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Westminster Dog Show Picks Tips Info.

It seems like a long time ago, but in 1938 the Westminster Kennel Club was already holding its 62nd annual dog show in New York City. And to mark the occasion, Timmagazine chose for its cover a gentleman named John G. Bates, who later that week would step into the ring at Madison Square Garden to select Westminster's Best InRULES: - In the interest of fairness and with a strong desire to insure that all entries submitted to this show are authorized and correct, The Westminster Kennel Club has instituted a number of new rules and procedures for the entry process for its show on February 13-14, 2006.

As in the past, entries for The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show are limited to AKC Champions. However, a number of new rules for the entry process will be put into place beginning with this show.

There are four significant changes from previous years:

• For dogs not qualifying for a invitation to pre-enter, entries may be made at any time beginning November 16 until the closing date of December 9.
• Entries may be made on any official AKC entry form, as long as the name and date of the show where the dog finished is written on the form.
• Other than Invited Dogs and Junior Showmanship, no entries will be processed prior to December 9
• There is a limit of one entry per envelope

Here are the highlights of the key rules and procedures for 2006:

INVITATIONS TO PRE-ENTER: As in the past, the Top Five dogs (AKC champions) in breed standings for the period January 1, 2005 - October 31, 2005 will be invited to pre-enter in advance of the closing date.

SUBMISSION DATES FOR OTHER ENTRIES: Best of Breed entries for dogs that do not qualify for invitations may be made on any official AKC entry form and submitted only via First Class Mail through the Postal Service at any time beginning November 16, 2005, to be received no later than 3 PM (ET) Friday, December 9, 2005. Non-Invitation entries will be collected from the post office box beginning at 8 AM (ET) on Friday, December 9 for processing. No entry (other than those for the Invited dogs and Juniors) will be processed prior to that time. While entries will be received until the published closing time of 3 PM (ET), entries for Best of Breed will close when the limit of 2,500 is attained. Junior Showmanship Only and Juniors who are listed as an additional class are acceptable until 3 PM (ET) since they are not counted as part of the numerical limit.

ONE ENTRY PER ENVELOPE: There is a limit of one entry form per envelope. Envelopes with more than one entry will be returned.

DELIVERY METHODS: Entries may be submitted ONLY via First Class Mail through the U.S. Postal Service.

OWNER / AGENT: All entries must be signed by and submitted by an actual owner or the duly authorized agent of the owner(s) who is the person responsible for the dog at the show.

The Premium List is now available here or at http://www.infodog.com/

COMPLETE ENTRY RULES AND PROCEDURES

1. The Top Five dogs (AKC Champions of Record) in each will be invited to pre-enter. The Top Five dogs will be determined based on the number of dogs defeated in breed competition only at AKC shows held from January 1, 2005-October 31, 2005 inclusive. A listing of the Top Five dogs to be invited will be posted here or on http://www.infodog.com/ as soon as final statistics are received from AKC. Entries for an invited dog may be sent as soon as the list is posted or as soon as the Invitation is received from the superintendent. Invitations are sent to the owner(s) on file via Priority Mail, certified, return receipt requested, in mid-November. A self-addressed mailing envelope will be included with the Invitation entry.

The Top Five Invitation entry form may be returned at any time after the Top Five List is posted or at any time after the invitation has been received by the owner. In all cases, this entry form must be returned to P.O. BOX 22067, GREENSBORO, NC 27420 by 3 PM (ET), Wednesday, December 7, 2005. If an envelope is used other than the return envelope enclosed with the invitation, the outside of the envelope should indicate "INVITATION" on the front of the envelope.

Address changes for mailing must be reported to the superintendent prior to 5 PM (ET) November 2, 2005.

2. Entries close at 3 pm (ET), Friday, December 9, 2005 or when the maximum entry number of 2,500 has been reached, if reached before that time. Entries are limited to the Top Five dogs invited and all other dogs eligible for Best of Breed Competition. Junior Showmanship entries are not included in the Breed Entry Limit.

Non-Invitation Best of Breed entries and Junior Showmanship entries may be mailed according to the noted requirements at any time beginning November 16, 2005 BUT MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 3 PM (ET), FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2005. Non-Invitation Best of Breed entries postmarked prior to November 16, 2005 will be returned.

Non-Invitation entries will be collected from the post office box beginning at 8 AM (ET) on Friday, December 9 for processing. NO ENTRY WILL BE PROCESSED prior to 8 AM (ET), Friday, December 9, 2005 (other than those qualifying for an Invitation and Junior Showmanship ONLY). Entries will be processed until the entry limit of 2,500 is attained.

