The setter is a type of gundog used most often for hunting game such as quail , pheasant , and grouse .
58-593: In the UK, the four setter breeds, together with the pointers , usually form a subgroup within the gundog group as they share a common function. However, the setter breeds each have subtle differences in head, bone and substance. The American and Canadian Kennel Clubs classify these breeds within the Sporting Group. Setters from show lines are usually considered to be heavier and larger than those from 'working' lines. A setter silently searches for game by scent; hunting
116-435: A cut-off entry total of 2800 dogs. There is no prohibition against a winner competing again in future Westminster shows. Seven dogs have won multiple Westminster championships: six dogs in consecutive years (including Warren Remedy , the only three-time champion of the event), and one dog in non-consecutive years. Since 1972, however, there have been no repeat winners. Dogs of all breeds, including mutts , may participate in
174-483: A dog detects hidden game it halts suddenly with its nose pointing to the game so the hunter can prepare to shoot, when ready the hunter commands the pointer to flush the game to be shot. Many writers consider the Pointer to be the ultimate pointing dog breed because of its sensitive nose, big stylish movements and flashy pointing stance. The Pointer is the most popular pointing dog breed used by sporting estates in
232-471: A dog show. The prizes for these first shows included such items as pearl-handled pistols, which were of use to the hunters and terriermen who worked these dogs in the field. Held at Gilmore's Garden ( Madison Square Garden ) the Westminster show drew over 1,200 dogs. It proved so popular that it took four days instead of the three days originally scheduled. The club donated proceeds from the fourth day to
290-518: A first choice or domesticated pigeons . This group of dogs combines beauty, brains and bird sense; the early setter breeds are believed to have been developed as far back as the 15th century in the UK. The ancestors of modern setters probably originated in Spain and were bred from spaniel stock. Later, these dogs were exported to France and England where the breeds were developed into today's varieties. They are fast, stylish game-finding dogs with
348-708: A judge will select one of judging them as the Best In Show winner. Since 2014, the show allowed mixed-breed dogs to compete in an agility event. Westminster has held competitions in Junior Showmanship for handlers ages 9–18 since 1934. The eight finalists all receive scholarships for post-secondary schooling. The Club, through the Westminster Kennel Foundation also awards veterinary school scholarships for students from six schools yearly. The winning dog becomes "America's Dog" for
406-520: A medium-length tail that is thick at the root. Their coat is short haired, fine, hard, smooth and evenly distributed; they are usually bi-coloured, white with lemon, orange, liver or black coloured patches, whilst rare tri-coloured and self-coloured dogs are also known. The Pointer's short and fine coat makes the breed well suited to working on grouse moors during the summer months but makes them particularly susceptible to feeling cold during wet and cold weather. When compared to images of pointers from
464-405: A net would be used to trap the birds. The scent of game birds is airborne, so to sense it, the setter carries its head high and should never follow foot scent. Most setters are born with a natural proclivity to hunting. Dogs which show excitement and interest in birds are described as being "birdy", and trainers look for puppies that show this particular trait. Training is usually done with quail as
522-454: A new entity known as Fox Corporation ), FS2 replaced Nat Geo Wild as the secondary broadcaster of the event in 2020. John Strong replaced Kutcher as host for daytime breed judging and Fox hosts were Myers, Bisher, and Sturz. For 2021, the agility competition and the final night of judging aired on Fox for the first time. For 2022, Sturz was named Judge for Best in Show, and Hoke will return to
580-406: A steady point whilst the hunter readied his gun. With the steady improvement of firearms throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, faster and more agile dogs were sought so Greyhounds were increasingly introduced to add speed. The introduction of Greyhound blood resulted in the modern Pointer being a much finer dog with a comparatively tucked-up loin, tighter lips and low-set tail, more akin to that of
638-578: A tendency to be happy, playful dogs and are usually very friendly both to people and other dogs. They have a great deal of energy and require daily exercise. The breeds making up this subgroup are: Pointer (dog breed) The Pointer , sometimes called the English Pointer , is a medium-sized breed of pointing dog developed in England . Pointers are used to find game for hunters , and are considered by gundog enthusiasts to be one of
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#1732780979721696-491: A unique history and evolution for the single purpose of finding game birds. Writing in 1576 Dr Johannes Caius states "There is also at this date among us a new kind of dogge brought out of Fraunce, and they bee speckled all over with white and black, which mingled colours incline to a marble blewe". Argue speculates this may be a description of the blue belton colour found in English setters. The first official dog show held in
