The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the 'Super Bowl' of Dog Shows
2025-02-20
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1At America's 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monty the giant schnauzer won the top prize.
2The lively schnauzer beat six other finalists in New York City to become the first of his breed to win Westminster's "best in show."
3The prize is the most important and respected in the U.S. dog show world.
4While Monty came close to winning Westminster the past two years, he fell short of the big prize.
5In December 2024, the dog won another big prize, the huge American Kennel Club championship.
6But for dog show lovers, Westminster is considered the Super Bowl of all shows.
7This year the comparison is especially fitting.
8That is because the most respected U.S. dog competition opened on the same weekend as the Super Bowl -- the most important game in American professional football.
9This rare happening came after the dates of both competitions changed in recent years.
10At Westminster, dogs first compete against other members of their breed.
11Then, the winner of each breed goes up against other dogs within different competition "groups."
12Among the groups are sporting, working, toy, and herding.
13Group winners then compete in the final round.
14The best in show winner gets an award - a large, shiny cup called a trophy - and a place in dog-world history.
15The top prize, however, does not include money.
16In her report on the dog show, Learning English's Caty Weaver explains that the Westminster show dates back to 1877.
17It centers on the traditional purebred judging that leads to the best in show prize.
18But over the last few years, the organization has added agility and obedience events open to mixed-breed dogs.
19In 2024, Sage, a miniature poodle, won best in show at the 148th Westminster Kennel Club dog show.
20And in 2023, a petit basset griffon Vendéen, named Buddy Holly, won best in show at Westminster.
21The breed he represents is known for its rabbit-hunting abilities.
22I'm Anna Matteo.
1At America's 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monty the giant schnauzer won the top prize. 2The lively schnauzer beat six other finalists in New York City to become the first of his breed to win Westminster's "best in show." The prize is the most important and respected in the U.S. dog show world. 3While Monty came close to winning Westminster the past two years, he fell short of the big prize. In December 2024, the dog won another big prize, the huge American Kennel Club championship. 4But for dog show lovers, Westminster is considered the Super Bowl of all shows. This year the comparison is especially fitting. That is because the most respected U.S. dog competition opened on the same weekend as the Super Bowl -- the most important game in American professional football. This rare happening came after the dates of both competitions changed in recent years. 5At Westminster, dogs first compete against other members of their breed. Then, the winner of each breed goes up against other dogs within different competition "groups." Among the groups are sporting, working, toy, and herding. Group winners then compete in the final round. 6The best in show winner gets an award - a large, shiny cup called a trophy - and a place in dog-world history. The top prize, however, does not include money. 7In her report on the dog show, Learning English's Caty Weaver explains that the Westminster show dates back to 1877. It centers on the traditional purebred judging that leads to the best in show prize. But over the last few years, the organization has added agility and obedience events open to mixed-breed dogs. 8In 2024, Sage, a miniature poodle, won best in show at the 148th Westminster Kennel Club dog show. 9And in 2023, a petit basset griffon Vendéen, named Buddy Holly, won best in show at Westminster. The breed he represents is known for its rabbit-hunting abilities. 10I'm Anna Matteo. 11Writers for the Associated Press reported this story from New York. Anna Matteo adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. 12________________________________________________________ 13Words in This Story 14giant -adj. something unusually large or powerful 15finalist -n. a contestant in a competition finals 16breed -n. a particular kind of dog, cat, horse, etc. 17fall short (of something) -phrase fail to meet an expectation or standard for something 18herd -v. to move animals or people in a group 19agility -n. the quality or state of being ability to move with quick easy grace 20obedience -n. an act or instance of taking commands 21miniature -adj. something small of its kind