tube&mid=1E5F4BE3BD37FA9804FA1E5F4BE3BD37FA9804FA&view=detail&FORM=VIRE8

RY- Accidental Pure Bred is a "classic" *****Great moniker

Hazel----I hope you're not frozen!!!  The pix I've seen of Britian are positively chilling.   Keep up with those warming soups and brews you do so well.   

My late mom told me a story about her dog, Rags, a homeless mutt who chose their house and family to live in and with.  In her younger years, when she took Rags for a ramble (no leash required back then) around the block in her Chicago neighborhood, people would stop and admire him and ask what kind of dog Rags was.  She got tired of saying "All kinds, mixed up" - and when she related all this to her father, he said to tell people that Rags was a Curbstone Setter......And that's what she did, "Sir Rags is a Curbstone Setter" - after which, she told me, the askers were all mightily impressed with several vowing to get a Curbstone Setter for themselves.  My mom got no end of delight from this, and said all she could think was 'good luck to that.'

Hazel:  there's a "working dog" category in the Westminster Show.  They are impressive dogs, and it's always interesting to hear their history at the show (on tv, I mean.  I don't go to it, but I love watching it on television).

Doggone it.......

The auction was great! Bought two Japanese TALL Vases with gold floral burst of flowers.$15.00.from the Graft estaate....really nice, will enhance my floral arrangements...The English Mastif, who was my brothers, pet, was named Baxter...he was a gorgeous,gentle giant...dog..they only live short lifespans...he lived on a farm because they need alot of space....so I tried to suppress the loss I guess...***********.Remember "Oh... shucks...Mom, I did'nt make that mess, the dog did it!"....The largest amount offered for memorabila or Ephemera was for a man,named Admiral H.G. Graft, from Finland who served with honor in the Imperial Russian Navy, left Europe and resided in Pittsburgh... $5000.00 he served on battleships, was P.O.W. etc. I studied his artwork got to touch his book he wrote and read his history...he wrote a book on the war of Tsisumari..i tried to look up in Wipedia...but maybe i could not spell this right since its langauge was close to German...but it was a war before World War I...i research later...again Rainy and wet snow, today...

Only have had Goldens. Played Houseguest to watch my friends Cocker Spaniel last week & he's a darling little dog. But there's just something about the personality of Goldens that I love.   Of course when it comes to mine, all you need to do is pat him on the head, give him a treat & he will let you robb my house.. ahh there's nothing like Loyality... To the person who has all the Treats...       

How come cats can hear a can-opener from a zillion miles away, and can't hear their name from the corner of the room to the chair on which you would like them to join you?

Carol~ Thanks for asking about the snow. Send Saint Bernard dog with a barrel of brandy tied to his collar. Only an inch of snow here, but I like brandy.

Hazel-- St. Bernard on his way with brandy--now that's an outstanding working dog, if there ever was one!

Park4, I too had a dog named Rags.....just supports the theory we grew up and went to different schools and baseball parks together.....

Hudson3

Floyd draws the line when it comes to Franken Dogs..... He's a naturalist.

Me, too, PL -- well, not exactly: I grew up with Skippy, a mutt. Indeed never had a dog that wasn't a mutt.
 
When I was eleven, Skippy ran away or (I was sure) was taken.  To this day I remember how it felt when Daddy drove me all over town, calling out mournfully ffrom the window, "Here, Skippy...."
 
A friend of Norwegian extraction (one generation)  was delighted two years ago when the Norwegian wolfhound was added to the Westminster list.
 
"We never get any respect; in fact Norway gets no respect," said he.  "Maybe this will help."
 
 
STONEY, you're correct about designer dogs.  Perhaps an offshoot of that is that vets here say animals of every stripe are being quietly dropped off at their front doors -- especially more expensive ones. Even horses. The more expensive the animal to keep, the more likely an owner will renege when money is tight.  Vets try to place them, but it's a losing battle: Not everyone can afford even to feed a horse or a large dog.  It saddens them; they do what they can.
 
