You don’t have to be an animal lover to be entertained because dog show knowledge is always a hit at happy hour. (Okay so maybe not, but regardless this is too good to pass up).
Sports Curious presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkward out of conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We breakdown what's happening in sports in an easy to understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or a networking event switches to sports.
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[Transcript]
1. It’s been said that no good story ever started with a salad and neither did the Westminster Dog Show. The story starts with a group of guys who met at the Westminster Hotel to boast about their hunting dogs. In 1877, they named themselves the Westminster Kennel Club after their favorite bar. Now on its 144th show and is the second longest running sporting event after the Kentucky Derby. WHY TRY TO TEACH OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS?
2. Naming your prized show dog isn’t as easy a calling them spot or rover, there are strict rules on how you name your prized pooch. While King the Wire Fox Terrier - show name GCHB CH Kingarthur Van Foliny Home - took the title of best in show last year, he did not get paid for it. There’s no prize money. The handlers make their money by charging more for breeding rights. LUCKY DOG
3. These dogs don’t just show up and take the title, they have to work hard to get there. Like the Boston Marathon, they must qualify by winning lesser competitions to make it to the big show. In case you’re wondering over 204 breeds are welcome to compete for best in show. The newest breed, the Azawakh, will join the competition this year, which is February 10 - 11. If you’re placing a bet on the winner, remember male dogs have won 73 times and the females, 39 times. LADIES NIGHT?
4. There are seven categories of dogs in the show and most were originally bred for hunting or life on the farm. There are also pups from the non-sporting and toy categories that are bred to be your B.F.F. LOYAL COMPANION
5. The event takes place at Madison Square Garden and the winning pup used to score a photo op with Mr. New York himself, pre-president Donald Trump at Trump Tower. Since he became president, that’s no longer an option. PRESIDENTIAL PUPS
Honorable mention – We can’t leave you without a good laugh. Here’s the "Saturday Night Live” parody of the famed pup show featuring Matt Damon. LOL
