Whippet Snippets

Whippet Flashback Friday

The first and last time a whippet won the Westminster Dog Show was in 1964. That's a whole lot of years in dog years.

Until a whippet emerges triumphant again (you were so robbed, Chanel), you can re-live the excitement with this archival video:

Congrats Brother Butters

Mirabel would like to congratulate her littermate Butters, aka Ch Surrey Hill's Golden Boy SC, on his Best of Opposite Sex finish at the 2010 Westminster Kennel Club show.

Here's the whippet judging video. Best of breed was won by a bitch named Starline's Chanel, who later tonight also won the Hound Group! You go girl. Take that, whippet haters!

 

The Skinny on Crufts

Ribsy and Mirabel congratulate Ch Courthill Cast a Shadow, aka Esmee, on her BOB and 3rd place finish in the Hound Group at Crufts.

She sure is purdy, thought Ribsy. What lines. And those eyes! Check 'em out:

See more winners from the Hound Group (because that's all you care about right?).

On the Cusp of Crufts

Via KCLovesDogs (The Kennel Club UK) on Twitter today:

"Four breeds will be at Crufts for the first time: Dogue de Bordeaux, Portuguese Podengo, Bracco Italiano and Spanish Water Dog."

Very swanky names. But what do they look like?

Dogue de Bordeaux:

Portugese Podengo:

Bracco Italiano:

Spanish Water Dog:

Crufts, if you didn't know, is the world's largest dog show, and starts this Thursday. On that first day, the hounds take centre stage. Go whippets! Of course, it may be a bit too soon for a whippet to take it all again. But you never know.

You can watch all the action throughout the entire four days, live on the Internet, from anywhere in the world on Crufts TV. 

Follow KCLovesDogs on Twitter if you want the inside scoop on Crufts.

Show business

Ribsy enjoyed a good chuckle over this Deadspin 'report' of hilarious behind-the-scenes photos and observations at the Westminster Dog Show. Learn why this particular whippet is terrified. Find out how pooch posture is perfected. And score dog make-up tips you can use!

Westminster Whippet Watch

Ribsy and Mirabel congratulate Ch. Sporting Fields Glory Bound, the top whippet at this year's Westminster dog show. Learn more about Glory Bound in this local article. Apparently she gets filet mignon for her first place finish.

Mmm. Filet mignon, thought Ribsy.

Unfortunately Glory was later beat out in the Hound Group by none other than Tiger Woods - a Scottish deerhound. Missed out? You can watch the whippet judging video here.

And at this time of year, Ribsy can't help but recall Vivi the whippet, who separated from her crate at JFK Airport in New York, while heading home after the 2006 show. The hope still lives on, and you can download a poster here.

Keep the Faith

Ribsy presents the best of breed-winning whippet at this year's Westminster Kennel Club show, Ch Sporting Field's Rock On. Unfortunately he failed to win the Hound group. That honour went to a 15 in. beagle instead (did you know there are 13 in. and 15 in. beagles in this world?). Doesn't he look so cool and smug?

And here are a couple of terrific photos from the whippet judging yesterday, courtesy of the New York Times.

Someday, one day, just gotta keep the faith - a whippet will win!

She's a Mystery

According to leading animal psychics in the New York Times today, Vivi the missing whippet showdog is alive and well.  She ran away from the circus that is dog shows in order to live a normal life that, for her, means foraging for food, befriending new dogs, and experiencing the thrills and challenges of single motherhood.

Eck! thought Ribsy. He couldn't live without his couches, daily snuggles, and reliable doses of peanut butter, sardines, and provolone cheese. The comforts of living with people far outweigh the freedom and call of the wild, in his humble opinion.

Vivi, you really should consider coming home. Your owners will be returning to the Westminster show for the first time since your disappearance. What a wonderful reunion it would be if you turned up at Madison Square Garden.

Last Man Standing

It's that time of year again. The mother of all dog shows. Check out the official poster for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show - yay, there's a whippet. Ain't it cute?

The hounds take the judging stage on Monday, and the last dog standing will be crowned Best in Show on Tuesday night. Go whippets! The last (and only time) our breed won was in 1964.

Westminster Whippets

So with the Westminster Kennel club show going on right now, the most talked-about dog happens to be - you guessed it - Vivi the missing showdog whippet. Here's the Associated Press story. The Vivi-session will be at its peak tomorrow when the whippets take the ring  at 8:30am. Go whippets! The last - and only - whippet to win Best in Show was way back in 1964.