FOX Sports activities’ John Robust, Jenny Taft preview Westminster Canine Present

The 149th version of the Westminster Canine Present is nearly right here. 

The extremely anticipated occasion returns to New York Metropolis stay from the Javits Heart and Madison Sq. Backyard for the primary time in 5 years. 

The twelfth Annual Grasp Agility Championship is Saturday from 4:30-7p.m. ET on FOX. 

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After watching the Tremendous Bowl on FOX on Sunday, the conformity a part of the present begins with better of breed judging from the Javits Heart Monday, Feb. 10, from 1-4 p.m. ET on FS2. Group judging then begins at 7 p.m. ET on FS1 in Madison Sq. Backyard. 

Group judging will proceed on Tuesday, Feb. 11, on FS1, the place greatest in present is awarded. 

The host of FS1’s primetime protection, Jenny Taft, and Fox Sports activities play-by-play announcer John Robust talked with Fox Information Digital in regards to the upcoming Westminster Canine Present and its historical past.

Right here is all the pieces that you must know forward of the festivities. 

What’s the signifigance of the Westminster Canine Present?

“That is the 149th version. I imply that is the second-oldest steady sporting occasion in American historical past. So, there’s an unimaginable quantity of historical past to this and, clearly, subsequent yr can be huge to have fun the a hundred and fiftieth version,” Robust mentioned. 

For anyone within the canine present world, successful at Westminster is like successful the Tremendous Bowl. 

“There is no such thing as a larger title than Westminster. There is no such thing as a larger present than Westminster. There is no such thing as a larger honor for a canine, breeder, handler, proprietor than greatest in present at Westminster,” Robust mentioned. 

Being part of Westminster is an honor for not simply these with the canine competing. 

“Successful Westminster is like the final word honor, but in addition judging Westminster is the final word honor,” Taft mentioned. 

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How does the Westminster canine present work?

There are two components to the Westminster Canine Present, the conformation and the agility championship.

Simply qualifying for Westminster is an accomplishment. All of the canine competing in New York Metropolis are champion canine from around the globe. 

“There’s plenty of other ways you’ll be able to qualify to get to Westminster. However, actually, they’re all champion canine, in order that they’ve all completed properly and competed and received in several occasions. There’s a sure quantity that you need to qualify for and take part in so you’ll be able to type of get these certifications all through the nation,” Taft mentioned. 

“You may present at totally different locations, and you need to have a sure variety of awards to then qualify for Westminster.” 

As soon as a canine qualifies, the primary spherical they must get by way of is better of breed. Better of breed is canine of all the identical breed competing towards one another, and judges are searching for sure issues. 

“There’s a sure gait. There’s measurements. They’re their tooth. You may see that the judges type of really feel across the physique sort, and so there’s various things that they’re particularly searching for,” Taft mentioned. 

Robust mentioned in the perfect of breed judging is sort of a “science” as a result of judges examine all canine throughout the similar breed. 

The Westminster Kennel Membership’s requirements are on its web site. 

“Every breed has a STANDARD, a written description of the best specimen of that breed. Requirements are written, maintained, and owned by the nationwide breed membership or “mother or father membership” of every breed and are authorized by the American Kennel Membership,” based on the Westminster Kennel Membership.

“Usually relating kind to perform, i.e., the unique perform that the canine was bred to carry out, most requirements describe the specified basic look, motion, temperament, and particular bodily traits similar to top and weight, coat sort, coat shade, eye shade, and form, ear form and placement, toes, tail, and extra.”

If a canine makes it out the perfect of breed spherical, it advances to to the group lessons.

Listed below are the seven totally different group lessons, and the way they’re categorized. All definitions of the teams are from the American Kennel Membership. 

