Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
The 126th Annual Westminster Dog Show Kicks Off Today
Aired February 11, 2002 - 08:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Back at just about 12 minutes before the hour. Time now for "AM" to go to the dogs, especially if you're a fan of the annual Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show, where all the top dogs come to compete. There is a new book that takes you behind the scenes on the dog show circuit, and reveals, among other things, how some manage to get a leg up on the competition. So sorry about the puns this morning.
Anderson Cooper, I had nothing to do with them. It is now your responsibility to use dog puns, or not, you know, depending on your mood this morning. He joins us from across the street at Madison Square Garden. How are you?
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm good. I'm going to forego the puns this morning. But...
ZAHN: Thank you very much.
COOPER: ...it's very exciting here. The excitement is palpable here at the 126th Annual Westminster Dog Show. 2,500 different dogs are here to compete. I think 159 different breeds. And they are all here getting primped and permed, and they've got more makeup on than I do.
So, we're actually here with Deborah Wood, who wrote a book "Top Dogs," which is an insider's look at what is going on here now. What does it take for a dog to get here?
DEBRA WOOD, AUTHOR, "TOP DOGS": All during the year, there are about 1,400 dog shows around the United States, and these dogs are competing against each other around the country. And the top five dogs of each breed are invited. Plus other champions, if they can get in on time, can also enter until they get to the total of 2,500. That takes about an hour. It's sort of like trying to get into a really great rock concert.
COOPER: And what they're all competing for, ultimately, is to be the Best In Show, to be the number one, top dog.
WOOD: Right.
COOPER: What does it take to be the Best In Show? WOOD: It takes everything. Every breed has a standard that describes the dog from the tip of its nose, literally, to its toes, to its tail. So those dogs have to look like and act like the breed is supposed to look and act like.
COOPER: And the judges, I mean, they touch these dogs, they feel them up, they do everything to these dogs.
WOOD: They take a very intimate look at every dog, because -- and the bottom line is, this is a competition that is looking at breeding stock. So dogs, unlike cats, are not neutered. So they'll take a look at that. But they also are going to look for personality. At one point -- at some point, like in the Best In Show and in the group competitions, you have the most gorgeous dogs of every breed. There's nothing wrong with these dogs. And so, at that point, charisma comes in.
These dogs are kind of like rock stars or big-time creatures, big-time politicians. They will look at you and grab your soul.
COOPER: And, now, the dogs are all -- they're being groomed in front of their competition, right?
WOOD: That's right. They all are actually benched together. So all the Pugs are generally with all the Pugs, and the Siberian Huskies with the Siberian Huskies.
COOPER: How much does it actually cost to get a dog here? I mean, what do some of these people invest in these dogs?
WOOD: It really varies. Some will, you know, show their own dogs and show in their local shows maybe for a couple thousand dollars a year. But the elite dogs are spending up to $200,000 a year, jet- setting their dogs from place to place, paying for groomers and entourages. And it ...
COOPER: $200,000 for a dog?
WOOD: A year to campaign the dogs. They have big advertisements in the dog show magazines. So, you'll open it up, and they'll be congratulating themselves on the latest Best In Show. Kind of like just before the Oscars when they advertise in "Variety."
COOPER: Do they have any chance of recouping their money?
WOOD: Not at all. This is a hobby. You do it for love of the sport, for love of the dogs. What these people are doing is wanting to show that their dog is really the ultimate of that breed and that style, and influence the breed in the future to be more like that perfect dog they've got.
COOPER: All right. Thanks a lot.
WOOD: Thanks.
COOPER: That's it for now. We'll have another report coming up soon, Paula?
ZAHN: Some of those dogs are just beautiful.
COOPER: There are incredibly beautiful dogs here. They are really -- they're much prettier than their owners, I might add.
ZAHN: Let me -- let me ask you this, Anderson. For the record, you do not have a $200,000 golden retriever?
COOPER: I do not, but I do have a picture of my dog, right here. There you go.
ZAHN: Awwwww! What's his name?
COOPER: Ozzie.
ZAHN: Ozzie. Hey, Ozzie. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) down to the Westminster Dog Show. I bet you she could probably could do pretty well. I know you work (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
COOPER: She could do -- could do Best In Show, but I just don't want to submit her to that kind of -- you know, that kind of pressure.
ZAHN: All right, Anderson, see you in a flash.
COOPER: Okay.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
