I must say that competing in The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has been quite an honor and I am especially proud of my big win for Best of Breed. After a really long day, I joined other Best of Breed winners to see which dog would win Best of Group. I’ll tell you right now, it wasn’t me!
1 It's time everyone! After my big win of Best of Breed, it's now time to compete for Best of Group, which is the Non-Sporting Group. The winners of each group will then go on to compete for Best in Show!
2 Jan, I'm a bit nervous, aren't you? This ring is bigger than the one I competed in this morning!
3 Nevermind my nerves, here we go!
4 Jan, please give my fur a little spritzing - I need to look my best. Winning Best of Breed is one thing, but Best of Group is another story!
5 It all happens so quickly and wouldn't you know it, it's my turn!
6 This round of judging is even more challenging, because now, the competition is against dogs, like myself, who have all won the best of their breed.
7 Luckily, this judge is very nice and not at all intimidating!
8 After checking out our physical traits, we were asked to walk down and back half the length of the ring.
9 Then we were required to run around the rest of the ring before returning to our station.
10 I tried to stay focused but a cute French Bulldog caught my eye. Oh, how I miss my Frenchies!
11 This year, there were six new breeds welcomed at Westminster, including Mexico’s amazing hairless Xoloitzcuintli.
12 Do you know why standard poodles have those funny haircuts? It's because they were bred as hunting dogs and when swimming to retrieve the kills, the cut made swimming easier, while still keeping important body parts warm.
13 Ian, this beautiful Dalmatian, was the victor of the Non-Sporting Group and will go on to compete for Best In Show!
14 Congratulations, Ian! Oh Jan, while I am a little disappointed we didn't win, I'm still so proud of what we've accomplished so far! And to think, I'm just two years old!
From: Lola the Chug in N.J. | 2/15/12 at 7:03 am
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Woof Woof! Way to Go G.K.! Your N.J. furry fans are all so excited for you and for what you have accomplished. Your cuteness and fluffiness cannot be denied!!!
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It takes lots of loving, attention, and immense training by Martha and Jan to get where you did. Thank God for Karen and the amazing recovery she made with her Chow Chow breeding business.
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From: Senor Rebel | 2/15/12 at 8:15 am
Morning G.K.
You did great, I watched you again on the dvr. TWICE!
Watched last night, have fun today with the little Peke. Yes, he's a dog, not a mop...lol
Your pal,
Rebel
From: Sonya | 2/15/12 at 8:44 am
G.K. you did great. Don't worry about the group competition. I bet you'll bowl 'em over next year. MommyM said that you showed very well. We're just so proud of what you've accomplished. You and MommyM looked so cute on the Today show. She is just beaming all over the place. Awww you know Franny and Sharkey miss you too and would have been there rooting you on if they could.
I hope our buddy Basil gets to come home today. Zoe I hope you're doing OK as well. Eat your new diet and see if that helps. Everyone have a fun day!
From: Zoe | 2/15/12 at 8:51 am
Good Morning GK
Congratulations again you made all of us very PROUD
You must be really tired I think it's time to head back to the farm for some R & R. I'm sure Franny and Sharkey are missing you a bunch.
No computer time for me this morning Mom is heading to work early
Zoe
From: Kirby Bear | 2/15/12 at 9:05 am
Hello ladies, Kirby here.
GK you are still a winner no matter what the judges have to say. Well the Yukon Quest has some winners too. Those dogs have covered the thousand miles in just over nine days. If my math is right, that’s just over one hundred miles each day. Can you say “teamwork?” That’s what it takes in that kind of race. Daddy and I have been watching it and the dogs seem happy and don’t want to stop. The weather has been good and it has been around the “zero” mark most of the time. Now that’s my kind of weather. Congratulations again GK on your win. Keep them coming.
Catch you later, Kirby.
From: Hera and Fritz Swanson | 2/15/12 at 9:52 am
We love,love,love you GK and think you are most handsome one! Congratulations, I'm sure Martha & the Frenchies are so proud of you!
Hugs from Hera and Fritz.
From: Chloe | 2/15/12 at 10:40 am
Good Morning GK,
Remember there is always next year! And you may even see me and Zoe there. We are crashing the show LOL! Zoe......get working on that.
You looked great and I am very proud of you. I think you should have won
I had a great Valentine's Day. Mom gave me a taste of her filet from dinner and I also got a very small piece of chocolate from the chocolate covered strawberries. Also had a nice long walk in the afternoon with mom. It was so nice outside. Hope she comes home early again so we can do it again.
Well,everyone enjoy your day and Basil, I hope you get to come home today
Chloe XX
From: Jan Erickson | 2/15/12 at 10:55 am
Hi Girl Friends &G.K., Handsome, Champion GK, you did an absolutely superb job being at the WKC Dog Show winning the Best of Breed and then being in the best of non sporting group section! You looked so fantastic and Jan did a brilliant job of leading you around the much bigger area! I'm sure you will win many more dog shows and can't wait until next year's WKC Dog Show! In the mean time, I'm sure you will be so happy to be back home with Martha, F&S, and all your other friends! MY Mom and I sure do love all of you! Dear Basil, sure hope you are back home today, also! Hope all of you buddies have another great day and stay safe! Love, Dudley Do Right XOXOXO+
From: delia | 2/15/12 at 11:20 am
G.K. Congratulations you ARE a winner! Jan you are a great Handler and of course Karen a great Breeder...Kudos to all!
Basil hope you are feeling well!