754-469: A very distinctive head with a slightly dished face and elevated nose, a raised brow, and wide nostrils, their ears are hanging and lie close to the face, are high set, medium-sized, and slightly pointed. The breed standard describes them as having a long, muscular, slightly arched neck; long, sloping shoulders that are well laid back; a chest wide enough for plenty of heart; straight and firm forelegs with good bone; muscular hindquarters; oval shaped feet; and
812-455: A written description of the ideal specimen of that breed (the breed standard). While many breeds no longer need to perform their original jobs and are bred mostly for companionship, they are still judged on their innate ability and physical makeup to perform their original jobs. Standards also include items that seem somewhat arbitrary such as color, eye shape, tail carriage, and more. Today, Westminster takes place over two days and nights. During
870-414: Is an adaptable, obedient, even-tempered breed; field lines in particular can be extremely active. Compared to other gundog breeds, the Pointer is more aloof and reserved with a lower need for human companionship, perhaps reflecting the blood of the reserved greyhound in its ancestry. When hunting, the Pointer quarters in front of the hunter systematically with its head high scenting the air upwind, when
928-600: Is an all-breed conformation show , held annually in the New York metropolitan area . The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is one of a handful of benched shows in the United States. Dogs are required to be on display in their assigned locations (show benches) during the entire show except when shown in the ring, groomed for showtime, or taken outside to urinate or defecate. This type of presentation allows spectators and breeders alike to have an opportunity of seeing all
986-621: Is considered a generally healthy breed with a life expectancy of 13–14 years, The Kennel Club does not recommend any genetic or screening tests be conducted for the breed. Known inherited conditions that have been found in the breed include hip dysplasia , elbow dysplasia , patella luxation , hereditary sensory neuropathy , spinal muscle atrophy , X-linked cerebellar ataxia and deafness . The breed has minor predispositions to hypothyroidism , demodicosis , cataracts , retinal dysplasia and corneal dystrophy . Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
1044-410: Is done systematically and methodically. When prey is encountered, the dog becomes motionless rather than chasing after the game. Setters get their name from their distinctive stance; a sort of crouch or "set" upon finding their quarry. Once the dog has indicated where the birds are by freezing on point, the birds are then flushed so the following guns can get a shot. In earlier times before guns were used,
1102-680: The ASPCA for creation of a home for stray and disabled dogs. The Westminster Kennel Club predates the formation of the American Kennel Club by seven years and became the first club admitted to the AKC after AKC's founding in 1884. Breed parent clubs (e.g., the Collie Club of America) create the standards for judging their breeds, with the AKC administering the rules about shows and judging. Dogs are judged by how closely they conform to
1160-533: The Peace of Utrecht . In his Cynographia Britannica , published in 1800, Sydenham Edwards states that the "Spanish Pointer was introduced to this country [England] by a Portugal Merchant, at a very modern period, and was first used by a reduced Baron, of the name of Bichell, who lived in Norfolk, and could shoot flying". Other early sources suggest Portuguese Pointers , Italian Braccos or French pointers were
1218-692: The Westminster show in America an English Setter won the Best in Show title in 1938. He was only 11 months old and at his very first show. This was before entry to the show was restricted to Champions in 1992. He is the only setter to achieve Best in Show at Westminster. In January 2006, the Kennel Club identified a number of British native breeds registering 300 or fewer puppies each year; it labelled these breeds as ' Vulnerable Native Breeds '. Initially,
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#17327809797211276-467: The 19th century the modern breed is a much finer dog, reflecting inclusion of greyhound blood. As with many British gundog breeds, stark differences have emerged between Pointers bred for the purpose of field work and those bred for conformation shows which accent certain features of the breed, such as narrower chests, exaggerated facial features, straighter shoulders, a less natural movement and less muscle than those bred for use as gundogs. The Pointer
1334-463: The 2021 show was postponed from its usual scheduling to June, and re-located from Madison Square Garden to the grounds of the historic Lyndhurst mansion in Tarrytown, New York , north of Midtown Manhattan . Organizers stated that the changes were intended to allow for the event to be held in compliance with public health guidance. No outside spectators were admitted . On December 30, 2021, citing
