Sporting group handler

saw that - although I thought he looked heavy.  I think that was the group that seemed to have the strongest hold on the dogs  

 I think that a lot of show dogs are heavier than they should be actually.

 totally agree - my good friend has a beautiful lab that shows ( his dad was top lab in Westminster not sure which year) and he is heavy.  She says its muscle but its not.  I believe that he is @24" and weighs just over 90lbs

When the visited here they said that they have been told he needs to add some weight for the shows

I did like that I could see some ribs on the boxers,  weims, ridgies all of which I watched the vids for

Jewlieee

 I think that a lot of show dogs are heavier than they should be actually.

I thought so too, this show especially.  However the Weim looked really nice to me, but I know nothing about Weims.  The GSDs all looked over-groomed, all poofed out and fluffy. 

kpwlee

he needs to add some weight for the shows  

But doesn't the camera add 10lbs?

 Don't you hate that? show the dog as a dog - stop with the hair spray already. And don't even get me started on the foofy poodle with a crazy hair cut ;p I know that the foofy poodle cut has some tradition to it but come on. Poodles look so much better when they have a natural short cut. Not to mention all the bows in the hair and back combing on toys and such.

Actually I and others noted a distinct lack of the overdone at this years show.

I try hard, tho it's admittedly difficult, to never pass judgement if my hands haven't been on the dog. Sometimes it's less about what you see than about what you can feel.

Jewlieee

Did you see the handler with the yellow lab? She was jerking that poor dog all over the place. The dog did not look happy at all. To bad because it was a gorgeous dog. He really could have been shown better imo. 

When you think how often you see people jerking their dogs to try to teach them to walk on a leash, it's no wonder some of the handlers think that's how you gait a dog.  I felt badly for quite a few dogs...  And, the weight thing bothers me, too.  There's nothing wrong with being in good condition, but things are taken to excess.  One slightly overweight dog wins, and suddenly everyone is "adding weight for the ring".  Next thing you know, you're seeing 60 pound Labs in puppy kindergarten - oy.