Stylish & Rare Breeds Dogs: Musings from Westminster Part One

The Cirneca dell’Etna is a small rabbit hunting hound from Sicily.

What a blur of excitement, activity and lots and lots of dogs! My week in New York City, for the New York Pet Fashion Show, Westminster Dog Show and a host of other fun activities went by in a flash, but not before I got to experience rare breeds, fashionable breeds and all around doggy fanatics, just like us. I even met Jerry Grymek, the Doggy Concierge of the Hotel Pennsylvania, whose sole job it is to make sure the dogs residing at the hotel during Westminster are sufficiently pampered!

Want to know what rare breeds dogs made appearances at Meet the Breeds this year? Which ones had it going on with style? You’re in the right place, ladies and gents! Discover my musings from Westminster, Part One.

I’m the rarest of the rarest of the rare, you say?

Rare breeds showcase each year at the Meet the Breeds event on the Saturday before the big Madison Square Garden Westminster Dog Show. And each year, I’m fascinated by some of them, their history, sometimes their appearance and just how few of them there are in this country. Here are a smattering of the ones I came across and loved:

The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka

A tongue-twisting, long name for a furry little dog, the two examples of the breed I met also were very stylish. These are one of only two toy breeds developed in Russia in the 1950’s (the other being the Russian Toy). Candace Mogavro brought the first one into the U.S. in 2000. In 2016, the AKC accepted them into their FSS program (that means Foundation Stock Services, and its a stepping stone to breed recognition here). There are only 3-4000 of them in America. Look at the adorable Russian Karakul hat he’s wearing? Yes, it’s faux.

This Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka is dressing the part!

Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka fashion, female style

Nederlandse Kooikerhondje

This handsome breed almost went extinct during WWII, but was brought back in the 1960’s. You can see them in paintings by Vermeer and Rembrandt. They are currently in the Miscellaneous category of the AKC, one step closer from FSS towards being a recognized breed. Only 300 or so reside in the U.S..

The rare breed, Nederlandse Kooikerhondje

the Mudi

This Hungarian Herding breed is a medium-sized dog, in existence since the nineteenth century. They supposedly evolved naturally from crosses of the Puli, Pumi and German Spitz breeds. The breed was named and registered in 1936. They are active, intelligent and a great working breed for things like agility, flyball, obedience and, of course, herding. This sweetie, named Spring, is a merle-colored Mudi. Don’t you love the dainty holiday-inspired rope tassel neck piece she’s wearing? I do…

The lovely Mudi, Spring

The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno

These are my tribe, people! As you know, I’m a big Podengo lover and our Sophie is an adorable Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, if I don’t say so myself (mom’s prerogative). 🙂 They didn’t have a table last year at Meet the Breeds, so when I came upon them this year, I was thrilled. Here are two examples of the breed, a very handsome smooth coat and adorable Roada, the wire haired version. The Portuguese Podengo is a rare breed and a primitive breed. They are rabbit hunters that come in three sizes – the Pequeno, the Medio and the Grande. It is said that because the Pequeno is so fearless, they would go places other dogs wouldn’t, like up cliffs and down warrens, ferreting out the rabbits for the Medios to kill. I know Sophie loves a good squirrel chase, but can someone please clue her in on the fearless thing? She’s a shaker!

A beautiful Portuguese Podengo Pequeno Smooth Coat

Cutie pie Portuguese Podengo Pequeno Wire Haired, Roada

Biewer Terrier

These very cute, silky little terriers are a German breed, with only 167 registered with the AKC. The Biewer Yorkie was originally a piebald genetic recessive gene occurrence from two Yorkshire Terriers. It originated in Germany in 1984, from a breeding by Gertrud and Werner Biewer’s Yorkshire Terriers. In this particular litter, they produced a piebald Yorkie puppy from a genetic recessive gene. This piebald puppy’s registered name was Schneefloeckchen von Friedheck (Snowflake). They loved the look of the puppy so much, they began breeding for it and the Biewer Terrier was born. This little cutie, Moore Bowwag Foundation Fire8tr, aka Flame, had a face to melt hearts and the cutest, sparkly pink bow.