1392-782: The Greyhound than European pointer breeds. The Pointer's breed standard was formally adopted in 1936 and has subsequently remained largely unchanged. The Pointer is a medium-sized, athletic breed that is built for both endurance and speed. They typically stand between 53 and 71 centimetres (21 and 28 in) with bitches being shorter than dogs. The breed standard of The Kennel Club states that dogs should stand 64 to 69 centimetres (25 to 27 in) and bitches 61 to 66 centimetres (24 to 26 in). The breed usually weighs between 20 and 34 kilograms (45 and 75 lb), with dogs weighing 25 to 34 kilograms (55 to 75 lb) and bitches 20 to 29 kilograms (45 to 65 lb). The Pointer has
1450-499: The Irish Red and White Setter became eligible for American Kennel Club registration and was thereafter able to compete in the Sporting Group at its shows. Most setter breeds have long smooth, silky coats that require maintenance. While Gordon, Irish and English Setters usually undergo some trimming for presentation in the show ring, Irish Red and White Setters do not require as much work, because they have lighter coats. Setters have
1508-610: The Kennel Club in December 1900. Prior to 1958, a gundog could not claim to be a champion no matter how many CCs it won until it had gained a qualifier in the field as well. When the Show Champion title was instigated in 1958, it was agreed this could be applied retroactively. The first ever gundog to attain the title was an English Setter. Since the Second World War only two dogs have achieved Dual Champion status in
1566-454: The Pointer breed, particularly south of the Mason–Dixon line . There has been much debate among dog historians about the ancestry of the Pointer. The most commonly held position is that the breed descends from Old Spanish Pointers that were imported into England. The popular belief is that Spanish Pointers were first introduced to England in 1713 by soldiers returning from Spain after
1624-401: The Pointer but still concludes on the basis of all evidence that it is the most likely history. It is noteworthy that in those days dog breeds did not exist as they are known in more modern times, and that a more general pointing type of dog (typically a short haired, hound-like, air-scenting dog with regional variations of appearance that was used for indicating the location of game birds)
1682-481: The UK there was a sale of setters. A black setter bitch called Peg was sold for 41 guineas while the price for setter dogs called Punch, Brush, Bob, Bell, Bounce and Sam varied from 17 to 32 guineas each. No colours were specified for the dogs. The first recorded field trial in the UK was held in April 1865 on the estate of Samuel Whitbread (MP) at Southill, Bedfordshire. It was only open to setters and pointers. All
1740-454: The UK was at Newcastle-on-Tyne in June 1859 and entry was restricted to setters and pointers. There were 36 setters and 23 pointers entered. The show was organised by John Shorthose and William Pape. Mr Jobling's Black and Tan Setter, Dandy, won the first prize for setters. The class for pointers was judged by Mr Jobling who awarded the prize to a pointer owned by a Mr Brailsford, who helped judge
1798-423: The UK. The first was a Pointer and the second was a Gordon Setter, the only Gordon to ever achieve this accolade. Setters have been Best in Show at Crufts seven times. The award was secured by Irish Setters in 1981, 1993, 1995 and 1999. English Setters were best in show in 1964, 1977 and 1988. The Irish Setter Best in Show of 1981 was already a Field Trial Champion, proving that she had brains as well as beauty. At
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1856-486: The United Kingdom and commercial shooting preserves in the United States, they are also the most popular and successful pointing breed used in pointing dog trials in both countries. When compared to many of the continental European pointing dog breeds, a classically trained Pointer is usually only used to point and flush walked up game before it is shot, and if required specialist retrievers are used to retrieve
1914-682: The United States. (All three events were held despite the Great Depression , World War, and pandemic years.) The show originated as a show for gun dogs , primarily Setters and Pointers , initiated by a group of hunters who met regularly at the Westminster Hotel at Irving Place and Sixteenth Street in Manhattan . They decided to create a kennel club called the Westminster Kennel Club specifically to hold
1972-400: The Westminster Kennel Club amended that rule; dogs only need one of the two required "major wins" towards their championship titles. However, they do not need to be finished champions to enter. Since 2020, the requirement that a dog be a Champion was reinstated by the Westminster Kennel Club and the entry limit decreased to 2,500. The conformation show was also spread over three days instead of
2030-595: The breed descriptions during the show. In 2001, Michael J. LaFave was named show announcer at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. He was replaced by Jim Fagan in 2010 but returned in 2011. CBS Sports covered the event from the late 1960s to the 1980s as part of its CBS Sports Spectacular anthology series. From 1984 until 2003, Universal's USA Network broadcast the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Following Universal's acquisition by General Electric in 2003 to form NBC Universal ,
