The Westminster DOG Show The Westminster Kennel Club DOG Show is the largest and most distinguished DOG show in the world. An annual DOG show, this is an extremely popular event that saw 2,500 DOGS entered into competition last year. Sponsored by the AKC (American Kennel Club), the original version of this event was created by a group of hunters who always met in New York once a year for their DOGS to compete, and the event as since grown. The bichon frise breed is quite old. Originally they used to belong only to kings and queens. However, eventually they became known for their abilty to learn tricks and for their excellent sense of balance. As a result, they gained a reputation for being excellent as circus dogs. This show presents different DOGS from every DOG breed for the coveted "Best in Show" title. If you're interested in DOGS, you'll learn a ton about various breeds just by watching the show as the announcers are very systematic about describing each DOG breed as the judges view them one by one. Lhasa Apsos are small, long-haired dogs. Believe it or not, they were originally used by monks to guard temples. This accounts for their quiet and friendly nature, which can easily change if their owners or home are threatened. All DOG breeds are broken down into seven different groups. All pure bred species fall into one of these groups: herding, hound, non-sporting, sporting, terrier, toy, and working. All these breeds compete for the "Best of Breeds" titles and then the winners from these breed titles compete to become a "Best of Groups" winner. If the DOG is impressive (and lucky) enough to make it this far, then they will compete for the "Best in Show" title, the most coveted of all, which places one DOG above all others. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the longest lived dog was an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey. The dog lived to be 29. This case was considered unusual since smaller dogs generally live longer. The chihuahua is actually the breed that tends to live the longest. If you want to enter your bulldog into the Westminster DOG Show, there are a few rules you need to know. First, there is a rule that for a DOG to be eligible for entry, it must be a champion from at least one AKC competition. You can check the web site to find a list of local competitions in your area. If your bulldog proves a champion, then you need to send in a form with a $75 fee. Space is limited to 2,500 spaces, which have been filled several years running, so make sure to get your app in early to compete. Bloodhounds have dewlaps. What are dewlaps? They are strange looking, pendulous folds of skin on the back of the neck. They don't seem to serve any useful purpose to the bloodhound, but are rather interesting to look at.