What is Dog Showing?

Dog handlers and dog lovers alike tuned into CNBC last night to watch the ever exciting action of the 135th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in Madison Square Garden.

Not many people can understand the attraction to such an event. After all its not the Red Sox or Patriots. As a dog handler in 4-H I believe that you can not really appreciate the excitement of the dog showing world until you are immersed in it.

Dog showing is all about the preparation, not only for your dog, but also for yourself. Firstly, the dog needs to be trained. True enough conformation is not an obedience based event, but your dog still needs to be well behaved and responsive to your commands. (esp. since your only leash and collar is a thin showmanship lead). It also needs to tolerate stacking, (setting up your dog in the best position to showcase the breed's qualities) and the judge's inspection. In addition, every dog needs to be ableto free-stack (the dog sets itself up). Then, comes the grooming. The amount of time and difficulty of grooming is specific to each breed. However, even terriers whose coats are meant to be working, hardy coats need hours of grooming. Your doggy's do must be as close to the breed standard as possible (sorry no crazy hair dye) while still showcasing your dog's best qualities. Your dog's coat can make or break you. I take my hat off to Standard Poodle handlers who spend all day on their dogs. Finally, you have to train yourself. A handler's job is to showcase their dog and make sure the judge notices them. In order to do this you must exhibit your dog while staying out of the judge's way. Your dog should be between you and the judge at all times. For example, don't reach over your dog when stacking it. One dog show announcer summed it up, "A good handler should be invisible."

After all that preparation its time to show your stuff in the ring. Once you actually get in the ring the air is full of tension, competition, and excitement. This feeling can even be felt by spectators hoping their favorite breed will win. But win or loose, dog showing is a great way to see all your favorite dogs, learn about dogs, and meet fellow dog lovers.

Being Human: "Where The Wild Things Are"

One of my favorite clips from Being Human.

New Orginal Series?

The beginning of the new year saw some new "original" series added to American television such as Being Human, Skins, and the upcoming X-Factor. While some praised the new shows, others despised and degraded them from almost the minute they premiered. Fierce criticism could be found plastered all over facebook in the form of status posts, page comments, and even flair. What could cause such an intense hatred of a show that had just aired its first episode? The answer is that these shows had in actuality, been on air for years and already had avid fans.

The programs were actually successful British creations that Hollywood had Americanized and brought here. The issue is that with that many Americans were already watching those shows on the Internet or TV stations such as BBC America. After falling in love with the story and picking their favorite characters/actors, the fans took Hollywood's actions as a personal insult. They are outraged because Hollywood calls the new version "originals", rarely, if ever, giving the original actors and writers credit. Furthermore, Hollywood usually edits the scripts to make them more "American" changing characters' backgrounds and names, dialing down some themes, and sometimes even changing the show's name. Di-hard fans consider this blasphemy. When the original scripts were so addictive and amazing, why change them? And come on let's just face it, British accents make everything ten times cooler.

Now, as it is pretty obvious, I have also contracted Anglophenia. My favorite BBC America show is Being Human; a show about a ghost, a vampire, and a werewolf who all live together and struggle to be normal.....to be human. Dynamic characters and suspenseful plots keep myself and thousands of other fans tuned in to BBC America every Supernatural Saturday. Seeing its success in both the UK and US; the syfy channel decided to create their own version. The name of every character was changed as was the background of my favorite character Mitchell, the vampire. Mitchell was a soldier in World War I who allowed himself to be turned as long as his comrades were spared. The US "Aiden" was a Revolutionary War soldier. My question is, "Wasn't the US in World War I as well?" I could barely watch the preview trailer and haven't even tried to watch the show.

In closing, I'd just like to leave you with one thought. The UK has also borrowed a few of our shows (ex: CSI: Miami, the Vampire Diaries, and Glee), but they air the originals. Why don't we do the same?