2088-669: The coming year. The reign begins with a media tour on the day following the show. Following the tour, the winner makes appearances on nearly all television network morning shows and visits the Observation Deck at the Empire State Building . The New York Stock Exchange also invites the winner and related handlers to ring the opening bell. In October 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City ,
2146-534: The commentary of the 140th event for his final time. On July 28, 2015, Fox Sports announced that it had acquired rights to the event under a 10-year deal beginning in 2017. For the first three years, the coverage was split between FS1 and then-sister channel Nat Geo Wild . For 2017, daytime breed judging was hosted by Justin Kutcher , Paula Nykiel and Jason Hoke and primetime coverage was hosted by Chris Myers and Gail Miller Bisher. In 2018, daytime breed judging
2204-680: The coverage (as with all other sporting events carried by the channel ) became a presentation of NBC Sports , but the broadcast continued to air on USA Network. From 2006 through 2016, the Monday coverage was aired on sister channel CNBC due to conflicts with WWE Raw on USA. During USA's coverage from 1990 to 2016, David Frei co-hosted the event with partners, Al Trautwig (1990–1991, 1993 ), Bud Collins (1992 ), Joe Garagiola (1994–2002 ), Mark McEwen (2003–2004 ), Lester Holt (2005, 2007–2008 ), Debbye Turner (2006 ), Mary Carillo (2009, 2011 –2016), and Tamron Hall (2010 ). Frei provided
2262-617: The current surge of Omicron variant in New York City, it was announced that the 2022 show—initially scheduled for January 24–26—had been postponed indefinitely. On February 8, 2022, it was announced that the 2022 show would once again be postponed to June and held at Lyndhurst. The 2023 edition moved to a May scheduling, and was relocated once more to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens , with Arthur Ashe Stadium serving as
2320-467: The day, the dogs compete against other dogs of the same breed at Piers 92 and 94. Each Best of Breed winner (BOB) advances to the Group level. There are seven groups: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. Group competition occurs during the evenings. The seven Group winners advance to Best in Show, the final round of the show. During Best in Show, also held at Madison Square Garden,
2378-412: The entered dogs. (In the more common unbenched shows, dogs are required to be present only at assigned ring times.) The event had long been associated with the various incarnations of New York City's Madison Square Garden . In 2021 and 2022, the event was postponed to June from its past February scheduling, and moved to Lyndhurst mansion in Tarrytown, New York due to the COVID-19 pandemic . In 2023,
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2436-528: The event moved again, this time to Arthur Ashe Stadium . The logo of both the Westminster Kennel Club and its Dog Show is based on a steel engraving by artist J. Wellstood of Sensation, a Pointer brought over from England by the organization in 1876 primarily for breeding purposes . The first Westminster show took place on May 8, 1877, making it third only to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks in terms of continuously held sporting events in
2494-708: The figures for English Setters dropped to 234 puppy registrations; Gordons had a slight increase to 306; Irish Red and Whites had a slight drop to 83; and Irish decreased to 869 puppy registrations. In contrast, in a comment about registration figures and popular breed rankings, the American Kennel Club stated that 2011 was the "year of the setters, with all four making big jumps over the past year". English Setters had ranked at 101 in 2010 but moved up to 87 in 2011; Irish had shifted from ranking at 77 in 2010 to 70 in 2011; Irish Red and Whites went up three places having been 150 in 2010 and 147 in 2011; and Gordons improved its 2010 position of 98 to be ranked at 94. On January 1, 2009,
2552-557: The finest breeds of its type; however, unlike most other hunting breeds, its purpose is to point, not retrieve game. The popular belief is that the Pointer descends from the Old Spanish Pointer that was brought to England from Spain with returning soldiers at the beginning of the 18th century. Once in England, they were crossed with local dog breeds to improve the breed's hunting abilities. The Pointer takes its name from
2610-417: The foundation of the English breed. In 1902, Victorian era sportsman William Arkwright produced the book The pointer and his predecessors often considered one of the best early histories of the Pointer for which he expended considerable time and money searching continental archives. In the book he notes that he did not find any truly convincing evidence of Spanish Pointers being the foundation stock of
2668-501: The game once shot; the European breeds which are often termed "hunt-point-retrievers" or "versatile gundogs" point game and retrieve it once shot. Additionally, compared to the European pointing breeds the Pointer is typically faster when working and quarters further in search for game. The Pointer is also used by falconers and austringers in falconry to locate the game to be flushed for the falcon or hawk to dispatch. The Pointer
