Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a two-day benched dog show that takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City every year. Dog owners from around the world come to show their dogs. Dogs are judged closely by eminent American Kennel Club (AKC) judges. It is considered by many to be America's most prestigious canine show.

Winning breeds

The prestige of Westminster is so high that breeds winning Best in Show can actually become too popular, resulting in overbreeding, often by puppy mills or simply inexperienced backyard breeders, in an attempt to meet the increased demand for the breed. A serious decline in the quality of Cocker Spaniels in the 1940s was generally thought to be attributable to the rare double win of a single Cocker Spaniel in 1940 and 1941.

Related Topics:
Puppy mill - Cocker Spaniel - 1940s

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As of the end of the 129th Westminster show, in February of 2005, Best in Show had been won by terriers 43 out of the 97 times that the prize has been awarded (first given in 1907 and not awarded in 1923 due to rule changes), disproportionately high since only 27 of the 157 breeds fully recognized by the AKC are terriers.

Related Topics:
Best in Show - Terrier - Breeds

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Winners are often, although not always, retired, and can command tremendous fees for breeding. As of 2003, only 6 dogs had ever won Westminster twice, and only one dog has ever won three times. Fueling arguments that the AKC focuses only on dogs' appearance and not on their intelligence or suitability for particular work, only one dog who has won Westminster has ever also earned an obedience championship. Only two dogs have ever won both at Westminster and at Crufts.

Related Topics:
Obedience - Crufts

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