The 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was held in New York City last week and I, of course, had to sit this year out, being home with two-week-old puppies. The babies are doing great — all having doubled their body weight since birth. The struggle is keeping Miki fed properly and getting her to leave the whelping box to get rest. Normally, a mom dog not wanting to leave her puppies is a good thing, however, this also allows for the puppies to nurse non stop, which isn’t giving Miki’s body time to recover calcium. So to help her out, she’s getting liquid calcium injections and extra doses of Tums.
Westminster is the Super Bowl of the dog breeding and show world. Every winner there started out just like my puppies with a dedicated breeder having a vision to keep their breed alive, spending a small fortune to get the breeding done, sleeping with moms in the whelping box and living through the joys and heartbreak that come with breeding. Thanks to modern technology, I was able to watch the judging of Bull Terriers from the whelping box and am so happy for my local friend from Cape May, Victoria Sottile of Alaric Bull Terriers, who bred Abigail the White Bull Terrier Winner.
This year’s “Best in Show” went to the stunning five-year-old Doberman pinscher. GCHP ConnQuest Best Of Both Worlds, better known as Penny, was, in my opinion, the clear winner the moment she strode into the ring in the Working Group. Doberman pinschers were created in 19th Century Germany by Louis Dobermann who was the tax collector in a town called Alpoda.
Tax collectors were unpopular and often subject to robbery, which led Dobermann to want to create a breed that was both imposing and a dependable watchdog. It is believed he used a short-haired shepherd-type dog, the Rottweiler, a black-and-tan terrier (possibly a Manchester terrier) and the German pinscher to create what is now known as the Doberman pinscher. The breed was recognized in the United States in 1900, and the Doberman Pinscher Club of America has existed since 1921.
The Doberman Pinscher Club of America describes the breed as being energetic, obedient, watchful, determined, alert, fearless and loyal. All of the traits which make for a good watchdog.
While they should never be outwardly aggressive, they will not always be overjoyed to welcome visitors but will do their job of assessing the newcomers before meeting them. They are very energetic dogs and need an owner who can keep up.
Watching Penny effortlessly sail across the ring as well as her laser focus on her handler Andy Linton, she epitomized what a Doberman pinscher is. Having seen her in the flesh, I can say that she never puts a foot out of place and what a thrill for her breeders Theresa Connors-Chan and Gregory Chan to have bred such a beautiful dog.
By next week, my baby Westminster hopefuls will have opened their eyes and ears and will be in the transitional phase of puppyhood which is the time between being a neonate and the critical socialization period. You can see daily video and pictures of the babies growth on Four on the Floor Dog Training’s Facebook page.
Any questions please feel from to email heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