A dribble-down effect of the economy I hadn't considered.

there is dezigner dog food available in my Woodman's Food store...it has its own freezer, and advertising. Even Dogzerts, a frozen custard-like concoction for the pampered amongst the K-9 set....

How could I forget... to say the Norwegian Lundehund I referenced is in our parallel reading.
 
Snow-friends, this is ridiculous, though it happens often: I've given up and turned on the air-conditioner.

Georgia---you reminded me that a friend of mine said her poor mother (alone on the family farm and now in her upper 80's) has had a couple of horses dropped off on her land recently.   She can't take care of them and she lives too far from any city with an animal rescue operation.  I think so far, they've ambled on to other farms, but who knows how long that can happen?

pps.  HAving told you stories of Bullet, who grew up with our chilcren, now's the time to say this 100% mutt actually won a contest.  Our daughter, then 7, insisted she and her brother enter Bullet (a girl, but when they chose her, the kids thought she was a boy) in the museum fundraiser "dog show."  She tied an enormous yellow ribbon around Bullet's neck; Bullet looked embarrassed.
 
We stood in the crowd as breeds were called out and children walked the inner circle with their dogs. Finally came "All other dogs (a comment, in itself)."  Susan dragged Bullet to the circle, lost her nerve at the last minute and ran away, leaving her there.  Her 5 1/2 year old brother, who'd not been in favor of this, ran to Bullet and gathered her up, solemnly walking the full circle with the frightened dog hanging onto him.  To much applause.  
 
That Bullet won a blue ribbon can only have been the result of how pathetic Mark and Bullet
looked. 

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ljrTtfJ9XY     ;

Park4: Sir Rags was a Curbside Setter...love it ; the story...how wonderful...My brother and sisters named our dog, Stumpy, because he had such a little tail or we thought it was missing... as a newborn puppy, he was a fine Brittany Spaniel or American Spaniel, hunting dog, but was gun-shy...The earilest family dog was Nannette, a Standard Pooddle, I forgot about her because i was younger than 5 y.o.a.; and then we also had orbit...who got lost in the woods...trying to find a picture Yorkie...miniature...I loved Orbit, that's why we named our cat Eclipse..too...solar universe names...

It would be surprising if a newly recognized breed were to win out at Westminster until it has become established, accepted and sufficiently abundant to prove that it has fixed both its temperament and physical traits over many observed generations.

The best dog is the one that you found and that found you when you both needed a friend.

The dark side of dog ownership is that they need to be fed, watered and taken out to grass several times a day.

Oddly, those things are the bright side as well: something to think about outside of yourself; out on the street, trail or at the park seeing and greeting people on an easy common interest basis and in the event that you are unappealing, your socks don't match and there is spinach between your teeth, nobody's looking at you anyway.

Floyd and I were wondering if the top picture is really a dog or a fancy mop wrong side up.

Like Violet Rose, I do not remember our first dog, Toby. There are photographs of him with me as a baby. Next dog was named Heinz 57, a gallant mutt who accompanied all our childhood adventures. The hero of many a skirmish with pirates, and groups of marauding persons whose ethinc origin now forbids mention 'cos of political correcteness - but while nobody is listening, Cowboys & Indians was great fun.

When my Dad died, I got my Mum a little dog so she would have to go out and people would talk to her "What a sweet little dog..." She got a lot of new friends.

Rusty, Floyd refers to the creature at the top of the page as a faux dog....

6' of snow in Colorado....... Time to watch The Shining tonight.

Stoney- kind sir-paragraph 2 @ 5:11 is an absolute truth. Trophy anythings (wives, pets, etc.) don't make as good a friend or story as Old Yellar and Lady and the Tramp. Glad I live where the animals roam free and a man can pee off his deck at night and building a fire out back is just peachy.

TT---don't pee on the fire or you'll be in the dark and hearing the dogs and wolves yowling and howling.......

I'm in the middle of watching The Full Monty which I stumbled upon while randomly channel crunching. Forgotten how funny it is.

