When the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show hits Madison Square Garden in February, there will be a few newcomers in the crowd.
Three breeds—the Pumi, American Hairless Terrier, and Sloughi—are newly eligible to participate in the show. "To become recognized they have to meet a variety of criteria," Gail Miller Bisher, director of communications for the Westminster Kennel Club, says. "There has to be wide interest, proof of purebred lineage, and so on. The Pumi is a very old Hungarian herding dog, so they want to please, but they're also kind of feisty."
"The American Hairless Terrier is intelligent and fast and is great for people with allergies," Bisher says. "The Sloughi is a hound, a very ancient breed; it's fast, independent, and athletic."
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is one of the few benched dog shows in the country, Bisher points out. That means that the canine entrants remain "benched" throughout the competition so that spectators, exhibitors, and breeders "can meet hundreds of breeds up close and personal."
Sam Dangremond is a Contributing Digital Editor at Town & Country, where he covers men's style, cocktails, travel, and the social scene.
Adam Rathe is Town & Country's Deputy Features Director, covering arts and culture and a range of other subjects.
