These dogs have their day

New York City: The Big Apple is playing host to the the country's largest canine show this week when the Westminster Kennel Club annual show opened its door for its 135th year.

The two day competition in New York City at Madison Square Garden features nearly 2,600 dogs. The show features only dogs that have been crowned champions at other prestigious events around the country - so every dog comes into the event with champion in front of their names.

This year's entries come in 179 breeds and varieties. They are from 49 states and from several countries, including Thailand, Brazil, Slovenia and Australia.

The winners in the hound, toy, non-sporting and herding groups were being picked on Valentine's Day. The top sporting, working and terriers will be chosen Tuesday.

This will mark the first time at the Garden for Icelandic sheepdogs, redbone coonhounds, Leonbergers, Boykin spaniels, cane corsos and bluetick coonhounds.

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There are three requirements for a breed to get recognised by the American Kennel Club, making it eligible for Westminster: a parent club that establishes a breed standard, a sufficient population of the breed, and solid distribution of the dog.

What the 15-thousand or more fans each night at the Garden, and the millions watching on television, won't see is a puggle or Labradoodle. Those hybrids, also known as "designer" dogs, are probably years away from making the grade, say the event's organisers. Not impossible, just not anytime soon.

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Rhodesian ridgebacks lead this year's Garden parade with 56 entries. There's just one Neapolitan mastiff, making for a sure winner in the best of breed competition.