Westminster Dog Show 2011: New Breeds Welcomed As Other Dogs Euthanized (VIDEO)

Six new dog breeds are being welcomed into The 135th Westminster Dog Show. David Frei presents the new dogs on the Today Show. These new breeds were first chosen by the American Kennel Club based on a variety of statistics.

The Boykin Spaniel, South Carolina's State Dog, is an energetic hunting dog known to work all day, according to the American Kennel Club.

The Bluetick Coonhound, known for trailing raccoons, has a dark blue coat pattern.

The Redbone Coonhound is also known for its hunting abilities, but features a flashy red coat.

The Cane Corso is considered a serious body guard. As the Today Show's Lester Holt exclaims, "he's looking at you like lunch."

The Leonberger is known to be a calm and sweet family companion, making for a good therapy dog.

Lastly, the Icelandic Sheepdog, a playful, confident pup is considered the only dog native to Iceland.

The event should be exciting for these new breeds, since, according to Frei, "The first year's kind of a party."

While the Westminster Dog Show is considered the second longest continuously held sporting event in the country, not everyone is a fan.

Last year, the show took a startling turn of events when the winning dog was interrupted by protestors holding up signs that read, "Mutts Rule" and "Breeders Kill Shelter Dogs' Chances."

While dog breeding remains popular, especially for dog shows, an estimated 4 million unwanted animals are killed each year in shelters. Other dogs are used for human enjoyment and then killed when they are no longer needed - just last month, 100 sled dogs were euthanized in British Columbia.

What do you think? Should these beautiful dogs still be bred while millions of other animals are euthanized? Are dog shows in the best interest of the dogs or do they exist for human entertainment?

WATCH these six new dogs:

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Comments

[Deborah Glassman]

06:09 PM on 03/09/2011

I find the notion that there is a relationship between breeding of purebred dogs and the number of 'shelter' dogs being euthanized as completely misguided and erroneous. It is a falsely-based guilt trip that the animal rights types would like the general public to believe. Purebred dogs make up less that 10 percent of the dog population. That means that 90 percent of the other dogs out there...mixed breeds, designer breeds, the backyard bred or "free to a good home" types etc make up the balance in the numbers of dogs owned or available to homes. The problem with unwanted dogs...is that there are too many dogs period...and the great majority of unwanted dogs are those that result from backyard breeders and from those who don't look after their dogs, let them roam and refuse to spay or neuter and when they get bred, end up in a shelter as the last stage in the cycle of irresponsible dog ownership. I think that the Humane Societies/Animal Welfare types need to start aiming their message at the dog owner who does not properly care for their pet. Veterinarians should work with the SPCA and Government to create laws that require owners of non-registered, non-purebred dogs to spay/neuter pets by 1 year of age...THAT would change the numbers in shelters substantially and stop blaming the small but visible group of breeders raising quality purebred dogs who are easy targets.

[Libleet]

01:34 PM on 04/05/2011

How about a breeders licence that would allow people to keep thier dogs without getting them sterilized? That way only people who pass certain standards could propogate the population. The government could then regulate the industry to ensure puppy mills are not in business as well as largely prevent accidental births. This would help control the pet population considerably. I have seen a family of four living in a trailer home on a small lot with seventeen dogs. This is simply due to irresponsible pet ownership. Requiring pet owners without a license to sterilize their animals would greatly reduce the over-population burden and it would benefit both the animal shelters and the AKC.

[olitenup]

05:13 PM on 02/16/2011

One step in the right direction would be to outlaw puppy mills. There is one puppy mill here in MN that has on an average of 800 dogs in deplorable conditions. The USDA has yet to close this woman down, and there have been numerous rescue events that have taken place there.

Make puppy mills illegal, and that would be a good start to decreasing the euthanasias here in the US.

[Libleet]

01:22 PM on 04/05/2011

Aren't they already illegal under animal cruelty laws? I thought puppy mills by definition were places that kept dogs in deplorable conditions which would seem to be animal abuse.

[IrieMoon]

09:11 AM on 02/16/2011

I just read the article about the 10,000 stray dogs being shot in Kyrgyzstan. If the people from the dog show truly cared about dogs and not just money or status they'd be doing something to help those dogs regardless of their breed. It's sad that people put more worth on one dogs "pure blood" over another dogs life.

[michaleenflynn]

10:23 AM on 02/16/2011

What are you doing to "help those dogs"?

