Dog lovers are in for a treat at NYC museum
NEW YORK — I met my canine doppelganger at the Museum of the Dog.
A kiosk snapped my picture, then paired me with a grand basset griffon Vendeen whose longish snout and wavy fur resembled my own nose and hair. I’d never heard of the breed, but when you’re at a museum affiliated with the American Kennel Club, you’re bound to learn a thing or two about dogs.
The “Find Your Match” display is one of six digital experiences at the museum. A “Meet the Breeds” touch screen offers information on every type of pooch, from Afghans to Yorkies. And you can practice dog-training skills with a virtual Labrador puppy, Molly, who responds to voice and hand commands.
Artwork includes a portrait of Millie, the springer spaniel who belonged to President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara; a William Wegman photo of dogs wearing life jackets in a canoe; and a 1910 painting by Maud Earl of a terrier in mourning, his head on a chair, after the death of his master, Britain’s King Edward VII.
Among the objects on display are ceramics and bronzes of dogs; spiked collars that protected hunting dogs’ necks from the beasts they were chasing; posters of Lassie and Old Yeller; and a tiny parachute designed for a Yorkie that flew World War II combat missions.
The museum’s February opening in Manhattan was actually a homecoming. It first opened in New York in 1982 but moved to St. Louis in 1987 to a site that allowed museumgoers to bring dogs. The only downside of the New York building near Grand Central: No pets allowed.
The museum is closed Mondays. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for kids younger than 13.