Choosing World's Top Dog

狗狗選秀大賽Dogs from around the world compete this week in the Westminster Dog Show 來自世界各地的頂尖狗兒在威斯敏思特狗展中齊聚一堂The Westminster Dog Show brings together the world’s top dogs by Pamela Osment

Dogs take center stage this week at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City. Millions of people will view the competition in person, on television and online. The show includes over 2,500 dogs. Over its 134-year history, a total of 296,451 dogs have been judged. Sometimes called the “Super Bowl of dog shows,” Westminster is considered America’s top dog competition.

Each year, the show invites the top five dogs in each breed. The remaining openings fill up very quickly – sometimes within the first hour of registration. Selected dogs are grouped according to their breed. Then the 173 breeds are divided into seven groups. Today and tomorrow, one winner per breed will be chosen and named the "Best of Breed." Those winners will then compete against other winners in their group for the "Best of Group." chosen and named the "Best of Group." The seven winners will then face off for the "Best in show". Using American Kennel Club standards, judges will select the dog they feel best represents its breed.

Doggie extra
While the show itself involves long, stress-filled hours, the hotel stay can be just the opposite. Certain hotels in the area of the show offer little extras for the dogs. Though not free, special services include treadmills, pet paintings, hair salons and more. At $450 for a cut and $800 for a portrait, the extras can get expensive. Many Westminster dog owners admit to spending &100,000 yearly on their dogs.

Winning opportunities
The show's winner gets opportunities to bring happiness to others. Some dogs in the past have visited sick children, injured soldiers and other patients. But appearances can be fun too. Uno, 2008's Westminster winner, went to luncheons, ballgames and the White House!
Last year, Stump, a Sussex Spaniel, amazed the crowd when he won the "Best in Show. "At the age of 10, Stump was the oldest dog to ever win the competition. Tonight, he will step aside and turn his title over to America's next top dog!

More information
There are dozens of English idioms that include the word dog. Some of the more famous include: raining cast and dogs, teach an old dog new tricks, and in the doghouse. Now, if something goes to the dogs, it means it is getting worse, either morally or physically. If you're dogging it-you're avoiding your responsibilities. Let sleeping dogs lie meants not seeking change for fear of causing even greater problems.

Grammar
...judges will select the dog they feel best represents its breed.

subject + verb + object + subject + feel best represents something else.

This phrase is useful for show how things are choose or will choose to fit someone's understanding and what the standard will be.

*The women's charitable foundation is looking for a celebrity spokeswoman whom they feel would lest represent what a working mother should look like.
*The company will choose the T-shirt design that they feel best represents the company's interest in environmental protection.

Vocabulary
take center stage (idiom)- 占重要地位或是成为瞩目的焦点.center stage-舞台中央
* The new designer's winter collection took center stage at New York's Fashion Week.
*The foreign policies of the two candidates took center stage at the presidential election.外交政策，
in person-physical person actually there.
breed (n)-品种。type, kind, a type (kind) of animal.
*This breed of cat is very rare.
*My favorite dog breed is the Golden Retriever.黄金猎犬
breed (v)- 繁殖，饲养 Henry breeds racing horses in England.
remaining opening-available space
face off-two team or two compete each other. 对抗。
*The two hockey teams will face off tomorrow night at the semi-final.对决
face-off (n)-胜出。
*It's difficult to predict which team will win the upcoming face-off in March.
opposite(adj)相反的.此当(n)相反的人或事物perfect or totally different from something or someone.
*Brandon is very outgoing, but his wife Anna is just the opposite.非常外向
*Life here in the country is the exact opposite of city life.生活
injured-受伤的（injure使受伤）的过去分词, injury (n)
*The injured passengers were taken to the emergency room.
*Her injured leg will take several months to heal.
Step aside (idiom)-from the center stage to aside.退位，退开，让出位子
*I decided to step aside and let the young people express themselves.让出位子
*Step aside! Let me talk to my son.站到一边去，都让开。

Chat Room
dog-
work like a dog-工作像狗一样，是说工作很辛苦，很卖力。
top dog (idiom)-指头头，领导人，老板，最重要的人物。
*He is the top dog in the company. 他是公司的老板。
dog tire (idiom)-很疲累，很累，累坏了。I'm dog tired.
fight like cats and dogs (idiom)-彼此激烈的争吵。
a dog-eat-dog world (idiom)-弱肉强食的社会。
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title-可以是一本书的书名或是电影片名，此指“头衔”
job title-职称
defend his title-竞赛获争夺冠军，前届的冠军为卫冕成功而战。
lose his title-卫冕失败
entitled-给与权利，使有资格He is entitled to a pension