By Cristina Kinon For The NY Daily News
The canines competing in “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina” may be the best of the best in purebreds, but they are, after all, just dogs.
“I always like to tell the story of the day that David and I were sitting there at the NBC booth and the Great Dane walked by and he christened the rug right in front of us,” said John O’Hurley, eight-time host of “The National Dog Show,” said. “It does happen and they are just dogs being dogs, but that was a big surprise. And I mean big.”
“The National Dog Show Presented by Purina” was filmed Nov. 14 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa., and airs tomorrow from noon to 2, following “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.”
“In a world where network television scratches its head trying to shuffle its schedule around, I think this may be one of the brilliant pieces of programming in recent years,” O’Hurley said of the show’s prime slot. “It is the perfect event because it serves so many audiences on a day where so many audiences need to be served. Whether you’re 4 or 94 years old, there’s something in it for everybody. Everybody enjoys dogs.”
America’s current top-ranked show dog, a Scottish terrier named Sadie, will compete in the show, as will dogs from three breeds recently recognized by the American Kennel Club – the Irish red and white setter, the Norwegian buhund and the Pyrenean shepherd.
“It’s the first time we’ve seen them, they haven’t been at Westminster yet or any other big televised dog show,” said Frei. “It will be kind of fun. It’s amazing the response we get to new breeds every year.”
Overall, there are some 2,000 dogs in the competition. They are first judged against their own breed, then by their group (sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, nonsporting and herding). Finally, the winner from each group is brought into the ring to compete for the Best in Show title.
O’Hurley, best known for his role as Jay Peterman on “Seinfeld,” said he “really no business in the world of dogs” because he isn’t an expert, but over the years, he has learned at least one thing about our four-legged friends.
“One of the things I have learned from the show is that training is essential for a dog,” said O’Hurley. “As David has pointed out to me time and time again, there aren’t any bad dogs, but there are a lot of bad owners.”
