The A-listers who gathered together and traveled to New York last weekend for the biggest event of their careers arrived by car and chauffeur or by plane surrounded by an entourage. They didn't even have their own passports, much less packed food or squeaky toys.
But all of them are very good dogs.
Approximately 2,500 top-ranked dogs will descend on New York City to compete at this year's Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Breed judging, a high-profile event, begins on Monday, but hundreds of other dogs are already competing in an event that tests agility, obedience and the ability to jump furthest from a dock.
It takes years of training and hard work to be on the show. Going to shows requires extensive preparation by owners and handlers. They plan multi-hour or multi-day car or plane trips and pack thousands of dollars worth of equipment, including grooming tables, industrial-strength hair dryers, leashes, collars, toys, and kibble. I also hope that your itinerary will not be disrupted by delays or cancellations.
Rewards are non-negotiable.
“I try to stock up on healthy, single-ingredient treats like freeze-dried duck and freeze-dried liver,” says Chelle Lewis, 71, who came to New York with her Russell and Cairn terriers. ” he said. But on show day, her dogs receive “something special and valuable.”
“I go to McDonald's drive-thru and buy two sausage biscuits. I eat the biscuits and they get the sausages,” she said.
Here's how a few show dogs and their entourage made their way to Westminster.
go out on the road
In the United States, long trips are the norm and continuous driving is required to win titles in local, regional, and national dog competitions. Trainers say most dogs are used to the road.
Lewis drove 14 hours from Geneva, Illinois, with her 2-year-old Russell terrier, Spangle, to compete in the agility event (unfortunately, Spangle did not qualify). did). Mr. Lewis also brought Nora. Her 7 year old cairn terrier.
“They haven't learned to drive yet, but they are good travelers,” Lewis said.
Christel Moore and her border collie Quinzel, who made it to the finals with a 15-foot dock diving jump, drove eight hours from their home in Quebec. Moore, 40, said Quinzel was dozing off most of the time.
Quinzel rarely notices changes in his surroundings, Moore added. “She doesn't care where we are. She just likes being close to me.”
Some attendees carpooled to the show. Jenny Neft and Chris Dunlap, who met at a dog show three years ago, drove more than two days from Wyoming with Rowan, an 85-pound Bracco Italiano, and Keeva, a 52-pound Weimaraner. I came. Both dogs will compete in Tuesday's breed judging.
“They start young, get crate trained, and just get used to it,” said Neft, 53, adding that exercise and bathroom breaks are important on road trips. “We tailor the trip around their comfort.”
The only means of transportation was a car. Commercial airlines have weight and carrier size restrictions, so some dogs, like Rowan, are too big to fly.
As Jamie Goodrich, 41, explained in detail, dogs don't travel lightly. Traveling from Central Square, N.Y., north of Syracuse, she packed her 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan with two crates, two folding chairs, three gallons of water, emergency kits for dogs and humans, and clothing for humans. I packed two suitcases, three leashes, and several days worth of luggage. Kibble, grooming supplies (various brushes, clippers, water sprayer, table, scissors), electric fan.
“Oh, and dogs, too,” she said of Aero, an Akita who will compete in Tuesday's breed judging. (The fan prevents Aero from overheating backstage.)
travel by plane
Some dogs flew to New York, which required compiling countless documents, getting vaccinated in sequence, and navigating the minefield of various airline policies and breed and weight restrictions.
Janice Hayes, 42, a professional handler from Palm Springs, California, regularly flies for show dogs. Buddy Holly of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen won the grand prize at last year's Westminster competition (“He has more miles than all of us,” Hayes said).
Buddy Holly is now retired, but he traveled again this year to enjoy his final moments as reigning champion and accompany three other show dogs. Britney and Spotify also appear, along with Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Hayden.
Because of their size, the three Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens fly in crates or cargo holds. Hayden flew on board.
One of Hayes' travel strategies is to get to the airport hours in advance. The same goes for booking a seat on the side of the plane overlooking the plane's cargo hold. Seeing the dogs being loaded gives me peace of mind that they are also on their way.
Dozens of dogs came from overseas to compete in this year's show. Anel Vazquez Franchini and his dog Khaleesi, a 5-year-old bearded collie, flew in from Mexico City.
“There aren't many bearded collies here. It's easy to win when there's no competition,” said Mexican dog showr Vasquez Franchini. The Westminster show is a much-needed chance for Khaleesi (Kayley for short) to prove herself, she said.
Requirements for international animal travel vary by country and can change frequently. Starting in August, dogs entering the United States will be required to have a microchip and be vaccinated against rabies.
Dogs residing within the European Union who wish to travel abroad, or whose humans make that decision, must have a dedicated pet passport. This document is issued by your veterinarian and includes microchip registration, vaccination history, and ownership information. Required for re-entry to the EU
Vitellozzo, a 2-year-old French bulldog He, who is in Croatia with his handler Valentina Zupan, has such a passport. He is an experienced international traveler and this is his second time coming to the United States.
Zupan, 32, said Vitellozzo did not need tranquilizers or other drugs during the flight. His crate fit under his airplane seat and remained there for most of his trip, including a drive to Budapest, a flight to Warsaw, and then a flight to Chicago. I'll see another show and then head to New York.
share a room or bed
Dogs and their humans will be hosted overnight at the hotel closest to the show venue, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
“We have a lot of big dogs, small dogs, luxury dogs, regular dogs,” said Laquan Williams, a front desk clerk at the sold-out Four Points by Sheraton in Flushing. “We love it.”
Hotels typically have nightly rates of over $200, plus one-time pet fees that can exceed $100. Most Westminster handlers and owners share a room with their dogs.
And the bed.
“My dog takes up the whole bed. I'm lucky if I can sleep on top,” says Jack Florek, with his partner Jack Florek and their two Irish wolfhounds, Rowan and Brody, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Long Island City. said Patty Berkowitz, 69, who is staying in the city. Rowan and Brody compete against each other in breed judging. All four creatures are in the same room and each weighs over 160 pounds.
With so many companions, Mr. Florek, 71, joked that the key strategy was to get to bed before the dog, which he had failed to do on Friday night.
“I was a little spoon,” he said.
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