It's President's Day, and though the
Portuguese Water Dog didn't take the top honor at the Westminster
Kennel Club Dog Show (sorry, Bo Obama!), the breed did score Best of
Breed and competed with six other contenders for the top title. It
was Banana Joe, the Affenpinscher, who took the top prize in the
famed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last week, and now you may be
wondering, “What is an Affenpinscher anyway?”
According to the American Kennel Club
(AKC), this small breed of dog (it stands only 9 ½ to 11 inches tall
at the shoulder) came from a larger terrier-type of dog that was used
on farms as a ratter. They were later bred down in size and used to
control mice in homes. The name means “monkey terrier” in German,
a nod to the facial features of the breed. The Affenpinscher weighs
only 7 to 10 pounds. The coat, usually black, gray, silver, or black
and tan, is wiry and requires regular brushing.
They are alert, active,
independent-spirited little dogs that bond well with their people,
and because of their small size, they make great dogs for
apartment-dwellers.
They were recognized by the AKC in
1936, but have been around for centuries, most notably in Germany and
France. This was the first year an Affenpinscher won Best in Show at
Westminster.
In the recent AKC ranking of mostpopular dogs, the Affenpinscher came in at #138. The other breeds
competing in last week's Best in Show were the Old English Sheepdog
(which placed as the runner-up), German Wire-haired Pointer, American
Foxhound, Portuguese Water Dog, Smooth-coated Fox Terrier, and Bichon
Frise. Of all, the later ranks highest on the popularity chart, at
#38.
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
is the second longest continuously held sporting event in the United
States. The Kentucky Derby is the longest running, but only by one
year. Millions watch the dog show on TV or online. More than 185
different dog breeds and varieties competed in this year's show,
including two newly recognized breeds: the Russell Terrier (once
called the Jack Russell Terrier) and the Treeing Walker Coonhound.
Just as the monkey-faced Affenpinscher
took top honors for the first time this year, perhaps one of these
newly-recognized breeds will receive Best in Show in the not so
distant future.
