A-listers who traveled to New York last weekend gathered for the biggest event of their careers, arriving by car and chauffeur or on planes flanked by entourages. They didn’t even have their own passports, let alone pack the croquettes or squeaky toys.
Each of them, however, is a very good dog.
Around 2,500 top ranking dogs are in New York to compete in this year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The breed judging, the marquee event, will begin on Monday, while several hundred other dogs have already battled it out in competitions testing agility, obedience and the ability to dive as far off a dock as possible.
Entering the show requires years of training and effort. Getting to the show requires extensive organization by owners and handlers, who plan day or day road or air trips, pack thousands of dollars worth of equipment — grooming tables, industrial-strength hair dryers, leashes, collars, toys, kibbles and more — and pray that neither delays nor cancellations disturb their itineraries.
Treats are non-negotiable.
“I try to get healthy single-ingredient treats like frozen duck or freeze-dried liver,” said Shell Lewis, 71, who came to New York with a Russell terrier and a Cairn terrier. On show days, however, her dogs receive “something special and of great value.”
“It involves a drive to McDonald’s to get two sausage biscuits – I eat the biscuits, they get the sausage,” he said.
See how some show dogs and their entourage traveled to Westminster.
Taking on the road
In the United States, collecting titles in local, regional and national dog races requires constant driving, with long trips being the norm. Most dogs, their trainers say, are used to the street.
Ms. Lewis drove 14 hours from Geneva, Ill., for Spangle, Russell’s 2-year-old terrier, to compete in the agility event (Alas, Spangle was knocked out in the preliminaries.) Ms. Lewis also brought along Nora , her 7-year-old Cairn Terrier.
“They haven’t learned to drive yet,” Ms. Lewis said, “but they’re great travelers.”
Krysthel Moore and Quinnzel, her border collie, who jumped 15 feet to reach the final on the dock, drove eight hours from their home in Quebec. Quinzel turned it on for most of it, Ms. Moore, 40, said.
Quinzel barely notices a change in environment, Ms. Moore added. “She doesn’t care where we are, she just likes being around me.”
Some attendees drove to the show. Jenni Nieft and Kris Dunlap, who met at a dog show three years ago, drove from Wyoming for more than two days with Rowan, an 85-pound Bracco Italiano, and Keeva, a 52-pound Weimaraner. Both dogs will compete in breed trials on Tuesday.
“They’re starting young, they’re cage-trained, they’re just getting used to it,” said Ms. Nieft, 53, who added that on road trips, exercise and bathroom breaks are vital. “We tailor the journey around their comfort.”
Driving was the only transportation option: Some dogs, like Rowan, are too big to fly, as commercial airlines have carrier weight and size limits.
Dogs don’t travel lightly, explained Jamie Goodrich, 41. Traveling from Central Square, New York, north of Syracuse, he packed his 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan with two crates, two folding chairs, three gallons of water, an emergency kit both for dogs as well as humans, two suitcases of human clothing, three leashes, days of kibble, grooming equipment — various brushes, clippers, a water trowel, table, scissors — and an electric fan.
“Oh, and the dog,” she said of Aero, her Akita who will compete in a breed on Tuesday. (The fan keeps the Aero from overheating behind the scenes.)
Traveling by plane
Other dogs flew to New York, which required collecting a myriad of documents, running a series of vaccinations and the minefield of different airline policies and breed and weight restrictions.
Janice Hayes, a 42-year-old professional handler from Palm Springs, California, regularly flies to show dogs. Buddy Holly, a petite griffon from Vaden, won the top prize at last year’s Westminster (“He’s got more miles than all of us,” Ms Hayes said).
Buddy Holly is now retired, but made the trip again this year to enjoy his final moments as champion and accompany three other show dogs. Britney and Spotify, also small Vendéens basset griffins, are featured, as is Hayden, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
Because of their size, the three small-bassed Venetian griffons fly in crates and in the luggage compartment. Hayden flew into the cabin.
Getting to the airport hours early is one of Ms. Hayes’ travel strategies, as is booking a seat on the side of the plane with a view of the plane’s hold — watching the dogs being loaded offers welcome reassurance that the dogs are safe, too. street
Dozens of dogs traveled from abroad to compete in this year’s show. Anel Vazquez Franchini and her dog Khaleesi, a 5-year-old bearded collie, flew in from Mexico City.
“We don’t have many bearded collies here. It’s easy to win when you don’t have competition,” said Ms. Vasquez Franchini of Mexico’s dog shows. The Westminster show, he said, is a coveted opportunity for Khaleesi — or Kaly, for short — to really prove herself.
Requirements for animals to travel internationally vary by country and may change frequently. Beginning in August, dogs entering the United States must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies.
Dogs living within the European Union who wish to travel internationally — or whose humans make this decision on their behalf — must have their pet passport. This vet issued document contains microchip registration, vaccine history and ownership information. It is mandatory for the reintegration into the EU
Vitellozzo, a 2-year-old French bulldog who lives in Croatia with his handler, Valentina Zupan, he has such a passport. He is a seasoned international traveler — this is his second time in the United States.
While flying, Vitellozzo does not need sedatives or other medications, said Ms. Zupan, 32. His crate fits under the plane seat and he slept for most of their trip, which included driving to Budapest, flying to Warsaw, then to Chicago for another show, then driving to New York.
Sharing rooms and beds
Hosting the dogs and their humans overnight are the hotels closest to the show venue, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
“Big dogs, little dogs, fancy dogs, regular dogs, it’s a lot,” said Raquan Williams, a front desk clerk at the sold-out Four Points by Sheraton in Flushing. “We love it.”
Except for nights over $200, hotels generally charge a one-time pet fee that can exceed $100. Most Westminster handlers and owners share rooms with their dogs.
And beds.
“My dogs take up an entire bed. I’m lucky if I sleep at the top,” said Patty Berkovitz, 69, who with her partner Jack Florek and two Irish Wolfhounds, Rowan and Brody, stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in Long Island City. Rowan and Brody will compete – against each other – in the Tribe’s Judgment. All four creatures are in one room and each of the dogs weighs more than 160 pounds.
With such large companions, Mr. Florek, 71, joked that the key strategy was to sleep before the dogs, which he neglected to do on Friday night.
“I was the spoon,” he said.
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