For professional football players, it’s the Super Bowl. For country music singers, it’s the Grand Ole Opry stage. For mountain climbers, it’s Mount Everest.

In nearly every human endeavor, there’s a pinnacle, an ultimate goal to attain. In the realm of human/canine endeavors, there’s also just one place to be—the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Last week, Kathy Shorter of Gloucester, reached that summit.

Although Shorter and Louise, her year-and-a-half old Pointer, did not place, "it was an education for me," Shorter said. "Now I know what it takes to be competitive there."

Shorter, who’s been showing dogs for the better part of three decades, was still a bit reticent about competing in the show, which was held on Feb. 14-15 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. "I didn’t sleep for the two weeks prior," she said. Westminster, she continued, has always been "that big show in the sky...