Velvety, Wooly, Silky, Magnificent

May 20, 2024 5:30 AM

Intrepid reporter embarks on a quest to pet every breed in the Westminster Dog Show. (SL Washington Post article; gift link, no subscription required.)
posted by yankeefog (21 comments total)

yes

YES

YESSS
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 6:50 AM on May 20 [5 favorites]

I'm firmly Team Cat but awwwwww

AWWWWWWW!
posted by supermedusa at 7:41 AM on May 20 [4 favorites]

We had a piñata at a work event recently, and early on someone hit it so hard that the plastic loop that allowed its fuselage to be hung from the ceiling got ripped out of the cardboard shell of its body. It was still like 80% full of candy, and I was the designated piñata handler, so I cradled it in my arms like a baby and carried it around for the rest of the event. It was very satisfying to gently pat the piñata's butt while I carried it around.

This was how I learned that it's weirdly extremely soothing to hug a stuffed piñata. I got at least 60% of the relaxation benefits of hugging a dog, cat or other real animal. So apparently some of the oxytocin & prefrontal cortex activation effects of petting any animal also translate into petting something animal-shaped with the vague heft of a real animal, even though it isn't even fluffy, let alone alive.
posted by terretu at 7:56 AM on May 20 [14 favorites]

The one where the dog wants you to lie down for a hug got me. I am also team cat but I would do that in a heartbeat.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 8:05 AM on May 20 [6 favorites]

That is my life's dream. I can't have a pet in my apartment and spend a lot of time asking strangers, "Is your dog friendly?"
posted by pangolin party at 8:09 AM on May 20 [3 favorites]

I do try to pet all the dogs. Some of them are not into it, I get it, and leave them alone.

But if you are bringing your dog into the store, I am going to try to make friends with your good dog, and give it the scritches it deserves...
posted by Windopaene at 8:36 AM on May 20 [2 favorites]

The sheer amount of vicarious joy I got from this article...
posted by unicorn chaser at 8:39 AM on May 20

Now I need to go to Westminster and pet all the dogs.

Look at all those cute fucks. As a standard poodle owner, (on number three and four now), I hate that silly show cut stuff.
posted by Windopaene at 8:46 AM on May 20 [5 favorites]

I think I prefer a dog with fur I can scruff and ruffle and stroke.

Like Saana, the Lhasa apso.

I'm betting she wasn't scruffing and ruffling, maybe, maybe allowed to gently stroke, Saana before she went into the ring!
posted by BlueHorse at 9:01 AM on May 20

I have never heard of a leonberger but would cuddle.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:01 AM on May 20

I've expressed my lack of love for conforming competitions, but I would definitely pet all the dogs. And in other Westminster news - Nimble, an "All American Dog" (aka mixed breed and in this case a purposeful mix of Pap and Border Collie), blew the doors off the field in the Agility competition and became the first mixed breed dog to win the whole shebang. (And I love how Nimble was moving so fast that the announcers had to say "this isn't sped up")
posted by drewbage1847 at 10:16 AM on May 20 [21 favorites]

You don't have to know much about agility to tell from that video just how incredible Nimble 's run was.
posted by meese at 11:05 AM on May 20 [4 favorites]

...was moving so fast that the announcers had to say "this isn't sped up"

I never thought I'd see a dog drift when cornering, but here we are
posted by AzraelBrown at 11:17 AM on May 20 [6 favorites]

Nimble, an "All American Dog" (aka mixed breed and in this case a purposeful mix of Pom and Border Collie)

What a stunningly beautiful dog. She has such a sweet and intelligent face--you saw how calm she was at the beginning and end. And I loved her jump into her person's arms at the end.

(I'm seeing in a couple sources that she's a border collie/papillon mix, not border collie/Pom)
posted by dlugoczaj at 12:59 PM on May 20 [6 favorites]

Sorry, you're right - I was looking at my Chi/Pom mix and crossed the streams. She is BC/Pap and apparently that jump is how she always ends her runs.
posted by drewbage1847 at 1:10 PM on May 20 [2 favorites]

Yeah, Papillons are really good agility dogs; a friend of mine runs a Papillon-terrier mix.
posted by suelac at 1:10 PM on May 20 [1 favorite]

I don’t know whaaaaat it is but these joyful dog agility runs always make me cry. They bubble up such a weird mix of emotions.
posted by jeoc at 3:25 PM on May 20 [5 favorites]

THIS is Madagascar's national dog?!?
posted by Small Dollar at 4:01 PM on May 20

I couldn't help but think about Westminster Dog Show.. On Acid.
posted by knile at 4:32 PM on May 20 [1 favorite]

Too much yakkety about poodles, and not ONE photo (or even one word!) about Boston Terriers! I quit.
posted by BostonTerrier at 5:55 PM on May 20 [2 favorites]

Cat person, but maaaaaaan I want to take Muppet for a long walk through town and sit outside a café with him/her.
posted by Molesome at 8:34 AM on May 21 [1 favorite]