connie's blog

Each year at this time I look forward to my annual trek to New York to experience firsthand the excitement, anticipation and fervor of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. The dogs start arriving the weekend before the show (over 2,000 in all!) taking over Madison Square Garden and the surrounding area, seemingly oblivious to the world-wide media attention they’re garnering. On the other hand, their breeders, owners and handlers are quite aware of the stakes at hand and nervously await their dog’s time in the ring all the while dreaming of capturing a prestigious title and the glamour and celebrity it will bring them. The dogs firstly compete against others of the same breed and those winning dogs are awarded a Best Of Breed designation. The winning Best Of Breed dogs then go on to compete for the title, Best In Group. There are seven groups in all – Toy, Terrier, Herding, Hound, Sporting, Non-Sporting, and Working. Once the judges have chosen the winning dogs for the Best In Group category, those dogs (seven in all) then go on to compete for the coveted Best In Show title. That highly televised conclusion is Westminster's grand finale and, as you can imagine, the tension and expectation is palpable.  

Although only ticket holders gain access to the show and with it, access to the benching area providing close-up encounters with the competing dogs, a visit to many of the hotel lobbies surrounding the Garden will provide a sneak preview of many of the competing dogs while also providing an opportunity to chat with the breeders and handlers.

The Hotel Pennsylvania has developed a name for being “the” place for the canine contenders to stay. From pre-Westminster events such as doggie fashion shows to doggie spas and exercise gyms, it’s a hubbub of activity. Here are some photos I snapped in their lobby:

Here's a young Komondor, a breed which originated in Hungary with the purpose to guard livestock. As they get older, they grow long, dreadlock-like cords of fur.  

Here is a fine example of a Dogue de Bordeaux (or French Mastiff)

Just prior to and during the show, check out the lower lobby of the Hotel Penn. It's transformed into a shopping/exhibition area for show goers, plus they've also set up an exercise gym and spa facility for the dog. Here's a rather striking Irish Wolfound and his guardian.

Krista Wickens, owner of Dog Tread provided dog treadmills for the hotel's canine guests so the dogs could get some exercise and maintain their peak physique during their stay in the Big Apple. 

The Hotel Affinia is also a favourite of Westminster aficianados with its convenient location directly across the street from Madison Square Garden. Their grand lobby is an excellent place to dog-watch (see some of my photos below). I was also pleased to see that hotel management had given careful consideration to their canine guests by setting up a doggie refreshment area that included a bathroom facility on a large outer deck (two thumbs up for the outdoor potty area, the fresh air wisked away odours keeping the experience a pleasant one).

It was also clear that the comfort and needs of their human guests was of great importance, too.  Staff were courteous and accommodating and when shown to our deluxe room, I was pleased to see a newly renovated bathroom, but even better was the super-comfortable bed complete with luxurious linens that included a pillow menu so you could choose the pillow that best suited your needs. I often rate a hotel by the quality of sleep I've had while staying there and based on that criteria alone, the Affinia receives top marks!

Here are some of the doggie guests we met at the Affinia:

Two thumbs up for the outdoor bathroom area located off an upper floor keeping pups safe and odours out doors: 

The Affinia's lobby was a great place to check out the various competing breeds as well as an opportunity to chat with their humans: 

Chinese Cresteds vie for attention:

A Cane Corso and his dog-dad:

Just as there were end-of-the-world stories circulating at the time the year 2000 rolled around, so there are with the year 2012. Personally, I don't believe that the world is going to be destroyed by some cataclysmic event, but I do believe that this New Year will mark an increasing change in the way people perceive themselves, others and the world we share. Through this awareness we will more clearly see how we're all connected and that whatever harm we inflict on this planet, or others, truly affects us all.  So perhaps the "end" that is being predicted is merely an end to old, outgrown ways of thinking that in turn give way to enlightenment. Our dogs, of course, continue to be amazing guides, patiently demonstrating how to love wholeheartedly and live joyously.

So here's to an enlightened 2012 filled with love, joy and abundance!

Connie & Penny 

My girl friend Jacquie emailed me a funny story that gave me a laugh, brightening and lightening a rather stressful day.  Not sure who originally wrote this, but in any case, here it is. Hope you enjoy it as I did:

Three handsome male dogs are
walking down the street when
they see a beautiful, enticing,
female Poodle.