OK---I think it's about time that drinks are on me in the club car........enjoy your libation of choice, but just don't go and stab anyone afterward (I watched 'Murder on the Orient Express)........unless, of course, you have compelling and justifiable-in-the-sight-of-God-reasons.   Cheers!!   Let's strap on good boots and go to Hazel's and make sure she's OK!

Don't have any dogs right now. Wish I did. Have had many, some purebred (beagle, poodle, sheepdog, pug) but all from shelters and some generic.
I have two cats, one who thinks he's a dog, so thats pretty good. And I have a granddog...a very rambunctious Belgian Melanois (sp) whom I thought was a perfect gentleman. Turns out that that is with me. Apparently he is a terror with others.

Stoney's 5:11 did say it all.

oh boy, oh boy, oh boy...what a babe, can we keep her?

Only one dog as a kid....and he was really was my brother's at that....Purp (or Purp-y) was one of those indescribable Heinze 57 varieties, but with a heart of gold.   But, we lived near a very wooded area that was habitat to some kind of mosquitoes that attacked his blood and he died at a very young age, mourned by all.  Especially my mother---who had to make "the call" and my brother who dearly loved poor little Purp.    After that, I bonded more with felines, but never going for the snooty snoot, just the rag-bag variety.   A lot of love in return for very little overall maintenance.

DOWN BOY, HEEL !

Sitting in the corner sipping my on my botttle of Simply Naked Pinot Grigio unoaked and a box of Cheez-It Pepper Jack flavored as the wheels rumble watching Hercule and wondering if a snow drift is in my destiny.

The misplaced "my" is a red herring. Smoked of course.

TT--so...you're watching Orient Express????????  If you fear getting stuck in snow drifts keep drinking and then peeing out the window......That was very naughty of me and I apologize for being so crude, but.............       Poor Hercule....such a fussy little man to deal with such messy murders.    Now, re-join everyone in the club car or your absence will be noted....and your red kimono confiscated from your alligator valise!

Bwahahaaaaaa…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uaPs8sxqB0

awhoooooooo indeed...

Carol- Good evening and not crude at all. As HC would say you are accused- but ex-cused. Playing the murderous judge in And Then There Were None made murder a lot of fun and no one got hurt.

Oh, it's so not fair, this time difference thing. Nos da time here. x

In the world of hot dogs, these would be not dogs

Pease out

Don't you wish your doggie was hot like mine??????.............................

