I wasn't really surprised by the picks. I called the Working Group right on the money. The Akita is hard to beat and the Dobe is owned by the Dinardos so it was a foregone conclusion that she'd place. Not that the Dobe isn't pretty standing still -- she's gorgeous and perfectly trained -- but she is not a good-moving dog at all. She was here on the Florida Circuit and I was really surprised at how much winning she does. Her handler, Ann White, presents her to perfection.

The Dane is the #1 Dane in the country so that was no surprise and the Bullmastiff was very nice.

As for the other Groups, the Harrier surprised me in the Hound Group (loved the LH Doxie); the Sealyham beating the Scottie was a surprise in Terrier; there was never a question about Minimoto in the Non-Sporting Group; but the Aussie over Jimmy Moses' GSD in Herding was a big surprise. The Weim in Sporting was absolutely the best moving dog I saw in all the Groups; and the Toy Poodle in Toy was kinda a no-brainer based on politics if not how they actually showed.

All in all, a typical Westminster Show. There are no dogs at Westminster that really don't belong there so you are seeing the best of the best. There is no wrong answer and decisions are made for a number of reasons -- just like at your regular weekend shows. Ultimately, I thought the Best In Show dogs put on a great show.

Jim