Pirata being judged

I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with photographers at the ring’s edge. It was thrilling to witness the procession of champion dogs, as they tried to impress judge Betty-Anne Stenmark, hoping she’d choose them as the top Hound. The grandeur that is the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is contagious, and I was in the thick of it. Little did I know at the start of the Hound Group, that they’d sound the bugle for the Beagle. But, it was still So. Much. Fun.. 🙂

I was there to report on and support the perky Pirata, the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno who’d won Best in Breed that morning. Mom/handler, Karen Oglesby, trotted him out to his box in the ring and kept him engaged while they waited their turn. As a breed starting with a “P,” they had quite a wait. When he pranced around the perimeter, he was so handsome and adorable, I was smitten!

Trotting the ring

I was enthralled, watching each stunning example of its breed parade across the ring. I liked the way the judge kindly, almost lovingly, ran her hands along each dog’s body, checking for proper conformation, and how each dog proudly strutted its stuff, knowing this was the ultimate stage in the ultimate show.

Charming the judge

The crowd had early favorites: the Bloodhound, the Beagle, the Greyhound, Otter Hound and the Wire-haired Dachshund, showing its appreciation with hoots, hollers and applause.

The Gorgeous Greyhound

The judge determined Miss P, the  15″ Beagle out of British Columbia, as the winner of the group.  While I was sad Pirata didn’t place, you can’t deny the beauty and grace of this dog.

Not only that, but Miss P claimed the big prize, being chosen by the Hon. David C. Merriam, for the title of Best in Show!

Maybe next year… 🙂

Miss P
photo courtesy of
Mary Altaffer/AP

I’ll leave you with a cute shot I took of the Ibizan Hound.

The Ibiza Hound practicing his downward dog

What’s your favorite dog?

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