This year, again and unfortunately, the Westminster Kennel Club could not go ahead with its regularly scheduled winter event with Breed showing at the Piers and Group judging at Madison Square Garden. As the pandemic entered the Omicron variant stage, the date along with the venue changed, and the event was again held in Tarrytown, New York. 

This edition of "The Dish" covers our Canadian-born Best of Breed and Group Winning dogs! Go Canada, go! 

Congratulations to our Canadian Best of Breed and Group Placing dogs! Go Canada Go!

Although the date and venue were different this year, one thing remained the same - Canadian Dogs wowed at Westminster! 

Congratulations to our fantastic Canadian-bred dogs who wowed at Westminster!

Westminster week 2020 has come and gone. Whenever I arrive in Manhattan for my favourite event of the year, I always believe I have so much time, but the show comes and goes in a snap. Especially this year.

We are excited to bring you live coverage from behind the scenes of Westminster 2020.  Bookmark this page and stay tuned. This is the best place to get a truly Canadian Westminster experience! 

Make the most of WKC as a spectator!

As a child, I watched the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show every year with my father. I used to tell my dad while watching the competition that one day I would be there. The first year I attended was the 140^th annual show and Canadian Dr. Richard Meen was the Best in Show judge which was so special, ... 

What I know (so far) about the 144^thannual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

The title of this blog will come off as foolish to anyone who has ever been to the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York City, or to anyone who has even streamed or watched the event on television since there are always big surprises at Westminster. Dogs rumoured to have retired show up and win big. Top dogs in their home country getting no love – even at the breed level. Celebrity sightings. Insane weather. When it comes to Westminster, I’ve learned that it’s best to expect the unexpected. 

This year I was lucky enough to watch the Westminster Dog Show live on TV, which was held at Madison Square Gardens in New York in February. I remember watching the herding group and recognizing Elaine Paquette with her Bouvier Baby Lars. When she won, I was thrilled! It was a huge win for Elaine and Baby Lars, made it all the more special because it was a Canadian dog and handler team. Recently, I had the privilege to interview her and learn more about the breed as well as all about their amazing win!

Remembering the Canadians that wowed at the 143rd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 

Another Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has come and gone. There is so much to see and do during Westminster week:  from the Masters Agility Championship to the two days of the Conformation Show, not to mention all the friends from all over the world you want to catch up with. As you arrive in New York City and look ahead at Westminster week, it seems long, but always passes in the blink of an eye. 

 

A collection from America’s dog show.

You could say my memory is “selective”. I can’t always remember my postal code (it starts with an M..) but I can always recall who won Best in Show at Westminster in 1957 (it was Sunny Shay’s Afghan Hound CH Shirkhan of Grandeur). Because The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show began in 1877, it is not surprising that this 143 year old dog show has collected its fair share of interesting facts. As a child, I watched Westminster on television every year with my father and now have been lucky enough to attend for the past four years. Here are some memorable facts about the show I have learned as I have experienced this glamorous show. 

The most decorated dog in Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show history lives in Caldeon, Ontario with his breeder Sharon Robertson. Last February, American Eskimo Dog Grand Champion Nuuktok’s Atka Inukshuk aka Inuk set a 142 year Westminster record being the first of any breed to have 9 Best of Breed wins. The previous record of 8 Best of Breed wins was formerly held by Akita CH Tobe's Return of the Jedai. The 11-year-old white beauty is headed back to the Big Apple with hopes of scoring one more before he officially retires.

Sharon Robertson was introduced to the American Eskimo Dog in 1985 when her son brought a puppy home. His name was AJ and became Sharon’s companion and apart from a rescue she took in, American Eskimos have been her breed of choice since. Sharon began breeding these lovable dogs from the Non-Sporting Group under the Nuuktok name in 2004.