Westminster Dog Show adds mixed breeds for 2014

Times they are a’changing at the Westminster Dog show, which apparently isn’t only for purebreds anymore. Not that you can take any old dog from the local pound and put it up against the best in the world, but the iconic U.S. canine show is allowing mixed breeds to compete in 2014. The show also is allowing three new breeds: Rat terrier, Portuguese podengo pequeno, and chinook.

Westminster Kennel Club officials made the announcement at a Wednesday, Jan. 15 news conference, accompanied by dogs jumping through agility obstacles on a a course where they also wove around poles. Officials said mixed breeds haven’t appeared in the show since a few did when the show first started in 1877.

Have no impure fears though, mixed breeds won’t be eligible for the top Best in Show award that continues to be the purview of pure breeds. The Best in Show prize will be announced Feb. 11. Westminster Kennel Club’s 138th annual show has more entries than any show since 1990. A total of 2,845 dogs were entered this year in 187 breeds and varieties. Labrador Retrievers were the best represented breed with 76 entires followed by Golden Retrievers with 58 entries.