New Dogs, Old Tricks: Four Breeds Will Make Westminster Debut By J. DAVID GOODMAN NYT, Feb. 9, 2008 Dolma, a 5-year-old Tibetan mastiff, bounded over interlocking Turkish rugs, jumped onto an overstuffed tan couch and rolled around on her back, paws up, tongue out. Uma, two years her junior, stood watching while 10-year-old Pasha, the oldest of Martha Feltenstein’s five Tibetan mastiffs, panted deeply in the corner, near a large model of a Tibetan aristocrat’s home.... As president of the American Tibetan Mastiff Association, Feltenstein has worked to increase the profile of the breed, not only around her Midtown Manhattan brownstone, but throughout the dog-show world.... But it was only this year that the breed, rare in the United States, finally gained recognition from the American Kennel Club and a chance to compete at the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which begins Monday. Four breeds will make their debut at Westminster this year, the most to be admitted at once since 1991.
Along with the Tibetan mastiff, in the working group, the beauceron and the Swedish vallhund were added to the herding group and the plott was added to the hound group. For Kerstin J. T. Ottmar...recognition was a "lifetime goal and achievement." In 1985, her mother, Marilyn Thell, was the first to breed the Swedish vallhund in the United States. In a matchup of newcomers in the herding group Monday evening, the fox-like Swedish vallhund will share the ring with the beauceron, a large, black-and-tan shepherd dog with double dewclaws — a sixth toe, in other words. Both will compete against more established breeds such as the border collie and the German shepherd. The American Kennel Club recognizes 157 distinct dog breeds.
“Some have been around for thousands of years,” said David Frei, director of communications for the Westminster Kennel Club. “The Tibetan mastiff has been around thousands of years. It’s probably the progenitor of many of the breeds you see in the ring today.” The plott hound comes closest of the four new breeds to being a native American dog. Brought to the United States in the late 18th century and bred to sniff wild boar and bear, the midsize, brindle-haired dog is still primarily used for hunting. (The breed standard includes this note to judges: “The plott may have an identification mark on the rump used to identify the dog when out hunting. Such a mark is not to be penalized when evaluating the dog.”)
BECAUSE HE LOVES AMERICA ROMNEY BOW-WOW-WOWS OUT OF AKC COMPETITION OK one glass ceiling shattered. They're in the American Kennel Club; next if Martha Feltenstein can slip at least one of these throwbacks past the "greeter" into Sam's Wholesale Club -- well that's the America I want to live in. Some thought the day would never come when Australian Sheep Dogs and Labrador Retrievers, Italian Greyhounds and Chinese Cresteds, Schipperkes and Standard Schnauzers, Vallhunds, Beaucerons, Tibetan Mastiffs and Plotts could all walk very fast together in the most unnatural of settings. Call me a hopeless romantic but "I had a dream...."
Look closely. Is it my imagination or does the Tibetan Mastiff to our right not bear and uncanny resemblance to the late Senate Majority Leader Everett Dirksen? Not so excited about that Plott. Who wants a dog named after something it leaves on your lawn? And I challenge anyone to find an actual video of a Plott sniffing a boar on Youtube -- although the one in our photo seems to be making the attempt from a respectable distance.
Still, don’t you find it somewhat discomfiting that Ms. Ottmar's mother was the first to breed a Swedish Vallhund in the U.S. See what happens when you allow civil unions? It's a slippery slope my friend. One also suspects the assertion by the WKC's communications director that the Tibetan Mastiff has been around for "thousands of years" may be somewhat apocryphal. We had a Basenji that lived to be 17 (never mentioned that to anybody and neither did we). But thousands?
The Kennel Club is to be commended on it's uncharacteristic open-mindedness in not penalizing the Plott with an identification mark on its ass. More troubling may be the persistence in disqualifying handlers with either a butterfly tattooed in the small of her back or any reference to Angelina Jolie inscribed on any part of his body whatsoever.
With the recognition of her dogs, Ms. Feltenstein is to be congratulated on what must have been a hard fought Keep off the Grassroots Campaign. On the other hand, one would hazard a guess that attaining the presidency of the American Tibetan Mastiff Assn. does not require a great deal of canvassing.
