Big Night for Westport's Lynette Saltzman: Judging Dog Show

This is a big night for Westport's Lynette Saltzman – she is judging the Best in Show competition at the prestigious Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Westporter in the spotlight: Lynette Saltzman judges Best in Show tonight at Madison Square Garden. USA Network/WestportNow.com photo

The longtime Easton Road resident has attended every Westminster show since 1949 and finished her first champion at the 1957 show. But this is the first time she has been selected to judge Best in Show.

And it all started with a Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog).

One day long ago, as an adolescent, Saltzman convinced her parents that their Manhattan apartment could accommodate such a dog, she told the New York Sun.

Now more than 50 years and litters of Shelties later, Saltzman is, well, top dog in the judge's area.

"My parents thought I would grow out of it," she said. "Obviously, it didn't work out that way."

Is she nervous? "Not at all," Saltzman told the newspaper. "At Westminster, first of all, you're starting off with just champions. Then, they've got to defeat all the champions in their breeds, and then win the group.

"By the time you reach Best in Show, you wind up with seven out of 2,500 dogs. You have some pretty good dogs in there. As a judge, it's hard to go too far wrong."

As far as preparation for her moment in the sun, she has one item on the agenda: "Buying a dress."

The competition can be viewed on the USA Network at 8 p.m. ET.

Posted February 15, 2005 04:59 PM