Beastly Bit of Judging

It’s inspiring to witness the finest contestants gather from around the world to compete in what should be a prime-time celebration of talents, goodwill and international friendship. And it’s saddening to see emotional bitterness, accusations and hard feelings erupt over charges of unfair subjective scoring by nationalist judges. That’s why the Westminster Kennel Club must make a prompt, fur-reaching investigation to avoid repeating the messy controversy surrounding this week’s Westminster Dog Show in New York.

Even tape-delayed, the winner of the coveted best in show award, a miniature poodle named Surrey Spice Girl, appeared to bound once during her parade prance. The crowd gasped. Points should have been deducted. No one questioned her first place in nonsporting dogs over a bichon frise that was far too frise. But thousands of Madison Square Garden fans favored a German shepherd named Kismets Sight for Sore Eyes, and a border collie, Trumagik Tartan Trekker. In fact, while judges’ votes were tallied, the crowd chanted the dogs’ full names.

The decision to name a tiny black poodle as alpha dog caused stunned silence and then a chorus of chaos among competitors, who fortunately were leashed. German dogs and Scottish and Australian collies joined by Welsh corgis denounced unfair bloc voting by French poodles, Maltese, Chinese cresteds, Tibetan terriers and even Chihuahuas to deny top dog honors to breeds that actually work. According to one report, a French judge privately admitted accepting Asian votes in exchange for her support of Pekinese, Lhasa apsos and Shih Tzus. Irish wolfhounds, Norwegian elkhounds, Polish sheepdogs, Siberians and even Afghans sided with highland terriers and English spaniels. Canada’s contestant, a Labrador, was en route to Salt Lake City for “personal reasons.” One Doberman dismissed the miniature French winner as “a walking snack that can’t even bark.”

It’s tragic when petty ethnic controversies erupt. Dogs should be judged by their performance, not just the color or length of their fur. The dispute only reveals how stubborn are lingering nationalistic jealousies. We hope that humans will not be trained to emulate this dog-fighting at international sporting events.