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Top Dog

Last tuesday, a kerry blue terrier named mick fetched the highest honor at the Westminster Kennel Club's dog show in New York City. The competition was hairy. But Mick, formally known as Champion Torums Scarf Michael, won Best in Show. "Even with a great dog, it's difficult to keep him on his game," said Mick's handler, Bill McFadden. "Any of the dogs could have won tonight."

This was Westminster's 127th competition. It is the most famous dog show in the country. This year, 2,603 dogs pranced and posed for the judges. Many pooches retire after becoming Best in Show at Westminster, the ultimate prize.

EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY

What does it take to be the pick of the litter? A shiny coat, good teeth, a nice trim and a winning attitude. "A great show dog thinks, 'This is wonderful! I'm in the ring, and I'm getting all this applause,'" says Anne Rogers Clark, who served as a judge at last week's show.

Clark, 74, has worked with pampered pooches since she was a child. She has been a professional handler and breeder, and she is now one of the most respected dog-show judges in the country. With only two minutes to examine each dog, says Clark, your mind has to be like a computer. "As you're putting your hands on the dog, you can feel whether they're in the right condition for their breed," she told TFK.

Each breed has a written standard for perfection. The list includes height, length of ears and color of coat. Even a dog's grooming goes back to the way its ancestors looked. Some of the doggy 'dos that may seem poufy and overdone are re-creations of the breed's traditional look.

Good grooming only gets a dog so far. To be the best, a champion must act the part. David Frei, Westminster's announcer, spent Thursday with top terrier Mick. He told TFK that Mick took his applause like a winner: "Mick just stood right up and puffed his chest out and said, 'Yep, you're clapping for me. I know it.'" --Kathryn R. Hoffman

Next: For the Love of Art