Anyone have experience with the Westminster Dog Show in NYC?

[Deleted]

It's in mid-February and DH and I are thinking we might go.

Just wondering if anyone has ever attended.  If so, I have some questions.

Thanks!

[val2525]

I've gone to the AKC Eukanuba Nationals but not the Westminster.

[labbypaws]

Our breeder showed there last year. What do you want to know?

[zoesam]

No help, but I hope you get to go! I've always wanted to go.

[Deleted]

I was just wondering if anyone who'd attended had advice about what not to miss, where to sit, etc.

Anyway, I've been doing a ton of research since the idea came up and I think we're ready to buy some tickets. Actually chose our seats and tried to purchase tonight, but Stubhub is being difficult and I was getting frustrated, so I'm going to try again in the morning.

Going to buy tickets for the final night (Tuesday) at MSG as well as some breed judging that day at The Piers. We were thinking of doing both days, but decided one day will probably be enough. I'd rather spend the money we might've spent for two days of tickets and put it toward getting a best available seat on the big night.

The plan is to drive in on Monday (it's about 2-3 hours from our house), have a nice dinner Monday night, do all the dog show stuff Tuesday day and night, and head back home sometime after lunch on Tuesday.

They have a list of hotels offering special rates as well as three "Gold Star" hotels that will be providing free shuttle service to the events during the day and night. I'm assuming most of the dogs and their people will be staying at those hotels, so we might try and get rooms there, too. It'd be fun to see all the dogs walking in and out.

One of those things that we've been saying for years that we should do and finally decided to do it.

[Deleted]

This sounds really fun. I hope you two go and have a great time.

And you know you're going to have to post photos. Wear something so we can spot you in the crowd!

[val2525]

If it's anything like the AKC Nationals, be sure to visit the breed room. At the AKC, there was a HUGE room (think exhibit hall!) with booths and the breeds were there alphabetically. The dogs in there could be petted, and there were folks at the booths who answered questions about the breed. Really fun and interesting.

[Deleted]

Val, sounds like they have something similar from like 5:00-7:00 in an Exhibition Hall at MSG, before the show actually starts.

[labbypaws]

Comment from a friend: Haven't been in years, but staying at the "show" hotel where all of the exhibitors stay is a madhouse. If she can get to the benching area early, that is worth seeing. She might also want to check out events at the AKC headquarters - I went to a cocktail party and met a lot of interesting people!

[Deleted]

Thank you, labby!

We do plan on going to the benching area and you may have saved me a lot of money and hassle by letting me know she said the exhibitor hotels are a madhouse. I had visions of cute dogs being walked leisurely through the lobby, not of pandemonium. Since it looks as if those hotels would cost more, too, I'll probably steer clear.

Thanks, again!

[val2525]

Another reason you might want to steer clear of the hotels housing the competitors....might be kinda noisy when you try to sleep.

Just a thought.

[Deleted]

You're right, Val.

I booked one yesterday that is on the list of hotels that are offering a group rate, but not one of the three gold star ones with the shuttle service where I'd imagine the majority of people with their dogs stay.

It's only about a half mile from MSG, so we won't need a shuttle to go there anyway. The Piers, where the daytime competition takes place is about 2 miles from the hotel. If we don't feel like walking, we can take a taxi there.