- Title: Two new dog breeds join the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
- Date: 23rd January 2019
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 23, 2019) (REUTERS) DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB, GAIL MILLER BISHER INTRODUCING BUZZ LIGHTYEAR, A FOUR-YEAR-OLD GRAND BASSETT GRIFFON VENDEENS AND BUZZ LIGHTYEAR ON STAGE BANDIT, A TWO-YEAR-OLD NEDERLANDSE KOOIKERHONDJES, WALKING ON STAGE DURING INTRODUCTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS,
- Embargoed: 6th February 2019 19:53
- Keywords: new breeds dog show Best in Show AKC Grand Bassett Griffon Vendeens American Kennel Club Westminster Dog Show Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes dogs
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0019YD6TLL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Two additional dog breeds will compete in the 143rd Annual Westminster Kennel Club (AKC) Dog Show. For the first time since 1877, the Grand Bassett Griffon Vendeens and the Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes will be among the 203 breeds and varieties competing in the dog show.
The two new breeds were introduced on Wednesday (January 23) during a news conference in New York.
"Now these are breeds that aren't necessarily new. They've actually been around for many years, but they're gaining popularity in the United States and they earned AKC breed recognition last year," said Westminster Kennel Club Director of Communications Gail Miller Bisher.
Describing the Grand Bassett Griffon Vendeens, Miller Bisher said, "It is a French hunting breed. They'll be in the hound group. And they have a very rough, wiry coat. They're a very sturdy dog. They can work all day and they're wonderful family pets."
Of the Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes, Miller Bisher described their "very unique hunting style".
"Instead of chasing down prey, they would lure the ducks to the nets of the hunters. And so they had to work very closely with their owners and then they're still wonderful companions today."
Hander and co-owner of a four-year-old Grand Bassett Griffon Vendeens named Buzz Lightyear, Brielly Cipriotti said, "A lot of judges have recognized him over the past year and the previous years before that when they were in miscellaneous."
A sprightly two-year-old named Bandit represented the Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes.
Also, during the news conference a group of Dachshunds made their presence known. The Dachshund appeared in the very first Westminster Dog Show and has won the hound group nine times, but it has never won Best in Show. There will be 76 of the weiner-looking dogs in the competition.
More than 2,800 dogs will compete in the 143rd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City on February 11 and 12. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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