Dogs Rule

The colors of purple and gold have been featured in Madison Square Garden for the past two nights as the 132nd edition of the Westminster Dog Show plays out. I’ve spent both evenings glued to the television. I may not be a dog-owner, but I’m a dog-lover. None of my favorite breeds has won one of the seven groups. The top group winners move to Best of Show. So, at this point, I’m interested in the winner, but not invested in the outcome. The seven group winners are: the 15” Beagle, the Sealyham Terrier, the Standard Poodle, the Miniature Poodle, the Australian Shepard, the Weimaraner and the Akita. I am avidly anti-poodle, so my vote’s on the Weimaraner, Beagle or Akita. The Beagle has tons of personality.

I’ve only owned one dog and acquisition of my Llasa Ahpsa is attached to a theatre story. In 1980, I was playing the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis with the National Tour of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”. My dresser for the run bred and raised Llasa’s. During our time in town, she had a litter of puppies come of age. She brought the litter to the theatre and that’s all she wrote. I fell in love with a feisty little boy pup who I named “Spritz”. Two of my fellow actors also bought puppies. When BLWIT closed, there was a huge party for us which lasted well into the early morning hours. Coincidentally, our next stop was Houston (home for most of the cast). It was an 8am flight. The three of us with 10-week old puppies brought them on-board in carrying cases. The pups cried the entire flight. I felt helpless, as I had never had a puppy. Many hungover cast members didn’t speak to me for a few days:)

As I traveled so much with work, Spritz eventually found a home with my folks. He lived until the age of 11. Many years later in Minneapolis, I ran across the breeder/dresser during a run of “Evita”. I asked about her breeding efforts. She said the last of her line was an old dog now. She‘d stopped her breeding program because the line had developed a heart defect; she wanted to do the responsible thing and not carry it forward. Spritz did inherit that defect; his health was precarious after a couple of heart attacks. One evening in 1991, Dad gave Spritz a nitro glycerin pill; he licked Dad’s hand, placed himself at Dad’s feet and quietly died. He was a loyal and loving pet with such expressive eyes. Ever since, I’ve wanted another dog, but I have to be responsible. If I can’t offer consistent care, better to love from afar or love the dogs of friends. Still, that doesn't stop my desire for a dog of my own.

I’m most drawn to Golden Retrievers, Springer Spaniels, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Lhasa’s. I actively avoid pet stores or any places featuring puppies. I’m strong, but not that strong:) Well, the Best of Show winner was just announced. The 132nd winner of the Westminster Dog Show is: ( Winner behind cut )

Dogs Rule

The colors of purple and gold have been featured in Madison Square Garden for the past two nights as the 132nd edition of the Westminster Dog Show plays out. I’ve spent both evenings glued to the television. I may not be a dog-owner, but I’m a dog-lover. None of my favorite breeds has won one of the seven groups. The top group winners move to Best of Show. So, at this point, I’m interested in the winner, but not invested in the outcome. The seven group winners are: the 15” Beagle, the Sealyham Terrier, the Standard Poodle, the Miniature Poodle, the Australian Shepard, the Weimaraner and the Akita. I am avidly anti-poodle, so my vote’s on the Weimaraner, Beagle or Akita. The Beagle has tons of personality.

I’ve only owned one dog and acquisition of my Llasa Ahpsa is attached to a theatre story. In 1980, I was playing the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis with the National Tour of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”. My dresser for the run bred and raised Llasa’s. During our time in town, she had a litter of puppies come of age. She brought the litter to the theatre and that’s all she wrote. I fell in love with a feisty little boy pup who I named “Spritz”. Two of my fellow actors also bought puppies. When BLWIT closed, there was a huge party for us which lasted well into the early morning hours. Coincidentally, our next stop was Houston (home for most of the cast). It was an 8am flight. The three of us with 10-week old puppies brought them on-board in carrying cases. The pups cried the entire flight. I felt helpless, as I had never had a puppy. Many hungover cast members didn’t speak to me for a few days:)

As I traveled so much with work, Spritz eventually found a home with my folks. He lived until the age of 11. Many years later in Minneapolis, I ran across the breeder/dresser during a run of “Evita”. I asked about her breeding efforts. She said the last of her line was an old dog now. She‘d stopped her breeding program because the line had developed a heart defect; she wanted to do the responsible thing and not carry it forward. Spritz did inherit that defect; his health was precarious after a couple of heart attacks. One evening in 1991, Dad gave Spritz a nitro glycerin pill; he licked Dad’s hand, placed himself at Dad’s feet and quietly died. He was a loyal and loving pet with such expressive eyes. Ever since, I’ve wanted another dog, but I have to be responsible. If I can’t offer consistent care, better to love from afar or love the dogs of friends. Still, that doesn't stop my desire for a dog of my own.

I’m most drawn to Golden Retrievers, Springer Spaniels, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Lhasa’s. I actively avoid pet stores or any places featuring puppies. I’m strong, but not that strong:) Well, the Best of Show winner was just announced. The 132nd winner of the Westminster Dog Show is: ( Winner behind cut )