Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Busy hours leading up to show time

NEW YORK – You might be surprised to find out that a small percentage of the time a dog spends at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is competing in the ring.

The rest? It’s a whole lot of grooming … and even more waiting around.

We asked Texas native Lori Hooper to take us through what happened with her Keeshond dog Mumbles as he went through a routine before and during competition.

Here’s a look at what Mumbles underwent in the hours before judging began.

SUNDAY

9 p.m.: Although Mumbles is scheduled to be judged at 11:30 a.m. Monday with the rest of the Keeshonden, Hooper starts the complex grooming process the night before. Mumbles gets a bath at the Hotel Pennsylvania — right across the street from Madison Square Garden, where the Best in Breeds winners even- tually compete to be Best in Show — with a whitening and clarifying shampoo that makes his hair shine.

10:30 p.m.: After using a high-velocity dryer, Hooper then takes a smaller hand dryer, lays Mumbles out on her hotel bed and brushes him piece by piece.

Other breeds might not require as much maintenance, but not the Keeshond.

MONDAY

5:30 a.m.: Rise and shine! Hooper is up, but her goal is to keep Mumbles resting as long as possible to conserve energy before a long day.

6:30 a.m.: Mumbles takes a walk. 7 a.m.: Hooper and Mumbles show up at Piers 92/94 and set up their area for the day.

7:45 a.m.: “I spray him with water and a little bit of modifier to give him a little lift at the roots,” Hooper explains. “I’m trying to make him as poofy as possible. Humidity is your best friend.” The day-of grooming has begun.

9:30 a.m.: Everybody gets a break. Mumbles uses the pens just outside the Piers, and Hooper does a little shopping at the exhibitors area of the Dog Show.

10:30 a.m.: Last-minute grooming takes place.

“I’m checking for loose hairs, anything that’s sticking up outside my outline,” Hooper says. “Generally, we’re trying to present the best of a breeding program, so you’re trying to present a picture, you’re painting a portrait for a judge. We’re trying to make a better dog, but this is a beauty pageant.”

11 a.m.: Although the public gets to walk around and see the dogs — Mumbles loves visitors — this is about the time Hooper and the Keeshond begin focusing on getting in the ring.

11:15 a.m.: Hooper clips the lead on Mumbles, a signal that it’s showtime.

“We have to get ourselves in the mind-set as well,” she adds. “Some people wait all year to do this. I drove 2,000 miles to get here.”

11:30 a.m.: The Keeshond dogs head to Ring 2. Hooper does a last-minute spritz and keeps brushing him before they walk. Mumbles seems excited — she keeps looking up at Hooper and appears alert.

11:38 a.m.: The Keeshonden stand by the ring and wait as the Bichon Frises take their turn.

11:52 a.m.: The Bichons take a while. Mumbles is as patient as can be, although another Keeshond begins yipping on the sidelines as the wait continues.

12:08 p.m.: At last, it’s showtime. Mumbles is up first.

12:14 p.m.: Judge Dennis McCoy examines Mumbles on a platform and watches the dog go back and forth and around the ring.

12:29 p.m.: Hooper keeps feeding turkey jerky from a Texas smokehouse to Mumbles and occasionally brushes him.

The judge keeps examining the various Keeshond entries.

12:31 p.m.: Mumbles wins “Select,” which means he was the second-best male behind the Best in Breed.

Hooper feels “pretty good” about leaving with a ribbon, although she won’t be going to Madison Square Garden at night to compete.

12:32 p.m.: Mumbles appears to be smiling.