• Sporting groupDogs within the sporting group have been bred to help hunters. A variety of the breeds have thick, water-repellent coats which might be immune to harsh climate circumstances when looking.Breeds within the looking group embrace the Labrador retriever, German shorthaired pointer, cocker spaniel and golden retriever.
• Canines within the sporting group have been bred to help hunters. A variety of the breeds have thick, water-repellent coats which might be immune to harsh climate circumstances when looking.
• Breeds within the looking group embrace the Labrador retriever, German shorthaired pointer, cocker spaniel and golden retriever.
• Hound groupDogs within the hound group have been bred to warm-blooded quarry. They possess robust prey drives and depend on their highly effective noses to trace down animals or escaped convicts.Breeds within the hound group embrace bloodhounds, dachshunds, and greyhounds.
• Canines within the hound group have been bred to warm-blooded quarry. They possess robust prey drives and depend on their highly effective noses to trace down animals or escaped convicts.
• Breeds within the hound group embrace bloodhounds, dachshunds, and greyhounds.
• Working GroupDogs within the working group have been developed to help people. From pulling carts, guarding houses and defending houses, they’re described as dog-kind punch-the-clock, blue-collar staff. They’re a number of the world’s most historic breeds and are recognized for stature, energy and intelligence.The boxer, Nice Dane and rottweiler are among the many breeds within the working group.
• Canines within the working group have been developed to help people. From pulling carts, guarding houses and defending houses, they’re described as dog-kind punch-the-clock, blue-collar staff. They’re a number of the world’s most historic breeds and are recognized for stature, energy and intelligence.
• The boxer, Nice Dane and rottweiler are among the many breeds within the working group.
• Terrier GroupDogs on this group have been first bred to go underground in pursuit of rodents and different vermin. They’re well-liked companion canine as we speak.The terrier group has received greatest in present greater than another group, with 47 wins. The wire fox terrier has received 15 instances, probably the most amongst any breed.Different breeds within the terrier group are the bull terrier, Scottish terrier, and West Highland white terrier.
• Canines on this group have been first bred to go underground in pursuit of rodents and different vermin. They’re well-liked companion canine as we speak.
• The terrier group has received greatest in present greater than another group, with 47 wins. The wire fox terrier has received 15 instances, probably the most amongst any breed.
• Different breeds within the terrier group are the bull terrier, Scottish terrier, and West Highland white terrier.
• Toy GroupThese canine are smaller, as they’ll match comfortably within the lap of their house owners. They’re attentive, affective companions who’re well-liked with those that stay in a metropolis, as their dimension makes them a great match for an residence.The Chihuahua, pug, and shih tzu are among the many breeds included within the toy group.
• These canine are smaller, as they’ll match comfortably within the lap of their house owners. They’re attentive, affective companions who’re well-liked with those that stay in a metropolis, as their dimension makes them a great match for an residence.
• The Chihuahua, pug, and shih tzu are among the many breeds included within the toy group.
• Non-Sporting GroupAll the breeds on this group have two issues in frequent: moist noses and 4 legs. It is a patchwork group of breeds who defy categorization from the opposite teams, in order that they match on this one.Breeds on this group embrace the bulldog, dalmatian and poodle.
• All of the breeds on this group have two issues in frequent: moist noses and 4 legs. It is a patchwork group of breeds who defy categorization from the opposite teams, in order that they match on this one.
• Breeds on this group embrace the bulldog, dalmatian and poodle.
• Herding GroupThe breeds on this group are developed for transferring livestock like sheep and cattle. These breeds are naturally clever, and their responsiveness makes them very trainable. Herding breeds are generally skilled for police work.Some breeds within the herding group embrace the border collie, German shepherd Canine, Pembroke Welsh corgi and the Icelandic sheepdog.
• The breeds on this group are developed for transferring livestock like sheep and cattle. These breeds are naturally clever, and their responsiveness makes them very trainable. Herding breeds are generally skilled for police work.
• Some breeds within the herding group embrace the border collie, German shepherd Canine, Pembroke Welsh corgi and the Icelandic sheepdog.

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The canine that win better of breed then transfer onto their respective teams. For instance, the boxer who received better of breed for the boxers, now strikes onto to compete towards all the perfect of breed winners within the working group. 

Then judging turns into much less of a science as a result of the canine don’t compete towards their very own breed. 

Robust then says that, for the competitors within the later phases, it’s time for the canine’s personalities to shine. 

“One of many issues I’ve been actually fascinated to know in doing that is how, whenever you get later within the competitors, that’s when it turns into about character as a lot as anything. And a few of these canine, man, I’m telling you, they know they’re on,” Robust mentioned.

“They know they’re on stay tv. They know they’re in Madison Sq. Backyard, the world’s most well-known enviornment, and so they carry out. That’s an enormous a part of it, and that’s actually cool to see the place the canine that perceive that it’s their time to shine and that they’re the star.”

To maneuver on to the perfect in present competitors, the canine should be first of their group. So, all of the canine who completed first within the herding, non-sporting, sporting, terrier, toy, working and hound teams transfer on. 

