Unveiling the Significance of Show Dogs’ Names
The names of show dogs can be as complex as a challenging password, leaving one in awe. Take, for instance, the charming GCHG CH Calicops Sassafras Gonnakikurass. “She’s a spirited lass. Her name speaks volumes,” remarked Fred Ortiz as he readied the Brussels griffon for the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club dog show on Monday. But what does her name truly convey? Delve into its final segment, and you might grasp the witty intent of her owners. Nonetheless, you can simply refer to her as Wrassy.
The Westminster Kennel Club’s renowned competition commenced on Monday with meticulous breed evaluations, culminating in the grand best in show award on Tuesday night. Alongside breed assessments, the kennel club hosted agility trials, obedience contests, and various other engaging activities on Saturday.
If show dogs epitomize nobility in the canine realm, their names, titles, and nicknames often mirror their esteemed status. Their “registered” or formal names, utilized during exhibitions, are brimming with key information about the show dogs. The string of capitalized letters at the beginning and sometimes the end signifies the dogs’ accomplishments in diverse sports. For example, terms like “GCHG” and “CH” denote varying levels of championship earned through the conventional breed-specific evaluations. Following these titles, the initial term in a registered name typically indicates the originating kennel or breeding program. Meanwhile, other kennels or dogs in the pedigree may also be acknowledged towards the conclusion.
Moreover, show dogs are known by their “call names” for daily use. Occasionally, a dog may possess a different “puppy name” initially bestowed by the breeder, which might then be altered by the eventual owner. The intricate amalgamation of words and enigmatic phrases in registered names serves the purpose of preventing duplication among dogs in registries spanning over a century. Breeders often employ distinctive patterns to assist in distinguishing different litters. For instance, professional dog handlers Rachel Adams and Alberto Montila opt for alphabetical sequence in naming their litters, ensuring each litter commences with a distinct letter.
When selecting names for her Norwegian buhund litters, Amie McLaughlin favors puns that evoke delight. McLaughlin, a resident of Kent, Washington, finds joy in crafting names that elicit charm and admiration. A noteworthy example is GCH CH Cloudpointe Nothing Betta Than This CGC, a member of a fish-themed litter, affectionately known as Eirik at home.
Owners like comedian Chris Hardwick and his wife, Lydia Hearst, exhibit a penchant for humor in naming their dog, Zoltar. The name pays homage to the mystical fortune-telling machine in the movie “Big,” alluding to the dog’s remarkable growth. On the show floor, Zoltar’s cousin Melody, also known as G
The breed winners were gearing up for a semifinal round on Monday night. Sassy, who is owned and co-bred by Hearst’s mother, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst Shaw, has gained fame not just for her past involvement in a high-profile abduction and robbery by a radical group in the 1970s but also for her Frenchies and other show dogs in recent years.
Colton Johnson and his family have a unique tradition of naming their litters of old English sheepdogs based on themes like songs, movies, money, or adorable fluffy things. Amongst these lovable “fluff” dogs is GCH CH Bugaboo’s Give Me S’more, affectionately known as Graham. While Johnson pampered Graham during his grooming session on Monday, he jokingly referred to it as the dog’s “spa day.”
Graham, a three-year-old, is the grandson of Swagger, an old English sheepdog that Johnson led to a second-place finish at Westminster in 2013. Last year’s runner-up, a German shepherd named GCHP Kaleef’s Mercedes, made a triumphant return this year by winning her breed competition on Monday. Co-owner Dr. Cynthian Wilhelmy from Martinsburg, West Virginia, explained that she chose the name “Mercedes” because she wanted something German that represented excellence and reliability for their beloved 5-year-old dog who is set to retire after this event.
