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American Morning

Best in Show

Aired February 11, 2004 - 08:53   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: That big, black 4-year-old Newfoundland's name is Josh. Last night, he took top honors here in Josh, his 46th overall best in show title, really the big one, though, in New York last evening; 155 pounds, ties him for the biggest dog every to win top prize at the world's most prestigious dog show. I think we can stretch a bit. A pleasure to welcome Josh here this morning. He's joined by his handler, Michelle Ostermiller.
Nice to see you, Michelle. Good morning. Congratulations.

Also USA Network dog show analyst David Frei of the Westminster Kennel Club is here as well. Great to see you also.

How is he doing.

DAVID FREI, USA NETWORK ANALYST: Well, he's doing great. He's standing up to all the pressure and all the interviews better than any human athlete we've ever seen.

HEMMER: Why do you think that is?

FREI: Because he's with his people. He loves being around people. He's the most friendly dog. But they are used to this kind of a schedule, too, you know, going to dog shows, being around crowded situations and lots of other dogs.

HEMMER: You said something there.

He's an awesome feeling dog, you can feel his fur and how wonderful he is, and so calm, too.

But you mentioned the aspect of people. Do you have to be a good people dog to win something like this, Michelle?

MICHELLE OSTERMILLER, JOSH'S HANDLER: Yes, you have to love people because you are around them all the time, so it is really important.

HEMMER: Yes? What do you think he did so well this week that gave him that honor?

OSTERMILLER: He had a terrific performance. He showed his heart out. He worked the crowd. He loves the support that he gets, and he lets them know that.

HEMMER: How does he work the crowd? He woofs a lot doesn't he, barks, is that this his calling card? OSTERMILLER: Yes, he talks back to them when he's running around the ring, and he hears them applauding, and he holds his head up high and his tail, and can just tell in his stride?

HEMMER: He a showman, isn't he?

OSTERMILLER: Yes, he is.

HEMMER: Is he a showoff, too, a little bit?

OSTERMILLER: Yes, he is.

HEMMER: Yes?

Hey, David, normally in the past, we see smaller pooches winning. You're no small pooch.

FREI: No, big dog. New York is a big dog place, don't you think?

HEMMER: Yes, why do you think it went that way?

FREI: I think it was finally time that we had a dog get best of show that could drink out of the trophy instead of standing in it.

HEMMER: Instead of just licking on the lap, huh?

FREI: That's it.

HEMMER: You know, the other thing that we talk about how they are able to stay so calm, in the midst of, what, 15,000 people in the Garden, right? And as a handler, how are you able to do that for a dog like Josh?

OSTERMILLER: Well, Josh first of all, loves -- stay Josh.

He loves his time and his crate.

HEMMER: Now this is the interesting stuff, starting to slobber all over us. That's OK, we can clean the carpet.

FREI: He's beautiful.

OSTERMILLER: That's why we always have towels.

HEMMER: Keep going.

OSTERMILLER: So he loves his time in his crate where he just kind of sleeps and just has time alone, and he has a fan in front of him at all times, which helps him keep quiet and calm, and so he rests, and then when it's time to go out and show off, he's ready to go.

HEMMER: There were two aspects of that competition last night. There was a Japanese judge, right, that put Josh next to, I think, Cocoa who has been a winner in the past, and stared at both of them for 25 minutes, is that right?

FREI: Well, he looked at all of them. It took about 20 minutes. He has seven finalists, you know, each of the group winners. We had a great lineup last night, and Josh was one of seven wonderful dogs who had just a little bit more.

HEMMER: What do you think that little bit more was?

FREI: Oh, I think it's charisma, I think it's pride and showmanship, and the crowd was nuts for him. You could hear people yelling, just like at a Knicks game, and saying, "Josh, Josh," and Josh, would look around like, yes, it's me, I'm the dog.

HEMMER: Wow. Well done. Beautiful, too. He lives in Florida now.

FREI: He lives right here in Flemmington (ph), New Jersey.

HEMMER: Oh, he does. OK, does he spend some time down there?

OSTERMILLER: No, he's mostly on the farm in New Jersey.

HEMMER: Yes? Good. Well go back to the farm and enjoy it, OK?

David, great to see you. Thanks for coming and sharing with us.

FREI: Thank you.

HEMMER: And, Michelle, congratulations.

OSTERMILLER: Thank you very much.

HEMMER: Great to see you.

