Dogs & Health: Dog business heals us all

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Of all the lord's creatures treated with human status — dogs may be our favorite and our best in space or anyplace.

Here's the straight poop on the dog business. We love our pooches in this country and for good reasons. They boost our physical mental and emotional health.

The health virtues of our dogs as pets, best friends, companions, saviors, hospital workers, eyes and ears for the disabled, cancer seekers, sniffers of suspects, drugs, explosives, and hunters, searchers and rescuers have been well extolled over the past few years.

This past February 14th and 15th the best, most beautiful and balanced Rovers from 160 breeds gathered at center ring in Madison Square Garden for the Doggie Oscars — the 129th gathering of the Westminster Dog Show, the second oldest continuous sport event in the nation. Unlike the Oscars, the dogs are real and approachable. Plastic surgery, bad jokes, and mentally numbing conversation are not allowed.

Westminster is the final common pathway for the 34 billion dollar industry. The business includes pet stores, breeders, puppy mills, owners, breeders, trainers, handlers, groomers, sitters, walkers, boarders, hotels, agents, vets, hospitals, clinics, show fees, food manufacturers, doggie bakers, clothes, jewelry, charms for every breed, toys, high tech leashes, stationery, and even personalized dog cards.

Said the blue ribboned Westie to the pink laced Poodle, "Here's my card, may I have one of yours please. Have your breeder call mine and we'll do biscuits." Make no mistake about it; the dog business is a big industry.

Making the final diagnosis that I'm not getting any younger — the little woman and I went off to the big onion to see the Rovers in action. Everyone in New York City was aware of the big show and had a favorite. In NYC as in my home, "The OC" near "The Laguna Beach," it seems every other person has a dog or two!

What did we see and hear that you can't witness from the floor at home sitting with your furry West Highland Terrier while watching Animal Planet:

The beauty, coats, structure and poise of the dogs is overwhelming. The first canine we encountered backstage was a long haired collie. The colors were striking and the face sculptured like a work of art. The jaw (mine) actually dropped!
Dog persons are amongst the friendliest on earth. Backstage we did not encounter one owner or handler that wasn't willing to talk, allow you to pet their dog or take a picture. The owner of the winning Pomeranian actually gave me her dog while laughing saying,"Here you hold her." Unlike cat shows the owners are not worried about viral transmission of disease.
The "Best of Breed" judging (not shown on TV) is in the afternoons with the center ring divided into 5-6 simultaneous judging areas for different breeds. The judges spend the most time in these competitions as there may be 30-40 dogs of one breed. As I sat next to the ring Tuesday afternoon one handler (whose dog had just won the best of breed for the Irish Setters) was so happy she actually grabbed and hugged me as she left the ring — just like on TV. It must have been my recently shampooed and blown dry long beautiful wavy reddish brown locks.
The competitors all commented on the movie, "Best of Show," saying it really helped their business and that although only ten percent true it captured some of their funniest moments and memories. Although the conventional knowledge is that only 50 percent of the handlers are pros — the "buzz" is that it is more like 80 percent. A number of owners said that even though the competition is extreme the best part of the show is seeing old friends and dogs — like a family reunion.
Backstage is organized chaos with owners, groomers, walkers and dogs moving in all directions. There are roped off areas with sawdust, whee-pee trees and poop and pee spots. You don't want to bark up those trees. I asked several groomers with trimmers if they would straighten my sideburns but they reluctantly declined — not wanting to adulterate the dogs!
There are trade organization booths for owners, breeders, groomers, handlers, agents, event organizers, and promoters. There is a whole lot of dog business going on.

At the "Best in Show" finals we were rooting for the liver-colored Bloodhound that won at Eukanuba last month in Tampa. But when the German Shorthaired Pointer went into a 60 second free point the crowd took over. That Carlee, what a b**ch!

So make your reservations early for February 13-14, 2006, in NYC. Westminster sold out early this year. Remember that the costs of airfare, cabs, hotel, meals and tickets eventually feed into the mounting 34 billion dog business. And that, dear doggie devotees, is good for our health.

Heel — or is that heal!

Editor's Note:Michael Arnold Glueck, M.D., barked out this week's commentary.

Michael Arnold Glueck, M.D., is a multiple award winning writer who comments on medical-legal issues. Robert J. Cihak, M.D., is a Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and a past president of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons. Both JWR contributors are Harvard trained diagnostic radiologists. Comment by clicking here.

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