[IrieMoon]

10:41 AM on 02/16/2011

If I had enough money to take a show dog to a show I'd instead go over and help those dogs. But as it is I don't and I don't put more importance on a dogs bloodline than it's life. Go ahead and admonish me for having an opinion. Believe me, it won't hurt me.

[IrieMoon]

09:07 AM on 02/16/2011

Dogs are mans best friend but men are not a dogs best friend by any means. No friend would ever treat their best friend in such a way that men have treated the dog species over the years.

[Marcilliane M Basso]

07:40 AM on 02/16/2011

The question I always have is some say you can find a pure breed at a shelter or rescue so are they considered contenders? I have watxhed the WDS as long as i remember and always enjoy it because I just love to see alot of different breeds in 1 place. The 1 thing that bothered me last night was, and I never noticed this before, was the clipping of the American Stratford Terriors' ears. Some consider this a "PITBULL" and some don't, either way ear clipping is for making the dog look mean for fighting. I think the ear and tale clipping of breeds should stop altogether, show the dogs as they were born to be. I am glad a big dog won, he really was the star of the show:) I just hope over bredding doesn't happen to this breed because of this. I just hope that all these show dogs are not for mass breeding from puppy mills and are treated well.

[LisaLisa1234]

10:12 AM on 02/16/2011

Ear cropping, to me, is a barbaric practice & I hope it is soon grounds for disqualification. As a Great Dane owner, I love to see more natural ears turning up in the shows & hope that cropping becomes a thing of the past as people see how much more beautiful a Dane is with its ears intact.

[MAH999]

11:15 PM on 02/15/2011

I'm an older woman who bought her first dog from a reputable breeder after spending about 6 months looking for a rescue or locally available dog. I had very bad experiences with rescue people who were too fanatical to deal with. Then I looked at backyard breeders who were totally irresponsible in their breeding practices. After this, I knew I had to look for the right breeder and the breeder would lead me to the right dog. I'm so grateful to the woman who bred my dog. Every vet who has ever looked at her comments about how healthy and well bred she is. Her temperment is true to breed and very reliable. There is no right answer for everyone on issues like this. People need to do what's right for their circumstances. Other people need to stop being so judgmental. If I were younger or had more experience with dogs, I might have felt I could handle a dog with issues. If I'd connected with the right rescue group, I may have found a rescue. I think it's wonderful that there are people out there who really do care about the condition of the dogs they breed, who are passionate about providing healthy pets for families. We need to dry up the market for backyard breeders, take away the incentive to breed irresponsibly, and prosecute those who harm animals. But good breeders are a good thing for the species.

[LisaLisa1234]

10:10 AM on 02/16/2011

I hope you can find a good rescue at some point. All of our dogs have been rescued and I'm very grateful to the rescue groups who were willing to home and train the dogs before adopting them out. Sometimes the "fanaticism" is what keeps these dogs from winding up back at the shelter. Has your dog been spayed? :)

[marychs1942]

06:29 PM on 02/15/2011

After seeing the program on NPR about the Kennel Club in England culling (killing) puppies because they are not up to the standards of a champion along with refining dogs to the point of crippling them, I am coming down on the side of the dogs. We should do away with this treatment of animals. It is not much different than Dog racing as far as I am concerned. Westminster Dog show should be outlawed.

[carnegie]

06:09 PM on 02/15/2011

Absolutely they exist for human entertainment and the whole idea of creating dogs while fantastic loving creatures are killed is distasteful and boorish.

And this business of rushing out to buy the latest trendy breed is abdominable and stupid. Many of these dogs are wholly unfit for lifestyle and end up being destroyed. And animals bought on a whim rarely are kept a lifetime. And if there is any doubt of the health and superiority of mixed breeds practically every pet insurance offers lower premium rates for mixed breeds because as they say pure breds are MUCH MORE prone to various illnesses.

