Meet the New AKC Breeds at Westminster this Year and More, as Bark & Swagger Goes Behind the Scenes

The Queen & her subject, Rebecca

I met the Queen. She was walking a Corgi. Burberry and Chanel were there and Falco looked positively distinguished. No, I’m not talking about a mash-up between a royal fashion and tv show. This was the Westminster Kennel Club’s official press conference to introduce the new AKC breeds (that’s the American Kennel Club) being added this year, and more. And, Bark & Swagger was in the house!

The Queen I’m referring to was a special Queen Elizabeth-themed demonstration booth, featuring Pembroke Welsh Corgis Rebecca, Reese, Liam and Jordan with owners Bobbe Lord and Cindy Savioli in costume. I  got to meet Rebecca and Liam, who were beautiful and very sweet.

The booth was highlighting this year’s Meet The Breeds portion of the 139th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, taking place on Saturday, February 14th at Pier 92/94 in New York City. For the first time, the AKC has partnered with Westminster to bring Meet the Breeds into the Westminster venue. I think it’s a great idea and Bark & Swagger will be reporting from Meet the  Breeds on that day.

All of the Westminster Dog Show events are supported and presented by Purina Pro Plan. And, this year, an astounding 2,711 dogs are entered with all 192 breeds represented! Which breed have the most dogs entered? Golden Retrievers do, at 58, followed closely by Labrador Retrievers with 56, Australian Shepherds at 43, French Bulldogs at 41, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels at 38, Rhodesian Ridgebacks at 38 and Rottweilers at 33.

Burberry & Chanel, the featured Cotons de Tulears

Next up was our introduction to the two new breeds being added to the AKC this year – the Cotons de Tulear and the Wirehaired Vizsla. Burberry and Chanel were the gorgeous, fluffy white Cotons, who attended armed with attitude to spare (I mean fabulousness). Owner, Justine Romano, had a heck of a time trying to keep both dogs facing forward for the photo opp. One of the other kept turning around, displaying a gorgeously groomed derrière to the photo line! LOL

Falco, the beautiful Wirehaired Vizsla

Falco, the Vizsla, was stunning, very distinguished looking and had all eyes on owner Anton Sagh. Good boy!

The adorable Rogers sisters

Special exhibitors The Rogers Sisters, who Westminster’s Director of Communications, David Frei, commented looked right out of Central Casting, were beautiful. They are 11-year old twins Faith and Emma and 17-year old sister, Sophia from Columbus, N.J. All the girls are walking different breeds entered into Westminster this year.  Sophia will be walking Erik, a Whippet; Emma will walk Joy, a Great Dane bigger than she is. But, to watch her handle Joy and keep Joy’s head positioned properly, just like a seasoned dog handler, was a sight to behold! And, Faith will be walking Bobby, a beautiful American Foxhound.

Hailey sailing…

The event ended with an agility demonstration by four of the talented dogs who will be competing in the 2nd Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster, on Saturday, February 14th at the Piers. Lynus, a Border Collie (are we surprised?) is entered in both the dog show and the agility trials. Peak, a perky Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, popped over the jumps like a spring. Hailey, a mixed breed (they call them all American dogs), dutifully demonstrated her prowess at repeatedly jumping the fences and sailing through the hoop, and Maggie, a regal black Standard Poodle, was awesome going through the weave poles.

Maggie navigating the weave poles

I am so excited about covering Westminster again this year! I’ll be focusing on the Podengos, but will bring you the behind-the-scenes color from the events, so stay tuned! The 139th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will be televised from Madison Square Garden on Monday, February 16 and Tuesday, February 17, from 8-11pm EST on CNBC and the USA Network, respectively.

Does your dog have a special talent? Tell me about it!