3. There is a limit of ONE entry form per envelope. Note: If a dog is being entered in Best of Breed and also in Junior Showmanship and is so noted on that same form, that will be considered as one entry form. However, if one dog is being entered in Best of Breed and a separate dog in Junior Showmanship Only, these entries must be sent in separate envelopes. Any individual envelope containing more than one entry form will be returned with no recourse to the owner or agent who submitted the entries.

4. Entries may be submitted ONLY via First Class Mail through the U.S. Postal Service ONLY to the address noted in the premium list (P.O. Box 22067, Greensboro, NC 27420). An addressed return envelope is included with the premium list and with the Invitation. Overnight mail or delivery, Internet/online, Fax, Dial-N-Entry or walk-ins or entries handed in at shows are NOT acceptable or permitted. Please note on the outside of the envelope whether it is an "Invitation" or "Junior ONLY" entry. See below for Benching Form information.

5. All entries must be signed by and submitted by an actual owner or the duly authorized agent* of the owner(s) who is the person responsible for the dog at the show. All entries must be accompanied by a check or credit card information belonging to an actual owner or the duly authorized agent* of the owner. Entries signed by or submitted by an other person or entity will be returned with no recourse.

*For the purposes of this show, any reference to an owner's "duly authorized agent", anywhere in The Westminster Kennel Club premium list, catalog, news releases, promotions, etc., refers ONLY to that person who is responsible for the dog at the show and who will be exhibiting the dog in the ring.

For complete entry rules and an official entry form, click here for the official premium list. This Show is governed by American Kennel Club rules plus additional rules of The Westminster Kennel Club. For additional information, please contact the superintendent, MB-F (http://www.infodog.com/).

JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP

ELIGIBILITY: This is a Limited Class. Juniors may enter the competition if they have placed first in ten or more Open Classes, with competition, in Junior Showmanship at AKC Licensed or Member shows held between November 29, 2004 and December 4, 2005, and were at least 9 years old and under 18 years old at the time of each qualifying win. These qualifying wins (including show name and date) must be listed and forwarded along with the entry. Junior Showmanship entries may be accepted prior to Friday, December

Entries for dogs entered in breed competition and in Junior Showmanship competition are subject to all the provisions outlined in the premium list and on the entry form as to fee, closing date, eligibility, benching etc. Due to the large entry, a Junior may be judged on a day different from the day their breed is benched. Junior Showmanship dogs are not benched. Dogs entered in Junior Showmanship ONLY need not be champions. There is no entry fee for the first dog entered in the Limited Junior Showmanship Class.

BENCHING

The benching of dogs is an integral part of the dog show, the importance of which cannot be overstated.

Dogs are received only at the exhibitors' entrance, corner of 33rd St. & Pennsylvania Plaza between 7th and 8th Avenues, beginning at 6 a.m. each morning.

Dogs must arrive by 11:30 a.m. on the day they are judged. Dogs arriving after that time will not be admitted. All dogs must be removed from the benches by 11:30 p.m. Tuesday evening to the designated holding area. Breeds to be judged on Tuesday will not be admitted until 9 p.m. Monday evening.

Dogs and equipment cannot be removed from the show either day before 8 p.m. Spectators buying items from concessionaires must show sales receipts to guards at the gates for any items they wish to take from the building before 8 p.m. All dogs must be removed from Madison Square Garden by midnight Tuesday.

There will be separate areas for grooming or crates. Stacking of crates on breed benching will not be permitted, except in the case of Toy Breeds. Crates will not be permitted in any aisle, at any ring or on any floor space. All crates must be on the benching or in grooming area. Tack units must be on the bench.

CITY LAWS

The Director of the Bureau of Animal Affairs of New York City requires all dogs entering the City of New York to be accompanied by a Health Certificate issued by a licensed Veterinarian no more than seven days prior to arrival in the City.

New York City law states that people exercising dogs are responsible for cleaning-up the feces. The law is strictly enforced and punishable by a $100 fine.

AGREEMENT

By entering this show, all participants agree to the following: All rights to advertise, promote, publicize, televise or otherwise exploit the show are vested in The Westminster Kennel Club and its assigns, including the use of the names, likenesses, voices or biographical matter of all dogs, owners, handlers, and kennels participating in the show.

Madison Square Garden prohibits the use of video recording devices at this show.