[birdlady5]

02:49 PM on 02/15/2011

While I support adopting dogs from shelters and have had much better luck raising mixed breeds it should be up to the individual to properly research the dog they want and the people they are getting their dog from.
Yes - there are non-reputable breeders out there - that's why people need to ask to meet not only the breeders but the parents of the puppies.
People need to also be made more aware of health issues with pure bred dogs - which many people are not informed of and as a result the sick animals end up in shelters.
The puppy mills and bad breeders need to be shut down and more needs to be done to inform dog owners so they can make a better decision for themselves and thier lifestyle

[jsbfuzz]

01:20 PM on 02/15/2011

I have a purebred Golden Retriever that I was contractually obligated to have spayed within one year of my purchase of her. My breeder, like many other responsible, registered breeders, required this as I was only looking for a companion dog. These breeders are not the problem. They only have 1 litter per bitch per year, and the vast majority of them require the people who purchase their dogs to have them spayed or neutered. The problem is backyard breeders or people who don't have their dogs "fixed". I love mutts, but I also have a great affinity for "my" breed, and I don't feel, as a responsible pet owner, I should be made to feel guilty about that. I also work as a foster, so I know the reality out there. People simply need to be educated on the importance of spaying or neutering their animals, and people need to be screened better when deciding to take on the responsibility of owning a dog. You wouldn't simply dump your child off if they were going through the terrible 2's, and the same can be said of your new puppy. People need to better realize it is a lifelong commitment.

[Smirk]

12:34 PM on 02/16/2011

Hear, hear! It is a life long commitment, and bravo to all who live up to it. :)

[Zuiderhond]

12:53 PM on 02/15/2011

I had a bloodhound at Westminster yesterday. I know something of this. The first of your two questions assumes a straight line connection between people who show and breed dogs and the surfeit of shelter dogs. All AKC registered breeders must take back any dog they sell, period. There is no money in breeding, the way AKC breeders do it. Stud fees, maternal health checks, whelping costs, vaccinations, placement costs exceed the prices we charge for puppies, not to mention the costs going to dog shows. Furthermore, professional registered AKC breeders cannot meet demand for puppies by the American public, because we make fewer, selective breeding choices, we spend more time at dog shows and not in the whelping pen, and we charge more money than most Americans want to pay hoping to recoup some of those costs. The other world of backyard breeding programs seek to maximize profit and minimize cost because they are for profit and recognize that most Americans don't want to pay even a $1,000 for a puppy and will seek out breeders who sell at discount. We have full shelters because backyard breeders don't take returns, public preferences of puppies over adults, legitimate abandonment by the elderly who die, or those who have lost their jobs. Shelter populations and euthanasia rates will drop when this economy improves. Unfortunately we will always have those who see dogs more as farm animals to be used and then discarded, but none of those people are dog show people.

[SusanElizabeth1949]

12:05 PM on 02/16/2011

The Scottish Deerhound that won Best of Show was a gorgeous creature. Any of that breed I ever met were damn nice dogs too.

[jumbotron16]

01:31 PM on 02/16/2011

Stud fees are about the cost of one puppy. "Maternal health checks" should not be more than $100. "Whelping costs"--why is your dog not able to whelp at your home without veterinary assistance? "Vaccinations"--my puppies have one parvo vaccine (per my vet's recommendation) before they go to their new homes and they cost almost nothing. Dog shows--wasted money in my opinion. And you are selling your puppies for over $1000 each. When is the dog world going to get off the whole "I can never admit I make any money because it makes me look like a bad person" thing? In no other business do people feel the need to assert over and over that they are losing money. Why can't a breeder admit that they love dogs, they breed responsibly to improve their breed, and they also break even or make a little bit of money?

[Runamok]

01:29 AM on 02/18/2011

Maternal health checks -- when was the last time you did that? Hip radiographs and readings cost well over $100 all by themselves - and let's add in Baer hearing test, thyroid function, eye exam by a specialist...my guess is that you don't do any of those things. Do you take the dogs you breed back? Mine are welcomed back at any time in their lives - no questions asked. And because I screen my homes well, in 40 years I have only had 2 come back to me. Stud fees? Sure they're the cost of a puppy if you use your next-door neighbors dog. But if the best, healthiest mate for your bitch - one who has passed all his health checks and whose pedigree is compatible lives across the country, you have either the cost of shipping your bitch or driving her or bringing the semen in either live or frozen and having the vet inseminate. So the stud fee + all of that. Most breeders will not release puppies until they have had a full complement of vaccinations - hardly one parvo (and I see you are passing that expense to your buyer, nice) The AVMA now recommends puppies do not start receiving vaccinations until they are 7-8 weeks old in order to insure they are fully protected. Are there responsible backyard breeders? Sure there are -- They are far and few between, however.

[SweetJudith]

12:41 PM on 02/15/2011

Millions of innocent dogs killed every year and these people keep breeding, breeding and breeding. Makes me sick and so angry.....