2726-706: The introduction of imported European pointer blood. The earliest recorded mentions of Pointers in England date from the early 18th century. John Gay mentions Pointers being used to hunt partridge in his 1713 poem Rural sports , and Peter Tillemans produced a painting of the Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull's kennel of pointers in 1725. A compendium of sources state that in England early Pointers were crossed with other breeds to impart certain desirable traits, including setters , bloodhounds and foxhounds , with some mention of Bull Terriers and bulldogs . Early Pointers were comparatively heavy, ponderous dogs able to hold
2784-562: The list included the Irish Red and White Setter and the Gordon Setter but Gordons were re-classified as viable in January 2007 after consultation with the breed clubs. English Setters were added for the first time in 2012. To give an indication of how the UK registrations have changed, English Setter registrations were 568 in 2002, Gordons were 250 and Irish Red and Whites were 99, but Irish registrations totalled 1,225. However, by 2011
2842-505: The main venue. For the first time, a dock jumping competition was also added to the event. In 1884, the AKC began requiring that all dog participants be registered with the AKC and recognized for conformation show competition. In 2016, there are 199 breeds and varieties eligible for Westminster. Because of the show's popularity and prestige, starting in 1992 the AKC limited entries by requiring that dogs must have already earned their breed championship before appearing at Westminster. Later,
2900-575: The most popular dog breeds in the United States—the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever —have never won Best in Show. The dogs are marked for Best in Breed and then proceed to compete in Best in Group, and finally in the grand prize competition of Best in Show. The oldest dog to win Best in Show was a Sussex Spaniel named Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee (a.k.a. Stump), at ten years of age in 2009. The youngest dog to win
2958-470: The setters entered were black and tans (Gordons). In 1879, the Western Hemisphere held its first recorded show. This was also restricted to setters and pointers. It was four years after this that the first American Field trial was held. The Kennel Club has four champion titles available to be achieved by setters competing in the UK. These are: Challenge Certificates were first introduced by
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#17327809797213016-425: The setters. This raised some criticism. The prize awarded to each winner was a double barrelled gun worth around £15 to £20. There was uncertainty as to how setters would be classified at early shows. Three classes were usually scheduled in 1862 dividing setters into three categories: English, Black/Tan and Irish. These became official breed classifications when The Kennel Club was founded in 1873. During 1806 in
3074-562: The show's agility competition. There is a title for the highest-ranking mutt in the agility round—the "All American Dog." Through the 134th Westminster Show (February 2010), Best in Show has been won by the Terrier group 45 out of the 103 times that the prize has been awarded since 1907, more than twice as many wins as any other group. The single breed that has won the most is the Wire Fox Terrier, which has won 15 times. Two of
3132-539: The stance it adopts when it detects the scent of game, "pointing" at the hidden game as a visible signal to the hunter that it has found something and where it is; the breed is sometimes called the English Pointer to differentiate it from other pointing dog breeds. The term "bird dog" is usually used to describe all pointing dogs and setters , but in the United States the term is often used to describe
3190-470: The traditional two days, due to the unavailability of one of the usual venues for the event. The top five dogs in each breed (based on breed points earned in AKC conformation showing through October 31 of the preceding year), as well as the Best of Breed winner from each breed's national specialty show, receive printed invitations by mail and are eligible for early entry. After that entry deadline passes, other dogs with at least one "major win" may enter, up to
3248-465: Was a Rough Collie named Laund Loyalty of Bellhaven , at nine months old in 1929. One dog, a Smooth Fox Terrier named Ch. Warren Remedy won Best in Show three times (1907–1909), and six other dogs have won twice. Males have won Best in Show 68 times as opposed to females who have won 35 times. For many years, Roger A. Caras was known as "the Voice of Westminster" for providing the narration for
3306-571: Was hosted by Kutcher, Kimberly Meredith, and Don Sturz, while Hoke joined the evening booth of Myers and Bisher. In 2019, Sturz and Hoke swapped places, with Sturz moving to the evening booth while Hoke joined the daytime booth. After the sale of the National Geographic channels to Disney as part of its acquisition of 21st Century Fox (which excluded the Fox broadcast network, news , and national sports properties, which were retained by
3364-468: Was known in all of these countries. A second less commonly held belief is a form of Pointer that was present in England, much earlier than the introduction of the Spanish Pointer, and that they were used from medieval times to indicate the location of hares which were subsequently coursed by greyhounds or caught by hawks ; it is held that these dogs were subsequently heavily influenced by
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