How cute is Biewer Terrier, Flame?

the Barbet

Also known as the French Water Dog, the Barbet is a fun, smart and affectionate pooch. They don’t shed and share ancestry with the Poodle, Briard and Bichon Frise, among others. There are only 210 registered in the U.S.  They are currently in the AKC FSS class, before they enter Miscellaneous in 2017. Barbets are great at field work, agility and obedience, as well as therapy dog work.  A cool thing I discovered at the Barbet Club of America booth was the Masters with Barbet series, where Barbets are placed into the works of some master painters, like Matisse, Monet and Seurat. Here’s an example of a Matisse. These adorable two I met are Marlee and Ren.

French Barbets Marlee & Ren

Masters with Barbet-Matisse

Who had style at Westminster?

Showdogs in general, or should I say show dog owners, are a very practical bunch. I haven’t yet met many who really dress up their dogs like some of us do. That being said, these dogs are pretty gorgeous naked! I did, however, come across some expressions of style that charmed. Here are a few:

I love Italian Greyhounds! To me, they are one of the most graceful and elegant of breeds. When I saw these three, the little girl in the pink fleece wrap so reminded me of a ballerina in her warm up’s. And, I loved the stylish collar on the other pup. Did you notice the sparkly little girl in the background?

Graceful Italian Greyhounds 

The Greyhound is another favorite. I came across Gretchen Thiele and her baby, Puzzle. “I got a Greyhound so I could knit for it,” she told me. I loved that. She shared that she belongs to a Facebook group for knitters called Ravelry.com and the toasty, awesome shade of hunter green snood she made for Puzzle came from Nikki Atkins’ free pattern, in case anyone’s interested. Ask me if you need more info. I also loved fellow Greyhound, Belle’s, collar. Belle’s show name is Sky Hi Hunt Big Girls Don’t Cry, because of the teardrop pattern on her face.

Graceful Greyhounds Puzzle & Belle

These Dobermans were so commanding, sitting there as I rounded the corner. And, once I saw their collars, I had to take share!  Ricky Bobby’s statement piece is by Oli and Fury’s crystal creation is by Ella’s Lead. Both wonderful!

Doberman Pinscher’s Fury & Ricky Bobby

This beautiful and sweet Cocker Spaniel, Penny, was sporting a very pretty pale pink pearl and crystal collar. I wish the handler knew who made it. It suited her so, so well.

Cocker Spaniel, Penny, the ultimate in femininity.

These Bergamasco’s, Fidelio and his mother, Essa, needed no fashion statement, as their natural coats already made one. They did have lovely, vibrant-colored leashes. How would you like to have to care for these two? The Bergamasco made its first appearance at Westminster this year.

Bergamascos Fidelio & mom, Essa

This handsome Old English Sheepdog was all ready for Valentine’s Day.

This Old English Sheepdog is ready with a Valentine’s Day fashion statement

Remember how I told you the show dog set is very practical? I came across this stunning St. Bernard, Trey, at the Westminster press conference, where I also met new Westminster Kennel Club Director of Communications, Gail Miller Bisher (maybe she’s a long lost relative? 🙂 ). Trey was wearing a complementing pair of green camo leg covers and an adorable St. Bernard-centric neck accessory. When I asked owner/handler/breeder, Brian, about the fashion statement on a gorgeous hunk of dog like Trey, he explained that St. Bernard showers use neck accessories (well, he called them bibs) and leg protectors all the time. These droolie pusses would slobber all over their beautiful, newly groomed selves otherwise, and the leg protectors also keep them clean when just walking around. I still think Trey looked ever so handsome!

Stylin’ Trey

I was totally smitten by Martha. This vivacious, charming twelve year old Australian Terrier looked perfect in her fun, hot pink neck accessory.

The precious Australian Terrier senior, Martha

Imagine my delight, rounding a corner and seeing not only a gorgeous Bull Terrier, the very coolest of breeds, but one who pays such attention to style?! Vettel had it going on, with her The Guilded Puppy sparkly, pink tutu and rainbow neck accessory.

Bull Terrier envy. Vettel in her finery.

Summary

Hope you enjoyed discovering the rare breeds and fashion of Westminster as much as I did! In Part Two, I’ll give you my inside look at the competition – the Portuguese Podengo and Chihuahua Best in Breed trials and the Hound Group competition from Madison Square Garden. I”m adding the Chi’s this year, in honor of our adoptees, Anabelle and Albie. Bear with me; I’m recuperating from the flu, a by-product of running around New York in the snow, deep freeze and rain of the past week. It may take a couple of days but I won’t disappoint you, so…Don’t miss! 🙂

Which dog’s style is your favorite?

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