So we are done, cooked and fried! In a good way! Our dogs did not make it to the final consideration but I was hugely impressed and happy with their performance.

I cannot feel my thighs! A weekend of running around followed by standing and walking here at the Garden has really done me in! The fun thing is that we have to do this all over tomorrow!

I am going to watch the fantastic young handlers that are competing for Best Junior Showmanship in Show. I used to compete in Juniors myself but was never really successful. Needless to say I am in awe of these youngsters! Also one of my favorite persons is going to judge the final in Juniors tomorrow, Nick Urbanek who him self is a winner of this competition just a few years back. There is so much talent in this group of boys and girls, not only in the showring but in school aswell.

The show is still going on and I think there have been some "upsets" as in favorites or top winners loosing the top honors. I all honesty I think that in this kind of depth of quality among the dogs there is no bad decision.
I just had a hot dog to celebrate that I can officially relax downed with a really good soda! There is nothing like that during any event at Madison Square Garden! Dog show, Knicks game, Rangers... It does not matter!

My Giant girl assisted by my husband is currently laying halfway in the weelchair of a young girl. They have had a serious conversation for about half hour now. I am not sure what they are chatting about! Angel on Leash has a huge booth here I noticed and Sofia is "angeling" all on her own right now. I am impressed with all the vendors that have joined this show over the past few years. The quality and quantity of great dog related items present here is in every inch of the benching area. It is crowded but competely manageble! I am heading down to the ring area and will check back in later!

It's getting close! All done grooming - just the last touch up to go at around 1.30.. It's so much fun down in the grooming area watching and chatting with all the exhibitors and the crowds of spectators. Our dogs stood with their toys in their mouths posing for pictures while being photographed from ten different angles with children and grandmothers. Phone cameras are very popular i have noticed. The media is present with the big TV stations and small local papers following their town's favorite dogs during the show.

It is quite obvious that it is a giant crowd here, if it is because of the holiday week or not I am not sure. Monday always draw a huge crowd each year and to be honest - it's not bad getting around!

So keep your fingers crossed - 2 pm!

I did not mess up my outfit - that's a blessing!

We are in we are here and we are sweating already. After lugging two crates, two tables and two extremely excited Giant Schnauzers through the crowds on 33'd Street. Can you beleive it, crowds at 6 am! That makes for a good start and everything can only get better from there! Dogs settled in and watered, walked in the sawdust pens... oh yes they don't mind and I got my second and - hmm third cup of coffee. My husband Ben is currently blowdrying big boy and our girl is snooring in her crate on the bench. I was convinced that she would not sleep but I was wrong. Thats great!

The breed judging started at 8.30AM with the National anthem and standing straight in the back listening my thought went to a friend of mine and a friend to the whole dog world that just passed away, Mrs. Clark. For many of you that is a known name but if you are new to the sport of dogs she was one of the greatest. She was supposed to have judged here but illness cut her life short a few weeks back. Dear Annie, we are all thinking of you.....

Excitement, and screams of joy are heard from each and every corner of the green carpet below constantly! I see familiar faces from all over the country, and students of mine from Owner Handlers Association on Long Island and when they come running with a ribbon, bearhugging - you just feel great!

I have to go groom now and get soaked washing my girl so I will check back later. Don't forget to check the schedule here on the website to see when your favorite breed is judged. You can catch the judging about 2 hours (could be sooner!) after it's finished here on the website.

Until later!

It is four AM and I just gulped a huge cup of coffee hoping that it will wake me up. The butterflies are back with a vengeance and the entire household is on it's feet. The two schnauzers that are going have had a nice run in the yard and the afghans that are staying home are jealous and vocal. My lovely assistant Kelly will come in few hours and watch the remaining pooches here at the house.

I packed the car twice last night - just to make sure that we have everything. My husband picked his tie for about an hour... I had to hem two pair of pants since I completely lopsided the first pair. I started getting nervous that I would have to end up making them into shorts.

I must say it is very interesting to read your comments from all over the country. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

We had a great day at our club's specialty show yesterday! Smiling faces, wonderful dogs and again - no snow or rain! After last year's trip Sunday morning to the same event I will call any snowfall under six inches a dusting. We remember feeling like commandos in our rented four wheel drive vehicle guessing our way to New Jersey. The turnpike was a sheet of snow with snowdrifts that felt like ocean waves when you hit them. Nostalgia!

I hope for a smooth landing curbside at the Garden and I have the whole unloading process all planned in my head just so that it can fall apart completely! Oh positive thoughts!

Check back later!

Anna

Hello again,

I must say I am getting very excited about Westminster after a day of specialties in New Jersey. Running into old and new friends that are here from all over the United States and from all over the world not the least, to watch or participate in the two days of showing is just about as good as it gets! We did miss the festivities at the Hotel Pennsylvania last night. I was too busy getting ready for the show today and we also had a whole lot of friends over to the house after the Saturday's show. Our own party certainly made for a really nice evening.

This sport of purebred dogs is attracting to young and old. I get confirmation of that every time I go to an AKC sanctioned dog event. I see juniors handlers with their grandparents that have been showing and possibly breeding dogs for years. Then you run into a new family with their lovely young dog just learning the ropes.

I teach classes for OHA which I mentioned before and we have a mixed bag of faces each week learning how to present their dogs at a dog show comfortably. This sport has its own group of professionals that for them this is their livelihood. I always say to my students to watch and learn from most professional handlers, mannerism, technique and report with their dogs. You will never get the same amount of ring time when you show your own dog as a pro handler gets from showing his or her "string" of dogs but showing your own dog you have the advantage that you really can practice with the animal and perfect your performance. The dog's quality will never change but you can learn to present the dog to the judges flawlessly and with an "invisible" handler the judge can really get to see this dog's virtues. Any owner handler with a bit of patience, willingness to learn, talent and feeling and not the least, a good dog can be just as successful as any professional handler! I am sure we will see a whole bunch of talented owner handlers right up there in the mix of things Monday and Tuesday. Some will probably be breeder- owner - handlers. Now that is a real accomplishment too! Remember one thing - no matter what dog wins on any given day, we always say congratulations to the lucky winner's handler!

Anna

It's not snowing. Thank you! We traveled to Connecticut Saturday while many attended the specialties at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Our young Afghan had a fantastic day and we were so proud! We are all heading to New Jersey today for our club's specialty show. I have my entire car packed with goodies and raffle items. It's fun to be part of a club and to be able to help your breed go forward. Our Afghan breed has had some tragic rescue situations lately and we are drumming up money to help out these Afghans in need at our specialty show. We currently foster two rescued afghans and we have been part of helping a Giant Schnauzer that was just picked up out of a shelter. It's so important that we all try to spread the word not to buy a dog in a puppy store and instead rescue a dog or buy a dog from a reputable breeder.

We have been grooming like two lunatics the past week! Schnauzers are an art work almost and your fingers is your best tool. Ask my husband! Grooming is constant with all our dogs but like this, before such an exciting and important event you really want it to be super. I managed to "blow up" a dryer on Friday. Poor machine - it had had enough.

I want to thank everyone for their nice words and comments here and we will try to report back on all your questions! It will fall on President's Week this year and a few years back it got quite crowded. I am sure the club and the Garden staff is all prepared!

I am not being able to decide what to wear Monday and Tuesday, something light but then also - maybe something warm pink colored?! Decisions! Next time I write we will be heading in to New York. Until then, stay warm!

Anna