I just retuned from adventure, first with, Taro we played chase the red Squirrel up the tree, and then to an outing to Pittsburgh Mills....looked at the crowd, a bit of fashionistas wardrobe ensambles....and returned home and made a spinach lamb chop dinner with mint jelly...so basic and very good...shameful but i put on the side,too, Heinz Ketchup...good in the east, south, north and....The W__ __ t ! Along time ago, 1984...when i was aspiring to be a Nutrition Epidemiologist..designing food products, ie., Diaquari Popsicles.....I wrote a paper on Product Development...and William Petri at the time, who headed the department invited me to the H.J. Heinz plant...He thought my paper report was that good....i put the light bulb drawing and several art intensive illustrations..no, it was on product development and not popsicles.....at that time, i finished a report, too, On the Negative affects of Aspartame has on Children...long story...like the DoDo Bird, wake up....children need glucose for their brain....etc..to function...did all chemical breakdowns..and reviewed by the FDA and Health Institute.it took 20 years for me in my line of work to know and visit with adult twin Women with the outcome effects...of phenyketonuria....visited those locations.in Washington DC..etc..1985...somewhere around there...So, the story goes....I have not even started, by the way...I decided it's been along time since Arizona State..for....fashion foils for my hair...I am going to do "achangaroo."..and me being an IMagnam....department store....fashionista in that day.....it was time, I said, to get those peering "Three strands of grey hair," out of the way.!!!... Vamoose...!!!!.*******Everyone knows that Pittsburgh is always 10 years behind the "big" Apple and California.....this was true in the 60;s 70's, the 80's.....you aren't kidding...I knew better...not to go to a local beauty salon....find an artist not a beautician with flimsy hand control...of coarse...Men around this time started taking over the women salon career..and they saw how much the nurses were making and took on that money making job, too,....so it was a man, but not Mike Z of Shadyside primo steel worker transfer to artist salon beauty executive.......Anyway, even thought I knew better,,,Yes,,,I knew better.....I had to..... just had to get it done..I knew I was taken chances.....sat in the beauty chair.... knew immediately this hair- blonde dye transfer....is going to be a catastrophe!!!!....I had to hold back tears..when he finally gave me the Hand Mirror..to hold onto all by myself......there in the mirror I saw my hair.... fly away hair... 'n' alls.... blond and white bloches........I looked like an ungroomed Shih Tzu..brown and white circles could be visibly seen, because he pulled from a cap..yes, the ladies understand the painful, "Pull From the Cap Beauty Treatment.."..Not to keep you in Suspense,,,,,.I had to hold back all comment....because the man, that had done my hair was the most popular, cute athletic  "Football Player," at my former high school and a friend of my older brother.. I dare not, and of course not, say anything, my brother would kill me for being a B_ _ _ _ _! I walked out with pride.knew my meeting at the HJ Heinz Center is not gonna understand a Heinz 57 hair Updo......but when I got home, the salon owner got a call from me.....and I said..to .the hair salon owner.....".Please anything...I have to get this hair fixed....I went back the owner stylist made my a Dark Red Brunette...".and I would say, it made me look more older at 24y.o.a. and sophisticated...My father allowed  me to pick out any $90.00 tailored suit..I picked a stylish Purple Suit ; And I wanted to be hired...for a job couldn't wait any longer...the tour of the factory plant was exceptionally fun and wonderful...then Mr. Petri invited to a conference and I sat next to a gentlemen from China, and his Chinese companions ; who were trying to solve problems with hunger...I still have my notes...but, what I remember the most ...Is the Banana is in its' own protective case..and can endure a long shelf life...a necessity in nutrition...a great infant food item...the rest is history..I've been to the food warehouses in Phoenix and saw how they apply a gas to turn the banana from green to yellow....Tommy Typical...keep up all your great characters,,your dialect...and fanciful conversation....,this is freeform, baby...!!!.  ***I did see and enjoy that wonderful comment about Gertrude....yes, I did....at first I was like...oh my heavens...not me, and i remember seeing her plaque on the house on the North side of Pittsburgh, across the street from her rowhouse home, I taught vitorian gardening...then, off you go comparing me to Rosiepye..I did react a little, I did get like.... like Phylis Diller fiesty rebellious....and then I go into Hot off the Press 1st Edition News Release! but drinks are on the house tonite and Virgin Pink Squrriels...for everyone at the Bauchery Club House Tonite!

Sorry folks. I should have expected Syd would show today. Looks like I'll be in the doghouse tonight.

 ..I"m sure Syd will come and snuggle up soon, Paolos.  I swear I thought I saw him not too long ago...........sneaky little dog...........

Bebe..... On a soft seeded bun with the works?.....and an order of fries and slaw?.......and a Choclate malt with a sidecar???

PL.....................mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...........................I'm drooling..........................

This is probably not a good time for it but since I am already in
the dh, there is the story of the two Irish nuns on their first trip to the
states.  On the voyage over they discuss
the culture awaiting them.  The one says
to the other I understand that they eat
dogs. The other nods her agreement I
have heard the same. As they step off the boat they spot a hot dog vendor
and out of curiosity decide to try the local fare.  They each buy one and retreat to the nearest
bench.  The first unwraps hers and with a
grimace, looks at the other and asks What
part did you get?

VR- trimming the laser candles here in the Nth dimension where I am the pet of a nice Canine Couple, The Waggles. They would never put me in a show preferring to scratch my head and have me fetch smart phones.

best caption for the picture of the dog up top?- - "really? I have to wear this coat to play with you guys? , Really?"

best/worst caption contest? why dint i think of that sooner....hahahaha