dog show

Westminster Dog Show 2012: Where to Watch on TV, Live Stream

Like us on Facebook

Before the highly anticipated Best of Show announcement, judges must first decide a few Best of Group winners. On Tuesday judges must pick winners from the Sporting Group; the Working Group; and the Terrier Group. On the previous night, judges tabbed winners from the Hound Group; Toy Group; the Non-sporting Group; and the Hunting Group. The winners were: a wirehaired daschushund (Hound); a Pekingese (Toy); a Dalmatian (Non-sporting); and a German Shepherd (Hunting).

Heading into the Best in Show deliberations, the Pekingese, named Palacegarden Malachy, is the prohibitive favorite to win. a black cocker spaniel named Casablanca's Thrilling Seduction came into Westminster as the no. 1 dog of 2011 and the second biggest favorite to win Best in Show, according to Wynn odds, but was shockingly knocked out in its breed competition.

In addition to the Pekingese, whichever dog emerges from the Terrier Group could be a major player for the top award. in the 136 years of the Westminster show, a terrier has won Best in Show 45 times — more than double any other group. The group last won in 2010 with Sadie, a Scottish Terrier, but could be in line to win again with Slyfox Sneak's a Peak, a smooth Fox Terrier which won its group last year.

Enjoy the Westminster Dog Show and make sure to let us know in the comments about your favorite dog of the night. 

Dogs Against Romney

With every interest group in America sorting out who to support in the presidential race, dogs — dog owners at least — are getting in on the act.

On Tuesday the group “Dogs against Romney” will be protesting in front of the Westminster Kennel Club’s dog show to make sure that all the dog loving attendees are aware that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney “is mean to dogs.”

“This is about bringing more public attention to the fact that Mitt Romney did what many dog-owners and dog-lovers feel was abusive toward his dog, making it ride in a crate on the roof of his car and carrying his luggage inside,” Scott Crider, one of the human founders of Dogs against Romney, told The Daily Caller.

“The dog show in new York is a major event for dog lovers and we are using this opportunity to try to educate them about the decision Mitt Romney made regarding the care of his pet,” said Crider.

In 1983 the Romney family and their dog took a 12-hour drive from Boston to Ontario. unfortunately, there was not enough room in the station wagon for everything and the family’s Irish setter, Seamus, ended up strapped to the roof of the vehicle in his kennel.

In order to ensure that those attending the Westminster show are aware of Romney’s past dog faux pas, the participants (pooches and people) will picket in front of the show with signs like “I Ride Inside” and offer information about Romney and Seamus. (RELATED: Full coverage of Mitt Romney)

Organizer Paul Getsos told TheDC that the group is less concerned with politics and more concerned with the “character issue” associated with strapping one’s dog to the roof of a car.

In January former House Speaker Newt Gingrich ran a Web ad highlighting the nearly 30-year-old incident.

Follow Caroline on Twitter