MuseumChick | Danee Gilmartin

Knowing how much I love dogs, my uncle had the great idea of getting tickets to the Westminster Dog Show this year. Along with the tickets to the show we also got the ability to go backstage to see the dogs getting ready and even pet some of them. Being one of the first official dog competitions, this was Westminster’s 135th year. Although Westminster is older than England’s famous dog competition, Crufts, the idea of dog competitions originated in England with the Kennel Club. The first Westminster show was held on May 8, 1877, making it the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the United States behind only the Kentucky Derby.

Backstage there were a few dog interviews going on. Someone should tell the reporters that the dogs don’t speak English.

Getting the dogs puffed and trimmed was an ongoing job backstage. I barely saw any show-moms put down their comb.

Most of the dogs even looked like they liked all the primping. This one looks like he’s saying, “Hey, you missed a spot!”

Colored wraps kept the spaniels’ ear hair clean and wavy. Look at those tube legs so perfectly beveled!

This is an example of most of the pictures I got backstage. It’s hard to get the dogs to stay still. This one is saying, “No pictures please, no pictures!”

And since the big dogs drool a lot, some of them were wearing these funny bibs.

And like typical canines, these dogs will work for treats…

Hickory the Scottish Deerhound won best in show this year. During the Best in Show competition the announcer made a great statement that I would like to repeat- none of these dogs came from pet stores. If you are looking for a happy and healthy dog please buy from a responsible breeder and not a pet store. Before buying a pet, please do some research and read how you can help bring an end to cruel puppy mills from the Humane Society of the United States.

©2011 Danee Gilmartin All rights reserved