Social Media Wrap Up at the 2014 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

It is always an exciting and hectic time during my annual voyage to New York City to provide media coverage of the Westminster Kennel Club (WKC) Dog Show. In addition to the two days of the dog show, 2014 Westminster played host to the inaugural Masters Agility Championship.  Plus, there are a series of pet fashion and rescue advocacy events leading up to the big competition. Thursday night started with the PupScoutsfundraiser and fashion show. PupScouts is an organization that provides canine assisted therapy and their fashion show benefitted Mayors Alliance for NYC’s Animals.  Friday night featured the New York Pet Fashion Show, an annual canine couture extravaganza also benefitting the same cause as PupScouts.  While there, I got to hang out with pal Laura Nativo, a dog-trainer and regular on Hallmark Channel’s Home and Family, and her super cool canine companion Winston.  That's us on the red carpet in the photo hoisting Winston on his red-velvet throne. The trend of including mixed-breed and rescue dogs in the Westminster events continued on Saturday at the Masters Agility Championship.  As Nativo is an expert on all things agility, I appreciated her insight on the ins and outs of the competition. While there, Nativo and I got caught up with David Frei, the distinguishable voice of WKC, and Carol Bryant, pet-media impresario of Fidose of Reality and Pet360’s Dog Appeal. To fully bring the excitement of the Westminster’s Group and Best in Show judging, I posted live coverage of the Madison Square Garden happenings on my Twitter and Facebook andInstagram feeds.  Doing so gave me an opportunity to have intriguing interactions with the Westminster-loving audience throughout the event.

Social Chatter

Here are my favorite Facebook posts and follower correspondence. Great to hear Jersey Boys sing National Anthem to open the Westminster Dog Show. Now, bring on the hounds!  Starting judging for Hound group at Westminster Kennel Club all breed dog show. Who's your vote? I'm pulling for Wire Haired Dachshund. Ric Zappala Always the Ridgeback!! Judy Ray Doxie! Lisa Lippman Ridgebacks! Danielle Silvie Gershberg SALUKI! Jon Ewing Go basenji…. Winner of the Hound Group is Bloodhound! Congratulations to all competitors for putting on a great hound-worthy show. Alyssa Catherine Yay!!! I love bloodhounds!!! Shannon Sullivan I'm sure Best In Show's Christopher Guest is very happy Patrick Mahaney Hahaha Shannon Sullivan . It's SO "Best in Show" here! Alyssa Catherine Send me a picture of the bloodhound!!! Toy Group has entered the ring for judging. Will Affenpinscher repeat or will it be the Papillon? Who's your pick (I'm a somewhat new-found fan of the Affenpinscher).  Winner of Toy Group is Miniature Pinscher. Not my fave, as I've seen too many having behavioral problems and health issues like obesity and luxating patella. Diane Silver I'm waiting for the year of the Havanese. Judging is underway for Non-Sporting Group at 2014 Westminster. Having met Allie the winning Standard Poodle today, I'm voting for Poodle! Janice Elenbaas Love poodles! They are under rated! Winner of the Non-Sporting Group at Westminster is Allie the Standard Poodle! Congrats to the dog I saw snoozing earlier today after winning her breed! **attach photo** Felicia C Greenberg Amazing!! Dana Anderson Exhausted, sweet little thing. Natalie Lester Patrick, I was looking for you last night while I was watching. Miss you! Starting final group for the night at Westminster, which is the Herding Group. Let's go German Shepherd Dog! Winner of the Herding Group at 2014 Westminster is the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. At least my German Shepherd Dog came in 3rd! Congratulations and good luck at Best in Show tomorrow night! Emmy Scammahorn I wonder if Queen Elizabeth follows the show. Getting ready for final Group judging and Best in Show at Westminster 2014. Who's going to win top prize? I'm voting Terrier! Let the final night of judging at 2014 Westminster Kennel Club dog show begin with the Sporting Group. I'm pulling for the Irish Setter. Fun Westminster question of the night: What does ASCOB stand for in reference to the Cocker Spaniel? Carol Bryant Any solid color other than black ! Patrick Mahaney Good job Carol Bryant! You're absolutely right! Carol Bryant I will zip it now Patrick Mahaney Kristin Valentine Elliott I knew that too! You are quick Carol Bryant! Joan DeMartin I just learned that last night! You're a quick one, Carol! The winner of the Sporting Group at 2014 Westminster Kennel Club dog show is the Irish Water Spaniel. I guess I'll take another Irish breed if the Setter wasn't Best in Group. Judy Ray I was rooting for the English spaniel, what fun! Karen Lo You must be dog tired by now! Starting the Working Group at Westminster. My vote is cast for the Rottweiler! Who's going to "work it" best on the MSG floor tonight? Best in Working Group goes to the Portuguese Water Dog. Bo and Sunny Obama must be so psyched for their winning relative! Megan Donnelly Stewart Not loving his cut but I'm sure it's traditional. Winner of the Terrier Group is the Wire Fox Terrier! If Cardiff's Welsh Terrier representative couldn't win, at least one of his similarly-appearing Terrier cousins did! Kristin Valentine Elliott BEST IN SHOW!!!! Starting Best in Show judging. I'm pulling for the Wire Fox Terrier OR Standard Poodle (Ellie, I met her yesterday). Who's your pick? Kristin Valentine Elliott You picked the top 2!! How exciting!!!!! Winner of 2014 Westminster Best in Show is Wire Fox Terrier! Go Terriers! Cardiff gives his paws up of approval! Michaela Tomita terriers are best Sabina Louise Pierce I have two!!!! Love them to death, One is 15 and the other 3!!! Though I got my 72 year old a welsh terrier as the temperament is a bit calmer and was a home run. She loves her Welsh! Mittens Analees Yea! Tyler Bowman God Loves a Terrier! I was so proud to see Sky, the five-year-old Wire Fox Terrier, win Best in Show.  The breed is well-known for its show-ring prowess, as the Wire Fox Terrier has won 14 times in the 138 years of competing at Westminster.  I hope she has many happy and healthy years to come both in and out of the show ring. What was your favorite part of Westminster 2014? Copyright of this article (2014) is owned by Dr Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Republishing any portion of this article must first be authorized by Dr Patrick Mahaney. Requests for republishing must be approved by Dr Patrick Mahaney and received in written format.