![]() They see dog breeding as an unhealthy exercise in genetic engineering and say it’s insensitive to breed dogs while others languish in shelters. The pros and cons of pedigreed and mixed-breed animals have long been a sensitive subject in dogdom animal rights activists have protested Westminster itself. It doesn’t matter who their mother or father was.” ![]() It doesn’t matter what your dog looks like. ![]() About seven years later, Palmerini is thrilled that Alfie will be among the mixed breeds - or “all-American” dogs in Westminster parlance - going up against purebred competitors at the elite event. He proved to have more energy than even 4-mile daily walks could absorb, and agility training provided an outlet. She wasn’t planning to get a dog, but she felt for the curly-haired, black-and-white puppy and took him home to Toms River, N.J. Owner Irene Palmerini spotted him in a mall pet store, marked down to $99. No mixed-breed dogs have appeared anywhere at Westminster since the 138-year-old event’s early days, organizers said at a news conference Wednesday.īut this year, Alfie the apparently-part-poodle, part-terrier will be among the dogs weaving around poles, walking up a plank and springing over jumps on the agility course.Īlfie’s background isn’t rarefied. It’s a notable embrace for the nation’s premier canine event, which also is adding three breeds at next month’s show: the Chinook, the Portuguese podengo pequeno and the rat terrier. ![]() While Labradoodles, puggles and who-knows-whats won’t be able to vie for the prestigious Best in Show award, they’ll be included in its new agility trial. NEW YORK (AP) - Long the province of the purebred, the Westminster Kennel Club dog show is opening a doggie door this year to mixed-breed competitors. ![]()
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