Sport: A Dog's Life

Rancho Dobe's Storm is a sleek, husky (92 Ibs.) Doberman pinscher who leads a pampered dog's life in suburban Cos Cob, Conn. (pop. 3,100). His nonworking day's routine includes an egg at breakfast, a pound of canned beef at dinner, a romp on the acres of his master, Adman Len Carey, a vice president of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, and a proprietary interest in sleeping on the bed of the Careys' 16-year-old son, Jeff. Every once in a while, for reasons that Storm may not fully understand, he is required to parade up & down in front of a crowd with a lot of other dogs at a dog show. Storm loves every minute of it.

Last week, obviously enjoying himself to the hilt, Storm was stacked up against 2,561 yapping, yelping dogs at the dog world's No. 1 blue-ribbon event, the Westminster Kennel Club Show at Madison Square Garden. As the defending champion, Storm received the mixture of stares and deference which is the lot of all titleholders. Most of the time Storm stayed in an uncomfortable stall in the Garden basement, loftily ignoring the people who came to look at him. In the ring, he coolly defeated all members of his own breed, then beat a batch of other dogs with which Dobermans are classed in the "working group": boxers, collies, German shepherds, St. Bernards, etc.

In the final judging for the championship of the show, Storm was matched against a Skye terrier which looked like a dust mop, a prissy poodle, a sad-eyed bloodhound, a self-conscious Irish setter and a pudgy pug. It was hardly a contest. Storm, sleek and cocky, paraded around with the aplomb of a high-fashion model. He stood stolidly as the judge solemnly inspected his teeth, eyes, haunches and toenails. Some 10,000 dog fanciers were on tenterhooks as the judge walked over to where all the silverware was. Dramatically, at just the proper moment, the judge pointed at Storm, the winner. Storm yawned.

After Storm's victory, delighted Owner Carey gave his 38-month-old Doberman a T-bone reward: permanent retirement from the show ring. "He's earned his rest," announced Carey, carefully adding that Storm will "continue to stand at stud." Fee: $150.