A Proud Canine: The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Ribbon
Dogs are many people's favourite pets, but no one takes their devotion to dogs as seriously as the competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.
The longest-running dog show in America awards some of the most sought-after awards. Almost any dog trainer or breeder dream of having their prize companion compete for the dog show ribbon.
What awards light up the stage at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show?
The Most Prized Dog Show Ribbon: Best in Show
The Westminster Kennel Club dog show is one of the biggest dog shows in the world.
It would make sense, then, that its top prize is the most coveted dog show ribbon in the world.
The Best in Show ribbon is a culmination of all the other categories into one top prize. The award comes with several polished pewter trophies, a unique rosette, a hand-engraved Steuben Crystal Bowl, and the James Mortimer Memorial Cup.
To win Best in Show, the dog must pass a number of rigorous tests over all other competitors. The highest total average wins the prize.
The tests cover showmanship, obedience, agility, and a score in the field trials.
Dog Breed Judging
Beyond the physicality of the Best in Show competition, the Westminster Kennel Club dog show offers prizes to the top animals in their breed categories.
Dog breeds are a complex thing, with hundreds of potential breeds around the world.
The Westminster Kennel Club has sorted these breeds into seven major categories.
1. Sporting
The Sporting category is for the hunters and trackers.
These are dogs that are often found in outdoor activities like deer hunting and fishing.
A few examples are Golden Retrievers, Pointers, and English Settlers.
2. Working
The Working category covers dogs bred for their assistance capabilities.
This included the Herding category up until 1983. These are dogs that help pull sleds, guard property, or even become police dogs.
The commons breeds here are Siberian Huskies, Boxers, and Great Danes.
3. Terrier
The Terrier category covers the energetic intensity of this more specific category.
Terriers often don't tolerate other dogs and have a penchant for digging.
Some common Terrier examples are Irish Terriers and Bull Terriers.
4. Hounds
The Hounds category is a distinct group from the Sporting category.
While the Sporting category has great general instincts around hunting and tracking, the Hounds have a potent acuteness for their sense of smell and excel at tracking.
Typical Hounds are Beagle, Basset Hound, and Greyhound.
5. Toys
The Toys category is for very small dogs.
They weigh between 4 and 16 pounds and often live longer due to needing less space.
The common Toy breeds are Pugs, Toy Poodles, and Pomeranians.
6. Non-Sporting
The Non-Sporting category covers a wide variety of breeds for a wide variety of purposes.
This is often a bit of a catch-all for the other breeds.
The common Non-Sporting dogs can range from American Eskimo Dog to the French Bulldog.
7. Herding
The Herding category started in 1983 to specify dogs with specific animal herding ability from the other working dogs.
These dogs were common in farms for herding sheep and cattle.
The usual Herding dogs are Australian Cattle Dogs, Border Collies, and Old English Sheepdogs.
Awards for Every Occasion
Winning an award as popular as the Westminster Best in Show dog show ribbon can mean the world to many people.
Well-made awards tend to have that effect, that pride in all the hard work paying off.
From dog shows to sports events and even graduation, there are many reasons to celebrate excellence.
When you need to celebrate it in style, we're here to help.
Contact us today for more details.
