Mongrels will be allowed to compete at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show for the first time in 138 years,
show officials told the Associated Press in a news conference Wednesday.
Along with adding mix-breeds, the country's premiere dog show will add three new breeds: the Chinook, the Portuguese podengo pequeno, and the rat terrier. While the mix-breeds are permitted to compete in new agility drills, they will not be allowed to compete for the Best in Show award.
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Toms River, N.J.-based dog owner Irene Palmerini told the Associated Press she is happy that her dog Alfie, a part-poodle, part-terrier will be able to participate in Westminster this year. Alfie will be in the "all-American" dog category, going head to head with purebred competitors at the elite event.
"I didn't breed this dog to do agility. He's just my pet," Palmerini said. "(Agility) is just about performance. It doesn't matter what your dog looks like. It doesn't matter who their mother or father was."
Westminster leaders said that they are pleased with the change, as the dog show is "a celebration of all dogs."
"We're very excited about the fact that Westminster can play a leadership role in embracing, really, the sport of dogs," purebred or not, Westminster President Sean McCarthy said.
The dog show will select its best in show Feb. 11 from more than 2,800 entrants in 187 breeds and varieties recognized by the American Kennel Club. Those dogs include 76 Labrador retrievers, 58 golden retrievers and 52 French bulldogs, along with lesser-known breeds like 30 Tibetan mastiffs.
The Westminster Kennel Club dog show will take place Feb. 10-11 at Madison Square Garden. Monday's competition includes hounds, toy, non-sporting and herding groups. Tuesday's competition will include junior sportsmanship, sporting, working, terrier groups and best in show.
CNBC will televise the competition Feb. 10 from 8-11 p.m. and will move to the USA Network Tuesday from 8-11 p.m.
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