Charles is trying to become a legacy. His grandfather Joshua, a big, black Newfoundland dog, won the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2004, and, in less than one week, Charles hopes to do the same.
Charles is a two-year-old black Newfoundland — or “Newfie” as the dogs are often nicknamed — owned by Michelle Morris, who runs Rosewood Newfoundlands Kennels on West Lake Road. He has been competing in dog shows from Maine to Michigan, won the last eight of nine shows he’s been in and was recently designated a “Grand Champion” American Kennel Club dog.
This will be his first time to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, however, although Morris has been twice before.
“It’s very exciting, but I am worried about the show,” Morris said. “Charles has never been to Westminster, never been to [Madison Square] Garden, never been before such a big crowd. And it is very loud in there.”
The annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the oldest, largest, most prestigious dog show in the country. It is the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the country, just one year behind the Kentucky Derby. Its annually televised shows are watched by millions of people.
“Simply put, Westminster has become the symbol of the purebred dog, in show rings as well as in millions of television homes across America,” states the WKC website.
This year’s 136th annual Westminster Kennel Club show is Monday, Feb. 13, through Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Madison Square garden in New York City.
More than 2,000 AKC Champion dogs will be exhibited over the two days. From that number will come 185 Best of Breed winners. Those winners continue to compete in their seven groups to produce the seven group winners that will compete for Best in Show on Tuesday evening.
Morris has owned Newfoundlands since 1987, but said she has never had one as beautiful as Charles. In fact, despite his new grand champion status, he came from humble beginnings.
Charles was actually the first animal born via c-section at Clear Lakes Animal Wellness of Skaneateles, delivered by Dr. Megan Williams in March 2009. Charles was 1.5 pounds at birth and could be held in the palm of Morris’s hand. Today Charles weighs 138 pounds — and is still growing.
“What’s great about this breed is that they are great with families, they have a beautiful temper, they’re smart and can do a variety of things such as water rescue, agility or draft work,” Morris said. “Charles has a great demeanor. He’s very happy. He loves people, he loves crowds and he loves to show.”
Charles also loves to run and swim, to play in the mud, take boat rides in Skaneateles Lake and eat ice cream from the Bluewater Grill, Morris said.
As a show dog, Charles has been a prodigy. He became an AKC champion in just three shows, and a grand champion in eight shows. Champion designations are given based on points accrued through show wins.
Charles’s handlers, Karen and Sam Mammano of Webster, NY, will be handling Charles at Westminster. Morris will be in the Garden, but will actually be unable to see her dog until the competition is over in order to help keep him focused on the show, Morris said.
The Mammanos were unavailable for comment.
At Westminster, Charles will first spend four hours being groomed in preparation for the event: this includes shampoo and conditioning, brushing and two hours to blow dry his fur. For most of the day Monday and Tuesday, he will be in his crate for the “benched” part of the show. During this time the general public can view and pet the competing canines.
Charles’s show group, the “Working Dogs” group in which there are 15 Newfoundlands, will show at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The televised judging of variety groups and best in show begins at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
“It’s so great to see your dog on the green carpet, to see how they’re presented,” Morris said.
And what would it mean to Morris if Charles wins Best of Breed and even Best in Show?
“Heart failure!” she said.
For more information about Charles or the Roseland Newfoundlands Kennels, visit rosewoodnewfoundlands.com. For more on the Westminster Kennel Club, visit, westminsterkennelclub.org.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneaeles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
