CALIFORNIA DREAMING

My Momma says. “Nothing great was every done by a moderate.” If you’ve ever spent any time in California, you know that most of its natives practice that philosophy. When I lived in New York, I subscribed to the Woody Allen observation that the only cultural advantage to living in California was being able to turn right on a red light. However, after living in California for 21 years, I now believe that Neil Simon had it right when he penned, “New York isn’t Mecca. It only smells like it.”

Angelyne, Sunset Strip Billboard Perennial

So from the land that of excess that gave us Paris Hilton and five Rocky movies, comes the ultimate dog show gluttony, nine days of all breed shows starting on Friday, 5 December, culminating in the Best In Show at the Eukanuba National Championship on 14 December. That’s right, dog lovers, nine out of ten days of every purebred dog in the AKC registry, nine days of celebrity watching in and out of the ring, nine days of shopping at the ultimate doggie boutiques, nine days to abuse the silly PETA people that dare show up.

Rodeo Drive

All of this will take place in just two locations only 19 miles apart. The first four days will be at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa with shows sponsored by the Shoreline Dog Fanciers Association Of Orange County and the Malibu Kennel Club. Then the action heads up the Pacific Coast Highway to the Long Beach Convention Center, for three shows sponsored by three kennel clubs, Beverly Hills, Los Encinos, and Long Beach. It all wraps up with the Eukanuba National Championship, by invitation show, which brings dogs in from all over the world for conformation, obedience, and agility. While I am among the traditionalists that believe that Westminster is really our National Championship, the Eukanuba show has captured the public’s imagination and is an extravaganza worthy of it’s host state.