The three male dogs fall all over
themselves in an effort to be the
one to reach her first, but end
up arriving in front of her at
the same time.  

The males are speechless before
her beauty, slobbering on
themselves and hoping for just
a glance from her in return.

Aware of her charms and her
obvious effect on the three
suitors, she decides to be kind
and tells them, 'The first one
who can use the words 'liver'
and 'cheese' together in an
imaginative, intelligent sentence
can go out with me.'

The sturdy, muscular black Lab
speaks up quickly and says:

'I love liver and cheese.'

'Oh, how childish,' said the Poodle.
'That shows no imagination or
intelligence whatsoever.'

She turns to the tall, shiny
Golden Retriever and says
'How well can you do?'

'Um. I HATE liver and cheese,'
blurts the Golden Retriever.

'My, my,' said the Poodle.
'I guess it's hopeless. That's just
as dumb as the Lab's sentence.'

She then turns to the last of
the three dogs and says,
'How about you, little guy?'

The last of the three, tiny in
stature but big in fame and
finesse, is the Taco Bell Chihuahua.
He gives her a smile, a sly wink,
turns to the Golden Retriever
and the Lab and says....

(ok this is good)

Liver alone.....  

Cheese mine

Remembrance Day/Armistice Day marks a time to formally honour, recognize and give thanks to the countless men and women who have selflessly given their lives to protect our freedom. In recognition of this ultimate sacrifice, Modern Dog's office will be closed today so that our staff time may attend Remembrance Day services.

Countless deadlines and obligations caused October to go zooming by in the blink of an eye. With hardly a spare moment for relaxation or other leisurely pursuits, there's been little time to do many of the things I enjoy, such as updating my blog. The month in which we close an issue (as October was), is always hectic as we're busily finalizing articles and editorial features, and assuring submitted material such as ads meet spec. Of course, there's always that last minute image or bit of info you're awaiting just before press which certainly up's the stress factor. Throw in a tradeshow that's been scheduled a week later than it usually runs (which you just have to go to), thereby taking you out of town two weeks before your on-press date, and your seemingly undoable schedule becomes even busier. Somehow it all falls into place though, everything's completed on time and press deadline is met. Our much-anticipated Winter issue actually just came off press, is now out of the bindery and being readied for mailings to subscribers and deliveries to newsstands. This is the moment, where I sigh a sigh of relief whilst excitedly awaiting for our advance copies of the issue to arrive. BTW, I LOVE our winter cover! Cover girl, Yvonne Strahovski and her rescued Dachshund, Wilbur exemplify the connectivity that we dog lovers share with our own pooches. The cover virtually glows with the warmth of their love!  Jam-packed with fun and informative articles, recipes, training tips and advice, along with our much-awaited Holiday Gift Guide, plus more photo contest winners and giveaways, I hope you enjoy this edition as much as I do.  Let me know what you think... I always appreciate your feedback.

To catch up, here are some photos that summarize October's happenings:  

Attending the HH Backer's Christmas trade show in Chicago is always fun and a great time to reunite with our pet industry friends. We walk the show aisles checking out all the latest the industry has to offer. Many of the products showcased in our winter edition are sourced from such shows. We also get a chance to meet in person some of the people we've only ever had a chance to chat with through email or telephone calls such as the guys at Wholelife... here they are at their booth.

PocketDisc's colourful handmade frisbees (for indoor or outdoor use), make a brilliant and compelling display!

Dogs in strollers are a common sight... their humans don't have to worry about them getting stepped on in the busy and crowded aisles and the stroller also provides a place to stash merchandise. This Bulldog cutie was enjoying all the attention being showered upon him!

A must-do is the annual Backer Christmas party. This year they awarded prizes for the best Halloween costumes. Pictured below is the Paco Collars crew looking distinguished and portly in their penguin costumes.

Modern Dog's Sara Lima and Fizzion's Terrance Reeve pose for a shot...

Back at the office, Mary Liu's staff pick, an Eco Drop bed from West Paw Design arrives (check it out in the winter edition). As soon as it was unpacked, Esther, the editor's dog,  decides to lay claim it and from her lofty perch oversees office goings-on.

For Halloween, Penny dresses up as a dapper French dog in her  striped tee and black beret  (from BarkingBaby.com). A squeaky baguette toy completes the scene.