Seven canine contestants are vying for top honors at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The competition has narrowed down from over 2,500 dogs and more than 200 breeds to a select group of seven.
The final round will take place on Tuesday night, where three additional finalists will be chosen before they face off against the current four finalists: Zaida, an Afghan hound; JJ, a Lhasa apso; Cookie, a Maltese; and Graham, an old English sheepdog. The winner will receive a trophy, ribbons, bragging rights, and the distinction of winning the milestone 150th annual Westminster show.
While some dogs have made it to the final rounds with their professional handlers or owners with extensive experience, others have achieved this feat for the first time. For example, Millie, a Danish-Swedish farmdog, became eligible for the Westminster show this year and has just reached the evening round after besting about 10 other farmdogs.
Among the crowd is Joseph Carrero, who finally got his Neo at age 35 and now breeds and handles them in the ring. He says that despite the challenges of balancing work and dog shows, he enjoys it with his Neo, while also enjoying the attention from fans.
Another couple competing at Westminster for the first time are Natalee Ridenhour and her Boerboel, Invictus. While they did not advance past the first round, they still made a big impact as visitors delightedly petted Invictus and praised their love for each other.
The final round of the competition is set to be an exciting event that will determine which dog will take home the top prize at this historic event.
The final round will take place on Tuesday night, where three additional finalists will be chosen before they face off against the current four finalists: Zaida, an Afghan hound; JJ, a Lhasa apso; Cookie, a Maltese; and Graham, an old English sheepdog. The winner will receive a trophy, ribbons, bragging rights, and the distinction of winning the milestone 150th annual Westminster show.
While some dogs have made it to the final rounds with their professional handlers or owners with extensive experience, others have achieved this feat for the first time. For example, Millie, a Danish-Swedish farmdog, became eligible for the Westminster show this year and has just reached the evening round after besting about 10 other farmdogs.
Among the crowd is Joseph Carrero, who finally got his Neo at age 35 and now breeds and handles them in the ring. He says that despite the challenges of balancing work and dog shows, he enjoys it with his Neo, while also enjoying the attention from fans.
Another couple competing at Westminster for the first time are Natalee Ridenhour and her Boerboel, Invictus. While they did not advance past the first round, they still made a big impact as visitors delightedly petted Invictus and praised their love for each other.
The final round of the competition is set to be an exciting event that will determine which dog will take home the top prize at this historic event.
. I mean, seven dogs competing against each other just to win a trophy? It's all good and fun for some people, but what about the poor dogs that don't make it? They're still adorable and deserving of love, right? And have you seen the price tag for those fancy dog shows? Not exactly affordable for the average pup parent 
. Plus, I'm not sure how many humans are actually there cheering on their breeds...seems like a pretty intimate crowd to me 
. Give me some good ol' fashioned community adoption events any day 
. It's actually kinda cool how some owners have been training and handling their pups since they were puppies, but others like that couple Natalee and her Boerboel Invictus are just happy to be there and share the love 
. And then you've got people like Joseph who've started breeding and competing later in life - that's inspiring 
. It's gonna be a tight competition with those seven finalists, but whoever wins is sure to get bragging rights for a year 
.
. I mean, I get it, it's a big deal and all, but where are the other 2,400? It feels like just a small group of breeds getting all the love here. And what's with the "final round" thing? Can't they just have a proper competition with more dogs? 
And don't even get me started on the trophy and ribbons - who cares about those? It's all about the dog, right? 
. I mean, 2,500 dogs and over 200 breeds to choose from? That's a lot of competition 
. But hey, if you're a dog show regular like Joseph or Natalee, it's all worth it. Their dedication is truly inspiring 
. And can't wait to see who takes home that trophy on Tuesday night! 
! I mean, can you believe there are over 2,500 dogs and more than 200 breeds participating? It's truly incredible!
. And omg Joseph Carrero's story is everything - balancing work and dog shows is NOT easy 
. And what's with all the fancy breeds? Afghan Hound, Lhasa Apso, Maltese... it's like they're breeding dogs for looks instead of actual talent 
. I mean, don't get me wrong, my Neo is a sweetheart, but I bet some of these dogs aren't even trained properly 
. And what about the owners? Some of them seem way too experienced for their own good... like they're in on some secret sauce or something 
. I'm just saying, there's more to this Westminster show than meets the eye 
.
I'm literally shaking with excitement thinking about these 7 talented canines competing for the top spot! 
I'm thinking, what's the point of a show like this? Like, dogs are amazing and all, but there's so much more going on in the world right now... climate change, social inequality, pandemics... 
Does a trophy really make that much of a difference? 
Still, I guess it's cool to see people who've worked hard to get their dogs ready for this moment. It's like they're part of a community or something. And hey, it's fun to watch! 
But if I'm being real, I'd rather be reading about innovative solutions to global problems than dog shows 
Zaida's afghan hound vibes are giving me LIFE right now 
. I love that there's a mix of pros and first-timers, it makes for some epic underdog stories (no pun intended 
. Anyone who can balance work and showing their pup is a win in my book 
. The crowd loves 'em too, it's all about the love 
And can we talk about Natalee Ridenhour and Invictus? They may not have made it past the first round, but they still brought so much joy to everyone around them. That's what it's all about, right? Not just winning a trophy, but sharing love and connection with others. 
. Natalee & her hubby, I'm rooting for you too! 
The fact that Millie, a farmdog, made it to the final rounds for the first time is just amazing 
Natalee and Invictus may not have made it past the first round, but they definitely stole the hearts of everyone there 
. anyway, gonna be super exciting to see which pup takes home that trophy on Tuesday night 
cookie the maltese is so cute lol 
those breeds r so unique btw what r neo's like? joseph carrero sounds like a cool dude brekin' out at age 35