Not so fortunate, one Willard “Mitt” Romney. In a hastily scheduled appearance this afternoon at PetSmart, the former candidate for the Republican nomination to the presidency announced he was suspending his campaign to get his own dog accepted into the AKC Registry and thereby made eligible to compete in today's Westminister Dog Show. The family pet, an ungainly Utah/Massachusetts mix, who’s registered name is Jill St. John Kerry Blue Terrier Nash Rambler Hudson Renault, but who goes by the shorter “Mutt” Romney, sat quietly by the former presidential candidate’s side.
Romney noted his own withdrawal from the presidential race had not nearly been as precipitous. He said he had launched his quest nearly 12 months ago but was quick to point out, “That’s seven in dog years.” As they traveled from state to state, the candidate consistently praised Mutt to all who would listen as the perfect loyal and protective companion for a middle class family.
To the chirps and whistles of African Grey Parrots, Albino Cockatiels, Zebra Finches, Scarlet Macaws and Java Temple Birds, the former Massachusetts Governor and pro choice crusader told a hushed crowd of shoppers how “Mutt” had stood by his side – or more specifically strapped to the roof of his car – campaigning in 22 states, Guam and the District of Columbia. Contrary to protests from animal rights groups, Romney said the dog endured the experience none the worse for wear, with the possible exception of a slight stutter in her bark.
Romney said he knew it was time to throw in the towel when he went out on the stump, and a “companion” of Mutt’s was already there casting his vote on the side of it, in that way only another dog can. To shouts and yelps of astonishment from the crowd, the former candidate and gay rights champion declared that he was leaving the race for the betterment of both pooch and party. Others pleaded with him to have the dog either stay or sit, but alpha male Romney would have none of if. .
“If I fight on all the way to the convention, it would only make it more likely that some bitch like Hillary Clinton would take this year’s Best of Show,” he said. Adding, “I love America too much for that,” although everyone had already taken note of that on his sleeve.
In an uncharacteristic loss of composure, the perfectly chisled non-candidate then proceeded to taunt the former first lady.
“What is it Hillary? You want us to follow you girl? Is the country in trouble? Did Billy fall down a well? Do ya’ think you can find your way back? Such a good girl. You’re such a good girl. Hey, what’s that stain on the rug.”
Romney further told those gathered that no one was more surprised than he that his dog’s pedigree had been denied, despite the fact that his LDS Church had kept scrupulous genealogical records for nearly two hundred years. He professed those went back to a time when it was not uncommon for a sire to take two or even three dozen dams, depending on what was on special that year.
The millionaire investment specialist who had touted his business acumen did not respond to a reporter's request for comment on the $40 million of his own money he had spent on the primary campaign. The reporter noted that the amount Romney had frittered away in his faltering quest for the nomination could have kept all the strays and rescue dogs in America in Kibbles `n Bits for more than a year. Romney said he was sorry he couldn’t be responsible for every dog in America. He could only be faithful to his own, although he had spayed on occasion.
In response to another question, Romney told those who remained present that he would leave the door open for another run at the presidency, but didn’t want those animal rights people to blame him if the cat got out. Mutt Romney’s unexpected pullout, now leaves Senator John McCain’s Border Collie Pedro as top dog in the competition. Texas Congressman Ron Paul, said to be a member of the Church of LSD, has expressed disdain for the idea of keeping records on any breed – especially as to what they choose to do in the privacy of their own kennel.
Therefore the only dog remaining who could conceivably derail McCain’s march to the White House may be the long shot booked and registeredas Scooby’s Out in Public, Idaho Senator Larry Craig’s Whippet.
Former Dallas Film Commissioner Roger Burke published the satirical newsletter Occasional News Events From Around Texas And Selected States (acronym intentional) until he realized 10,000 others making up fake news on the Internet was probably already sufficient. He resides in Texas with a family of Vegans and a large collection of slightly damaged, department store markdown, pets including a German Shepherd who never quite got over the loss of the Sudentenland. He sits up for treats and occasionally welcomes tips.