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 By contrast, most top male show dogs can keep competing for
years, and it is no coincidence that they also win "Best in
Show" in the prestigious annual competition far more often than
females, breeders and handlers said as they prepared for this
year's show, which opens Monday, Feb. 12 in New York.
"Now she won't show again, she's done," said Gail Miller Bisher,
a spokeswoman for the Westminster Kennel Club, referring to
Rumor. "But males can keep going. They can be used as stud and
continue showing and keep their coat and keep their shape of
body and all that."
Female dogs, known in pure-bred circles as "bitches," have
snared Best in Show at Westminster 39 times since the award was
first given in 1907. Males, known simply as "dogs," have been
victorious 71 times, almost twice as often.
A dog's peak age for competition is 3 to 5 years old, which also
happens to be prime breeding age for females, said Kimberly
Calvacca, a professional handler and breeder from Westbury, New
York.
The Best in Show winner crowned Tuesday night takes home a
trophy. But the real reward is the increased value on the
breeding circuit, which is one reason victory can end a female's
competitive career.
"People don't like to campaign females because they don't like
to jeopardize their breeding program," said Calvacca. "Males can
be used to stud anytime, and still show and breed at the same
time."
As a consequence, females are less likely to compete at
Westminster, the second-oldest U.S. sporting event after the
Kentucky Derby. Ahead of this year's opening day on Monday,
there were 1,220 female competitors and 1,699 male challengers
enrolled in most categories, including vying to be named top dog
on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
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A female competitor's "heat" cycle brings changes in temperament and
hormones that can also hurt its chances of winning the
world-renowned show for pure-bred canines.
Many handlers and owners will not show a female during its cycle,
which comes about every six months, because "they're moody," said
Wendy Kellerman, a handler and breeder from Hauppauge, New York.
Depending on the breed, a female dog in season will shed her coat,
leaving her less impressive looking than male peers. Those kinds of
changes can knock her out of competition for months.
"Some people say, 'I don't want to be bothered with that, I'll go
with a male," said Calvacca.
Betty-Anne Stenmark, the sole judge of this year's Best in Show
competition at Westminster, said appearance was important when it
comes to picking a world champion. But she denied that the cards are
stacked in favor of males.
Stenmark said each sex has a "50-50 chance" of winning and judging
can be highly subjective, depending on a judge's experience.
In the end, a male Best in Show winner can bring a bigger payoff
than a female because a male can breed many times, and even have its
sperm frozen, while females can produce only so many litters and
puppies, said WKC's Bisher.
"The males obviously have an easier go of it, whereas the girls
having a litter is stressful for everybody," she said.
(Reporting by Stephanie Kelly; Editing by Barbara Goldberg and David
Gregorio)
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