Interview with James - Westminster's 2007 Best in Show!

This week, hundreds of dogs from across the country will fill Madison Square Garden in New York City to compete for the title of the Westminster Kennel Club's Best in Show. Petside caught up with last year's winner James, and his owner, to get the scoop on what it's like to win the dog world's biggest prize. Read on to learn what James has been up to since taking the crown and hear some advice for the dogs competing for this year's title!This week, hundreds of dogs from across the country will fill Madison Square Garden in New York City to compete for the title of the Westminster Kennel Club's Best in Show. Westminster's Best in Show is one of the biggest prizes in the dog show world and brings automatic fame to the champion dog.

2007 winner was a 7-and-a-half-year-old English Springer Spaniel named Ch. Felicity's Diamond Jim, or James, for short. Petside.com caught up with James and his owner, Terry Patton, during a visit to the Ronald McDonald House of New York. We got the scoop on what it's like to win Best in Show, what James has been up to since taking the title, and picked up some advice for the dogs looking to claim this year's crown.

Petside: How did James get his name?

Patton: He is named after (famous English Springer Spaniel) Adamant James, who won Best in Show at Westminster twice. And he's also named after a card player, Diamond Jim. I don't know if I ever thought he would be a big winner, but I gave him a big winner name.

Petside: What makes James so special?

Patton: His heart, his spirit. He's very charismatic and he loves people. James is just an average dog, who happened to go to a lot of dog shows. I think leading a balanced life, not just being a show dog, has helped him be "America's Dog." He is so charismatic, so engaging. We've had e-mails from people all over the world saying what a great ambassador he is. They feel like they are part owners in him. And I love that, because they are. He gives a piece of himself to everybody that he meets.

Petside: How do you prepare for big shows like Westminster?

Patton: Big shows require special mental and physical conditioning. To get him physically ready, he has a good healthy diet and plenty of exercise. He jogs on a Jog-A-Dog machine or a treadmill for twelve minutes a day. Mentally, whenever he's worked with in terms of his ring training, he gets tons and tons of attention. Other than that, he knows he's supposed to conserve his energy. Then when he comes out and it's time to show, it's a different ballgame.

Petside: What is James like in the ring?

Patton: Electric. It's magical when he and his handler, Kelly Fitzgerald, get out there. It's magic. They are quite the team.

Petside: Do you think this is what he was born to do?

Patton: There is no doubt. There is absolutely no question.

Petside: Can you describe what it's like to win Best in Show at Westminster?

Patton: Going into the Garden we had no idea or intention. We were just going to have a good time. Best in Show, it's anybody's guess. All those dogs are magnificent. We've seen the same seven in the ring, and it can go seven different ways. But James, that was his night. We've heard people say that every dog has their one special moment, and on that particular night, it was his.

Petside: Is James still competing in shows?

Patton: We did take him out this past fall, and he's now permanently retired from the breed ring.

Petside: So what has James been up to now that he's not showing?

Patton: He has completed his obedience title and his rally title. We want to do tracking with him, then the field work and some agility. He's got so much to offer. We do lots of memory walks with the Alzheimer's Association and work with the Life with Cancer Program in our area of Virginia. He started doing therapy work when he was seven months old. I love to do therapy work with my dogs, there's a huge need for it. There are so many people who need to be touched with a dog's pure love. So his plate stays pretty full, which is the way we like it. And there's nothing better than doing this with your dog and having them really give back to their community. That is incredibly important.

Petside: How has winning Best in Show at Westminster changed you and James' lives?

Patton: The celebrity that he has attained through his win, of course is amazing. People work for a lifetime and never get to this point. But it's allowed the celebrity to shine light on the pet therapy, which is so important. And that's made the whole thing worthwhile. It has ignited a spark in us to really get out there and do something to try to make a difference with Alzheimer's awareness and little children who are so critically ill and need acceptance and love. I mean, that really is what it's all about.

Petside: What advice would you give to those trying to win Best in Show this Year?

Patton: Enjoy every moment that you're out there, whether you win or not. It's all about having fun with your dog. Don't ever take it too seriously. For those who win, enjoy it, because it's a fleeting moment. It's an incredible, once in a lifetime accomplishment. It's over the moon. To try to put that particular instant into words...there just aren't any. It's surreal, it is just surreal.