OK, Josh, keep going.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired February 11, 2004 - 08:53   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: That big, black 4-year-old Newfoundland's name is Josh. Last night, he took top honors here in Josh, his 46th overall best in show title, really the big one, though, in New York last evening; 155 pounds, ties him for the biggest dog every to win top prize at the world's most prestigious dog show. I think we can stretch a bit. A pleasure to welcome Josh here this morning. He's joined by his handler, Michelle Ostermiller.
Nice to see you, Michelle. Good morning. Congratulations.

Also USA Network dog show analyst David Frei of the Westminster Kennel Club is here as well. Great to see you also.

How is he doing.

DAVID FREI, USA NETWORK ANALYST: Well, he's doing great. He's standing up to all the pressure and all the interviews better than any human athlete we've ever seen.

HEMMER: Why do you think that is?

FREI: Because he's with his people. He loves being around people. He's the most friendly dog. But they are used to this kind of a schedule, too, you know, going to dog shows, being around crowded situations and lots of other dogs.

HEMMER: You said something there.

He's an awesome feeling dog, you can feel his fur and how wonderful he is, and so calm, too.

But you mentioned the aspect of people. Do you have to be a good people dog to win something like this, Michelle?

MICHELLE OSTERMILLER, JOSH'S HANDLER: Yes, you have to love people because you are around them all the time, so it is really important.

HEMMER: Yes? What do you think he did so well this week that gave him that honor?

OSTERMILLER: He had a terrific performance. He showed his heart out. He worked the crowd. He loves the support that he gets, and he lets them know that.

HEMMER: How does he work the crowd? He woofs a lot doesn't he, barks, is that this his calling card? OSTERMILLER: Yes, he talks back to them when he's running around the ring, and he hears them applauding, and he holds his head up high and his tail, and can just tell in his stride?

HEMMER: He a showman, isn't he?

OSTERMILLER: Yes, he is.

HEMMER: Is he a showoff, too, a little bit?

OSTERMILLER: Yes, he is.

HEMMER: Yes?

Hey, David, normally in the past, we see smaller pooches winning. You're no small pooch.

FREI: No, big dog. New York is a big dog place, don't you think?

HEMMER: Yes, why do you think it went that way?

FREI: I think it was finally time that we had a dog get best of show that could drink out of the trophy instead of standing in it.

HEMMER: Instead of just licking on the lap, huh?

FREI: That's it.

HEMMER: You know, the other thing that we talk about how they are able to stay so calm, in the midst of, what, 15,000 people in the Garden, right? And as a handler, how are you able to do that for a dog like Josh?

OSTERMILLER: Well, Josh first of all, loves -- stay Josh.

He loves his time and his crate.

HEMMER: Now this is the interesting stuff, starting to slobber all over us. That's OK, we can clean the carpet.

FREI: He's beautiful.

OSTERMILLER: That's why we always have towels.

HEMMER: Keep going.

OSTERMILLER: So he loves his time in his crate where he just kind of sleeps and just has time alone, and he has a fan in front of him at all times, which helps him keep quiet and calm, and so he rests, and then when it's time to go out and show off, he's ready to go.

HEMMER: There were two aspects of that competition last night. There was a Japanese judge, right, that put Josh next to, I think, Cocoa who has been a winner in the past, and stared at both of them for 25 minutes, is that right?

FREI: Well, he looked at all of them. It took about 20 minutes. He has seven finalists, you know, each of the group winners. We had a great lineup last night, and Josh was one of seven wonderful dogs who had just a little bit more.

HEMMER: What do you think that little bit more was?

FREI: Oh, I think it's charisma, I think it's pride and showmanship, and the crowd was nuts for him. You could hear people yelling, just like at a Knicks game, and saying, "Josh, Josh," and Josh, would look around like, yes, it's me, I'm the dog.

HEMMER: Wow. Well done. Beautiful, too. He lives in Florida now.

FREI: He lives right here in Flemmington (ph), New Jersey.

HEMMER: Oh, he does. OK, does he spend some time down there?

OSTERMILLER: No, he's mostly on the farm in New Jersey.

HEMMER: Yes? Good. Well go back to the farm and enjoy it, OK?

David, great to see you. Thanks for coming and sharing with us.

FREI: Thank you.

HEMMER: And, Michelle, congratulations.

OSTERMILLER: Thank you very much.

HEMMER: Great to see you.

OK, Josh, keep going.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com