by TISH MELTON
Holiday traditions run deep in most American families.
Whether it’s grandma’s sweet potato casserole (with mini-marshmallows, of course) or turning on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning and cozying up by the fire, there are plenty of “musts” throughout the holiday season. For me, this definitely starts with Thanksgiving.
In my family, only one tradition matters–an intense event that divides and unites, bringing joy, heartbreak, suspense and anger to all 20 million viewers: the National Dog Show.
Each Thanksgiving Day, the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center hosts hundreds of dogs and handlers, each hoping to win “Best in Show” and gain eternal fame and glory among the canine community.
Polished dog breeds ranging from Chihuahuas to Great Danes are split into seven groups: herding, non-sporting, toy, sporting, hound, terrier and working.
The most qualified dogs of each breed are entered–past regional champions–and are judged by decorated experts.
This year’s show began with the herding group, known for their athletic demeanor, energetic attitude and loyal mentality. This group consisted of dogs such as the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Shetland Sheepdog and Collie.
Straight off the bat, the Shetland Sheepdog–named Lover–made a great impression. She was perfectly groomed and walked with confidence and obedience, clearly the most beautiful dog in her group.
In fact, I had her going all the way.
A few minutes later, however, the German Shepherd strutted in and came out on top. I was furious and beside myself; the Sheepdog deserved much better.
The show then moved into the non-sporting group, consisting of breeds such as the Shiba Inu, Chow Chow and French Bulldog, fresh off of a “Best in Show” win for the breed last year. (Full disclosure: I have a Frenchie at home, and when the French Bulldog won the 2022 show, you could hear our screams of joy from blocks away.)
Out of these talented canines, the Dalmation, won and moved on to the “Best in Show” round.
From there, the toy group, a favorite of viewers at home, entered the ring.
There were small pups–from the fluffy Pomeranian to skinny Irish Greyhound–competing for the top spot in this group, but the Shih Tzu moved on.
The next groups were the sporting, where the Chesapeake Spaniel came out on top; the hound, with the Azawakh as the winner; the terrier, with the Sealyham Terrier on top, and the working, with the biggest dog ever in show–a 180-pound Great Dane–moving on.
After appearances from MSN-BC’s Steve Kornacki and the hosts, actors David Frei and John Hurley, it was time for the grand finale: “Best in Show.”
The winners from each group convened for one last round. The dogs showed off their best stances, runs and appearances, while an expert judge reviewed them one more time, comparing their images to the judges’ mental images of a “perfect” dog.
Seems a bit subjective and problematic to me–the beauty standards that the dogs at home think they must meet are unrealistic.
After careful review, the Sealyham Terrier–officially registered as GCHP CH Goodspice Efbe Money Stache– was chosen the big winner.
While Stache seemed like a good boy, this was a shock to me.
That Shetland Sheepdog from round one should have gone all the way, and I stand by this belief. If not the Sheepdog, then the French Bulldog. Imagine a repeat win for bulldogs! There were plenty of breathtaking dogs that caught my eye from the beginning; my family members were rooting for the German Shepherd, English Bulldog, Dachshund, Basenji and Alaskan Malamute. To be honest, the Sealyham terrier was not even on our radar until “Best in Show” was announced.
No matter how the viewers feel, however, it is up to the expert judges to decide, and Stache went home with a prize of $20,000 … and eternal canine glory.
So, what should your biggest takeaway from this piece be?
I may not have any experience judging dogs, so I’m not sure where this passion for my Shetland Sheepdog and the National Dog Show as a whole came from. I simply hope the dogs that got absolutely robbed this year are doing alright … and they know that a senior at Chadwick School always has their back (and tail).
The Mainsheet 