Thank you to Lancaster Online for this wonderful article on our trip to Westminster (see below). CLICK HERE to read the article on their website and watch the corresponding videos!
Andrea Shaffer is hoping success comes on four furry feet.
Shaffer, of Holtwood, is in Manhattan today to compete in the Westminster Dog Show.
She’ll be showing Johan, a Lagotto Romagnolo. She raises the dogs, which became a recognized breed by Westminster just last summer.
Johan, whose official name is GCH CH Pinon Massaggero di Pinon, will be joined by another of Shaffer’s dogs, Niko, whose official name is GCH CH Angelus mei Cael. Niko will be shown by Lisa Arnett.
Niko’s daughter, CH Perfetto Here for A Good Time, who goes by the name Nutella, will be shown by Joy Nachmias.
Shaffer began raising Lagotto Romagnolos about six years ago.
She says she loves the dogs because they’re versatile and willing to do almost anything that’s asked of them.
“They are big people pleasers,” she says. “That makes them easy to train.”
In fact, her first dog, Niko, was trained by her youngest daughter, who was 9 at the time.
“I’ve even had professional trainers tell me these dogs are easy to train,” Shaffer says.
Lagotto Romagnolos hail from Italy and were first used to hunt waterfowl. Known for their even temperament, they adapt well to any situation and have been trained to perform tasks from digging for morel mushrooms to therapy work, service-dog training and hunting.
First appearance
While this will be Shaffer’s first appearance at Westminster, she has shown her dogs at other shows.
Showing at Westminster is by invitation only. Niko is ranked the No. 1 Lagotto in the country by the American Kennel Club and his daughter has
earned American Kennel Club Champion and Grand Champion status.
The Westminster Dog Show is held annually in New York City. This is the 140th year for the show, which will air on CNBC at 8 p.m. tonight and USA Network at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Sponsored by Westminster Kennel Club, the show features a series of elimination rounds. Dogs compete to be Best of Breed and then compete within their group. The winners of each group compete in Best in Show. In all, more than 3,000 dogs compete at Westminster, representing all 50 states and 12 countries.
Joining Shaffer at Westminster will be several other Lancaster County residents, including 16-year-old Alexis Schlott, of Reinholds.
Andrea Shaffer is hoping success comes on four furry feet.
Shaffer, of Holtwood, is in Manhattan today to compete in the Westminster Dog Show.
She’ll be showing Johan, a Lagotto Romagnolo. She raises the dogs, which became a recognized breed by Westminster just last summer.
Johan, whose official name is GCH CH Pinon Massaggero di Pinon, will be joined by another of Shaffer’s dogs, Niko, whose official name is GCH CH Angelus mei Cael. Niko will be shown by Lisa Arnett.
Niko’s daughter, CH Perfetto Here for A Good Time, who goes by the name Nutella, will be shown by Joy Nachmias.
Shaffer began raising Lagotto Romagnolos about six years ago.
She says she loves the dogs because they’re versatile and willing to do almost anything that’s asked of them.
“They are big people pleasers,” she says. “That makes them easy to train.”
In fact, her first dog, Niko, was trained by her youngest daughter, who was 9 at the time.
“I’ve even had professional trainers tell me these dogs are easy to train,” Shaffer says.
Lagotto Romagnolos hail from Italy and were first used to hunt waterfowl. Known for their even temperament, they adapt well to any situation and have been trained to perform tasks from digging for morel mushrooms to therapy work, service-dog training and hunting.
First appearance
While this will be Shaffer’s first appearance at Westminster, she has shown her dogs at other shows.
Showing at Westminster is by invitation only. Niko is ranked the No. 1 Lagotto in the country by the American Kennel Club and his daughter has
earned American Kennel Club Champion and Grand Champion status.
The Westminster Dog Show is held annually in New York City. This is the 140th year for the show, which will air on CNBC at 8 p.m. tonight and USA Network at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Sponsored by Westminster Kennel Club, the show features a series of elimination rounds. Dogs compete to be Best of Breed and then compete within their group. The winners of each group compete in Best in Show. In all, more than 3,000 dogs compete at Westminster, representing all 50 states and 12 countries.
Joining Shaffer at Westminster will be several other Lancaster County residents, including 16-year-old Alexis Schlott, of Reinholds.