Pet Channel

This pug, Ch Kendoric’s Riversong Mulroney, won the toy group at the Westminster Dog Show. He has won 65 Best in Shows.

Anyway, I think my relationship with reality TV and anything with a commentator/narrator has finally come around to bite me in the ass. Or tail. Or something. Last month when the Westminster Dog Show was on, I had lunch with a friend that I haven’t seen in seven years. This means, of course, that she wasn’t up to date on any of the little things that go on with me, and so she had no idea what she was doing when she asked if I indeed was ready to give up the “thrill and romance of dating” and finally settle down with someone. I replied that of course I’d give up the horror and torment of dating in order to settle down with someone, and then, Hawaiian-style, proceeded to explain that really, dating was like a dog show — it all comes down to grooming, pedigree, breeding, and presentation. She, of course, was rightfully appalled at this reduction, and said that even if it were an absolute truth I should perhaps let other people think there’s more to it than just this barest of recipes for conjuring the magic of romance and love.

Some of my regular customers came in. One seemed to have come in for no other reason to discuss the rather stupid commentary on TV’s coverage of the Westminster Dog Show.

In my never ending attempt to maintain the quality level of this classy little parking spot on the Web, I am here to let you know that the annual Westminster Dog show ain’t the only show on the block.

There are a lot of cool events involving dogs as well. But remember, this isn't the Westminster Dog Show. These dogs run state of the art obstacle courses and have many different physical challenges. Today, they had the "Big Air" contest where dogs squared off by sprinting down a small deck and as soon as they get to the ledge, the dog's owner tosses an object into the air and the dog is supposed to jump for it. Some of these dogs stayed airborne for an amazing amount of time.

Last night we’re watching the finals of the Westminster Dog Show (was that a Pomeranian or a tribble?) when we had another of those “we haven’t influenced the dominant paradigm at all, have we,” moments. The winner of the herding group, a lovely border collie, was officially named Champion something-or-other Spellcaster, kennel name of Merlin. What a sweetie.