Love, delia & Kitty =^. .^=
From: cora-bell, the cattle dog | 2/15/12 at 12:33 pm
..G.K.,You will win the whole thing next year, I know you will....you are such a beautiful boy..Basil, hope you come home today..Company going to the airport..gotta go..Cora-belle
From: Basil | 2/15/12 at 1:26 pm
BASIL UPDATE BASIL UPDATE BASIL UPDATE
Hooray, hooray, Basil gets to come home today!!!
Basil stopped seeing pink elephants yesterday when they stopped his morphine, and when we visited last night he was MAD, MAD, and more MAD!!!! It is o.k. after all he has been through to have attitude and be mad at us for leaving him. When he gets home, the attitude will go away. He wouldn't even eat a bit for me, but after we left, he ate a little. The cathider and i.v. came out this morning and if the day goes well, then we pick him up at 4, and then the Basil Hospital Ward will begin. Thanks to all for the prayers and good wishes. He will be sooooo excited to hear about G.K. and I am sure he will have some hospital tales to tell. Have a great day.
Lynn
From: gail pierson | 2/15/12 at 3:45 pm
Aw, G.K. you did wonderful!
Two years old already? I remember when you were just a wee little pup!
There are so many breeds of dogs.
I'm wondering if there may be a "Westminster Donk Show" in the future!
gail
From: cora-bell, the cattle dog | 2/15/12 at 5:44 pm
..Yippie..our buddy Basil is coming home..what good news..still, Basil. i will act naughty and bark at every critter I see, just for you!...Saw G.K. at the Plaza, wow..you are so polite, being a cattledog, I would tried to get food from everybodys plate and barked and generally been bad, there is a reason you are a show dog and I am not...later pals, Cora-belle p.s. cool to see Karen and Jan on tv, you people glue squaders!
From: Kathie Blake w/ Fergie & Lily | 2/15/12 at 10:41 pm
Hi, G.K., Franny, Sharkey,and the Glue Squad!
We got to see you in Group, G.K., and we thought you were fantastic!! It's pretty scary looking out there, but you were brave, and very handsome. Mom said it was a tough group with some very famous and sucessful show dogs out there; we thought you fit right in! We think great things are ahead for you, you've done so much in such a short time. We can see why everyone is so proud of you!
Glad to hear that Basil is doing well, hope everyone is behaving and sending good thoughts to Basil. G.K., the Frenchies must be very happy to have you home for a while,maybe next year they can get Uncle Carlos to answer the cell phone, and see you live at Westminster.
Lily is feeling better, but she's pretty sleepy a lot, even when we're outside. So I, Fergie, am doing most of the squirrel and turtle patrol these days. Yes, we have turtles in our yard! They're pretty troublesome-they don't run like squirrels, they just hunker down, hide in that house they carry around, and ignore ME telling them as loudly as I can to leave our yard!
Mom says it's time for bed, that we have a busy day tomorrow getting ready for my shows this weekend, and me taking care of Lily, and trying to get those pesky turtles gone!
Your pals,
Lily and Fergie
From: Maddox | 2/15/12 at 11:12 pm
Hi everyone,
These last few days have been Win Win for GK as well as Basil.
I am so happy for both of you. GK, I said it before and I will say it again, GOOD JOB!!!!
I see more wins in your future
Basil, I am relieved that your surgery went well. I know you ate mad. You don't like being away from your mom and dad, that is understandable. But, you will be back in your own place real soon and you will forget all about being mad. Your mom will understand too. She doesn't like being away from you either little buddy and I am sure that if she could, she would have stayed with you in the hospital
Again, a big thank you to all the Glue Squad members for supporting GK in his show career endeavors.
Love to all,
Maddox
From: Karen Tracy | 2/15/12 at 11:48 pm
Hello GK and fellow Glue Squad members,
I just got home today from New York. I can't tell you how proud I am of GK. GK, you just shined on that ring. You went in there like a man on a mission and you completed the task flawlessly.
I was blown away when Maddox won the Breed there last year but to have a back to back win at the Garden and have it be father to son, words cannot describe the feeling.
As for the Daily Wag followers, you rock! Such a tight knit supportive group. You are all awesome, but that is something we all know.
And even though Basil was going through some major surgery, he still thought of GK. You are such a special little guy. I can only imagine the joy you bring to your family each and every day. I checked on you with the DW staff when they were at the Garden. I hope you have a very speedy recovery and if you need something, we are here for you
I will end by saying I thank each and every one of you for being you. You are all unique and very special to me
Again, thank you for your support.
Karen
From: Finnegan | 2/16/12 at 12:33 pm
HI G.K.!!
My Mom met you at the show!! She saw all of the beautiful Chow Chows waiting to go in the ring for Best of Breed and she saw Jan, so she asked to make sure that you were you and Jan asked if she had recognized you, but she told Jan it was her that she had recognized! Jan was quite surprised and said, "Wait until I tell Martha someone recognized me before G. K.!!"
Mom asked if she could take some pictures while you were waiting to go in the ring and Jan was very kind and said she could.
Mom got some great shots of the Breed round and then was sitting right behind where you had to set up for the Group round that evening!! She took some FANTASTIC shots of you there and for one of them you looked right up at her! She was very excited and she said she will be sharing the photos with Martha.
Mom said that I should tell everyone that you are even more beautiful in person than in photos, your red fur shines, your tongue is just the perfect shade of Chow Chow blue and you look like a big hug just waiting to happen!! She didn't try to hug you though because she didn't want to mess up your fur!
Being the mom/handler of a show poodle, she is all to well aware of the effort that goes into making dogs look their best for the ring.
Mom had hoped to meet Martha but did not find her in the crowds, but she said meeting you and Jan was the next best thing.
Congratulations, Big Guy!! You did great!!
Hugs and licks,
Finnegan