What makes the perfect in present judging just a little bit totally different is the decide has not seen any of those canine earlier than. 

“You’ve gone from 200 breeds right down to these remaining seven, and, at that time, you may have a decide who has been sequestered away, who has no clue what they’re about to see. They don’t know something in regards to the canine, they don’t know something of who’s received. They’ve been saved in a blackout for 2 days, and so they’re going to point out up in that ring. They usually’re going to principally say, ‘Of those seven canine, which is probably the most unimaginable instance of this canine that I’ve ever seen in my life,’” Robust mentioned. 

That decide then offers out the perfect in present and reserve greatest in present. The most effective in present is the winner, and the reserve greatest in present is the canine who completed in second place. 

The opposite factor for the decide who oversees the perfect in present, is that the decide solely judges as soon as.

“Judging Westminster is the final word honor. When you’ve judged, you truly don’t decide ever once more. That’s a one-time factor, which is type of cool,” Taft mentioned. 

As a result of there isn’t any factors system going into better of present, there isn’t any strategy to predict the winner.

“(The judging) is talked about in a method that, like everybody, has a special greatest in present, proper? I imply, when you speak to a miniature poodle fan, and so they have been in all probability so joyful that Sage received final yr and there have been some that have been saying, ‘What a second, so-and-so ought to have received,’ however it comes right down to the decide, and that’s what I feel is admittedly distinctive about it,” Taft mentioned. 

“It in the end is a private alternative. There aren’t any factors stepping into, and it’s how they current themselves within the ring. After I’m watching, all of them look stunning. All of them have an incredible gait, personal the group. However, on the finish of the day, it’s the perfect in present decide that makes that alternative. It’s type of enjoyable since you don’t know what to anticipate in that method.”

The winners of greatest in present don’t obtain any prize cash, simply bragging rights and the distinction of successful at Westminster, the top of all canine reveals. 

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What’s the significance of the Westminster Canine Present returning to Madison Sq. Backyard?

The previous 4 years, the Westminster Canine Present has not been at Madison Sq. Backyard, however the present is making it’s return to New York Metropolis, the place Robust mentioned it belongs. 

“There’s something about Madison Sq. Backyard. There’s something about Manhattan. New York Metropolis is the good American metropolis, and we’ve cherished being at Lyndhurst and being out on the Billie Jean King USTA Nationwide Tennis Heart, tremendous cool. However Westminster is house at Madison Sq. Backyard. Westminster is house in Manhattan, and that has been its house going again to the very very beginnings, even prior iterations of Madison Sq. Backyard itself,” Robust mentioned. 

“My first present was in 2020, simply earlier than the pandemic actually took maintain of our lives. So, I obtained to expertise (Westminster in Madison Sq. Backyard) as soon as, and the final 4 years have been totally different. So, there can be a, I do know Monday evening when the primary group is known as out, when these first canine come out there’s going to be an unimaginable quantity of power and emotion to that second, which I’m actually excited to in a position to watch.”

How does the agility grasp championship work?

This a part of the canine present offers the canine an opportunity to point out off their athleticism.

The course is proven to the handlers half-hour earlier than they compete, and so they have to steer their canine by way of a course they’ve by no means seen earlier than. 

“Agility is admittedly enjoyable to see in particular person, and that’s on Saturday. Seeing a papillion soar and go as quick as potential by way of the teeter totter, it’s simply unbelievable, the weave pulls, prefer it offers me a headache watching,” Taft mentioned. 

Robust isn’t solely impressed with the canine’ athleticism however the handlers’ athleticism. 

“What’s cool about it’s you get such a range since you get these midsize canine like border collies and, man, do they fly. Their velocity and athleticism, and the people are attempting to maintain up with them. And the athleticism the handlers have to point out is as a result of they must get out in entrance of them and have gotten to inform them. The canine have by no means been on this course earlier than. And they also must obtain the directions for the place they’re alleged to go,” Robust mentioned. 

But, regardless of how they carry out, the canine are all the time joyful. 

The winner of this agility championship is the canine who completes the course within the quickest time with the fewest faults. 

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FOX’s protection of the Westminster Canine Present sandwiches the community’s Tremendous Bowl protection. 

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tackle the Philadelphia Eagles within the Tremendous Bowl Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

FOX’s Tremendous Bowl protection begins at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Protection may be streamed stay on Tubi for the primary time.

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