Crufts 2017

Well it began yesterday and continues right through until Sunday.  To dog lovers, it is what my human calls  Doggie Disney World.  It's Crufts - the World's Largest Dog show and as you may recall, my human went last year.

It was the FOURTH time she visited the annual extravaganza held in Birmingham, England.  Crufts has it all - agility, obedience, Discover Dogs (booths where you can meet and learn about EVERY breed), the beauty pageant, flyball, heeling to music and LOTS and LOTS of shopping.  I mean LOTS of shopping.  You can find every type of grooming torture tool imaginable, attire (human and canine), toys and treats.  My human bought our realistic stuffed bunny last year - the one who has unfortunately undergone dissection.  We have not been able to find another.  I guess we'll have to let her go back again some day just to find us one.

This year, over 24,000 dogs are entered in the Beauty Pageant.  Each day, several groups are judged.  We're waiting excitedly for Sunday - when the Pastoral Group breeds are judged.  In North America, we call it the Herding group.  I like Pastoral.  Makes us sound kind of holy.  More like holy terrors.  We will be watching the 58 Polish Lowland Sheepdogs entered - some of whom we "know!"  Now I didn't realize that 2016 was the first year the Picards appeared at Crufts - and so I can't tell the number entered - as far as I can tell they fall into something called the Imported Breed Register - I guess because they are still a rare breed? There are 34 dogs listed in that group - but I don't know how many are Picards.  We'll just have to watch and you can too - the show will be streaming live!!!!  Check it out! 
http://crufts.org.uk/

I looked back at my blog stories about Crufts from last year, and I think for those going, the following bears repeating:
... they could have a reality TV show - Survivor Crufts - with points awarded for participation in the various activities - or challenges.  You have to make it through 5 exhibition halls WITHOUT buying anything at the one million vendors, you have to sit through at LEAST one breed judging that has more than 50 dogs - with extra points if you sit through ALL the Labradors, you must attend obedience trials for at least 20 dogs and you must stay until the whole program is done at the end of the night. Oh and you have to talk to people at 5 different Discover Dogs booths. And that's just for one day. 

But as always, a good thing like Crufts has to be marked with challenges.  Leave it to humans.  The big scandal at Crufts this year?  Bows.  Yes you read that correctly.  Hair bows.  Apparently in some places, Shih Tzus are shown with fancy bows in their hair.  But in the UK, they are not shown with bows. So the judge said elastic or rubber bands will be the only thing allowed.  So a controversy has erupted - with complaints from overseas exhibitors.  My comment?  COME ON visitors.  Get with the program.  When in Rome, follow the Roman rules! Seriously -you think your dog won't look good without a bow?  REALLY?!  Are you afraid your dog will fall apart because he/she is not decorated like a Christmas gift?  Just scrap the bow.  Fluffy will get over it.  I doubt he/she will suffer from PTMBD. Post traumatic missing bow disorder.  Uh-oh - I can see the ShihTzu hate mail rolling in...there goes that readership...

Anyway, we wish all of our PON and Picard buddies THE best of luck!  Without any bows.  Have fun, behave, and don't poop in the beauty pageant ring!  We'll be watching!!!  And wishing we were there!!!!