So I was reading Fin's blog - going on longer time internet friend type of thing - about his disdain for the dog that was announced the winner at Westminster this year.  Yes, I had the same thought: how can a dog that looks like it was just crapped out of an elephant's @$$ win the Best In Show?

I am apparently a racist when it comes to dogs: ugly dogs should not win dog shows. Certainly, they should not win the Premiere doggy show of basically the entire world.

Which brought back the memory of when I was reading the AKC definition of what a Great Dane should look like in all appearances including bone stucture; head; stance; etc etc etc.  I read that and thought about Duke, my 150 pound Great Dane who is, admittedly, a genetic failure.

His tail is about a foot and a half long and has a 3 inch 90 degree, permanent bend at the end.  His gait is hilarious, certainly nothing of "quality" Dane stock.  He's the goofiest dog on earth, well, he and Copper, lol, would have a go at it.  I love big dogs, don't get me wrong, but I also love to make fun of them, lol.  Anyway, Dukes' cranial structure makes him look akin to one of the Coneheads.  His ears are small, way too small for a Dane.  I mean, it's an endless list.  I have seen that dog jump back in shock at the sight of his own shadow. I am not kidding.  But, he is an entirely lovable 150 pounds of joy.

Regardless, I read this definition of their's - the AKC - of how the Dane "should" be and therefore  concluded that Duke is deficient - quite deficient - and should be put to death.  Lol.  Yes, I wrote them.  I wrote about Duke and all of his genetic deficiencies and contrasted them to the state of being that dog "should" be in.  So, I correctly concluded (sic) in that letter that I am to assume that since Duke is not the perfect Great Dane, I should have him killed.

Okay, I guess that was a bit overboard.  It was done in humor, actually, not in disdain.  Here are these people - rather high on themselves I might add - stating how elegant the Great Dane is, but only if he meets the critique that they ascribe.

But I did ask them: since the dog is obviously the result of backyard breeding and overbreeding, he therefore must be less than a "real" dog and therefore he doesn't deserve to live, at least what I am reading from your website.

Yes, I did get a response.  Oh nooooooo, we would NEVER suggest you just go out and have your dog euthanized.  I said killed, lol, not euthanized, but they had to use the politically correct statement, I guess.  Euthanizing is a nice way of saying the action of killing.

Whatever.  I really had no agenda in that exchange excepting to attempt to make them think about what they are saying.  This dog "shall" look like this and if not...........what?  lol

Here is a link to a pic of the dog that won Best In Show this year:  http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=361031997247857&set=a.361031627247894.89992.163663473651378&type=3&theater

I suppose the real tragedy is contrasted to the other dogs that were there, in contention for the grand title.