LI dogs strut their stuff at Westminster

Long Island dogs raised their tails and strutted their stuff around the rings Monday, eliciting claps and photo snaps at the 135th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

And while Elsa, a Belgian Malinois, may not have won best of breed, just showing at the event was enough for her owner and handler.

"You're competing against the best dogs in the country," said Ed Avellez of Bay Shore, referring to the 2,600 dogs participating in the show.

Dozens of the 80 canines with Long Island roots had their day in the spotlight Monday at Madison Square Garden. The rest will fill the rings Tuesday, with the dramatic naming of the best in show Tuesday night.

Kimberly Calvacca of Westbury cradled her miniature pinscher, Major, in her arms after receiving an award of merit in the breed group. Major has won best of breed twice before, in 2009 and 2010.

"He was magnificent," Calvacca said. "He gets out there and he strikes a pose and says, 'Pick me!' "

Waiting in the wings to show in ring 4, Commander, a 41/2-year-old German shepherd from Melville, needed to settle down a bit. At least that's what handler Michael Reed of Hopewell, N.J., surmised. Whimpering and pacing, Commander was calmed with a few mists of water around his face and anti-slip sprays on his paws.

There was a major disappointment for handler Linda Albert of Hauppauge, who was a bit stunned that her chow chow Quixote didn't place. "We lost. Can you imagine that?" she said, adding that he won his breed group last year. "They didn't even look at him. . . . I was in shock."

Meanwhile, owner Kelly Lockwood of Babylon celebrated the award of merit for her beagle, Brigette. "She is only 13 months old," Lockwood said. "She's probably one of the youngest dogs here."

Whether rooting for the Boykin spaniel or the Australian shepherd, dog lovers flocked in droves to snap photos of the breeds in the benching area backstage.

"They're all great specimens," said David Frei, director of communications for The Westminster Kennel Club, adding that there were six new breeds this year. "It's the only dog show all year where all great dogs are in the same place at the same time."

What's special about the 2011 Westminster dog show

Nearly 2,600 dogs are competing at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and they all carry the abbreviation "Ch." before their names - it stands for champion, since every dog at Madison Square Garden has already been a winner somewhere.

This year's entries come in 179 breeds and varieties. They're from 49 states - North Dakota is absent - and from several countries, including Thailand, Brazil, Slovenia and Australia.

The winners in the hound, toy, nonsporting and herding groups were being picked Sunday. The top sporting, working and terriers will be chosen Tuesday, and judge Paolo Dondina of Italy will point to the best in show Monday tonight shortly before 11 p.m.

This will mark the first time at the Garden for six breeds: Icelandic sheepdogs, redbone coonhounds, Leonbergers, Boykin spaniels, cane corsos and bluetick coonhounds.