Come on Westminster Kennel Club, End the #WarOnLabs! – By John Berman
With the Westminster Dog show upon us, I would like to shine the spotlight on a serious matter that requires national attention and a healthy dose of cable outrage.
You know what dog is the most popular in America for the 23rd straight year? The lab. Chocolate lab, black lab, yellow lab…America loves our Labrador retrievers. Golden retrievers too. They were 4th most popular
They fetch stuff. They farm, they hunt, they bark. They wag their tails. They are dogs with a capital "D"
But you know what dog has never won best in show at the Westminster Dog Show? That's right. The lab, the golden. No retriever. Not once, not ever.
Instead they award scottish terriers, Norwich terriers, this terrier, that terrier. Affenpinshcer Pekingnese, …even a Bichon Frise. Think about that…Pekingnese and Bichon Frise…these animals with their curls and frills and manscaping…or Bison Frise-scaping in this case. These animals are cute, sure. These animals fit nicely in your lap, absolutely. But where I come from we have a name for cute animals that fit on your lap. Where I come from, we call them CATS!
And this is the Westminster DOG show. So "At This Hour" I call on Westminster to end this outrage, allow labs and goldens not just in the Public square but in the winners circle…. End this "War on Labs"
Thank you.
New Day Hosts
Weekend Hosts
I totally agree!! My family just got a Lab and this dog is so adorable, playful, loving and smart.
I also agree-it is and outrage! Those other breeds only wish they could be as gorgeous, smart and loving as a retriever-Golden's in particular. My two golden retriever's, Buckley and FayeFaye, 12 and 15 respectively, still chase squirrels, swim, fetch and jump into the car for rides. They have been perfect dogs, visited sick children, and made them feel better. Buckley's grandmother on his sire's side even won Best in Breed at Westminster. It is a travesty that the favorite dog of our country had not been recognized at the most famous dog show. I have stopped watching because of this.
Maybe if the show labs weren't kept so fat that they appear as three flavors of pudding rather than actual dogs. I was embarrassed for that lab. No wonder they never win.
As a rabbit raiser, this kind of dumbfounds me. It's not a war on a breed. The judge picks what he or she sees as the animal that best represents the standard for that breed as Best in Show.
I agree! Retrievers, the best dogs in the world, the real dogs – no pushed in faces, no hair "dos", just great creatures, smart, hard working, and loving. They should always be best in show!
Dear Mr.Berman!You kept them honest tonight,thank you for your thoughtful tone in the Marius case.Go Labs!
Agreed!