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Harry lost best in show, but won us over

Adorable Dandie Dinmont terrier was second to English springer spaniel

Image: HarryAP
Dandie dinmont terrier Ch Hobergays Fineus Fogg didn't win best in show at Westminster, but he won the hearts of nearly everyone at the show, writes MSNBC.com's Sandy Robins.

I couldn’t see what Harry was snacking on while waiting for the judges, but Angelis assured me that a Dandie’s favorite snack is carrots.

“They will pick carrots over a doggy treat anytime. Also they never eat on the bed — because they are too short to jump up there! This suits me just fine in our household.”

The final top dogs in the seven categories included a toy Poodle, a standard Poodle, both white and stylish, an Akita, Bouvier de Flandres and a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens, who apart from being a similar low-slung elongated shape like Harry, was also a popular dog with the crowds.

This year for the first time in the Westminster show’s 131 year history, odds were posted on the sports book at the Wynn Las Vegas.

“There was a lot of interest in the odds said,” said John Avello, director of race & sports operations at Wynn. “From the moment they were posted, lots of people came in and got the sheets and the phone rang off the hook.”

And Avello, known in Sin City as the Wizard of Odds, got it right. He had the Springer Spaniel listed as 25–1 to win. Harry placed second at 28-1. The toy Poodle was listed as 60-1, the standard Poodle at 80-1, the Petite Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens at 85-1, the Akita at 175-1 and the Bouvier des Flandres at 450-1.

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Despite all the media hoopla that went on long after the lights faded at Madison Square Garden, I hope Diamond Jim manages to get a good night’s sleep and that his handler’s alarm clock works. He has an early call for his first media tour to various TV studios and has to be bright-eyed and sleek to meet his fans. The highlight of his first day as the new champion will be a celebrity lunch at New York’s famous Sardi’s restaurant.

I know we haven’t seen the last of Harry. After all, he won 57 events last year alone. And even though for now the reign of terriers at Westminster is over, he’s still my Prince Harry.

Sandy Robins is an award-winning dog writer. Her work appears regularly on MSNBC.com and MSN.com and  in various national publications.


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Handler Angela Lloyd and Hickory the Sco
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Take a look at some past Best in Show winners at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

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