God loves a terrier, but what's that thing he's wearing?

February 12, 2008 8:59 PM

Watching last night's Westminster Kennel Club dog show, what is this thing attached to the terrier's lead under his throat? It's made of metal and it isn't a tag.
posted by acorncup to pets & animals (12 comments total)

It looks like the kind of ID tag that slides on the collar.
posted by red_lotus at 9:08 PM on February 12, 2008

Terrier flare?
posted by SassHat at 9:09 PM on February 12, 2008

Tags aren't allowed in AKC show rings. The judge saw it and didn't question it, so it isn't a tag.
posted by acorncup at 9:12 PM on February 12, 2008

Did any of the other dogs have one? Maybe it's an official show ID issued to the owners to put on their dogs' collars. It makes sense that they should have an official one to easily identify a dog, even if they don't want unofficial ones brought in the ring.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 9:20 PM on February 12, 2008

As far as I could tell, this was the only dog wearing it.
posted by acorncup at 9:46 PM on February 12, 2008

maybe the dog is epileptic or has some other medical condition that an emergency animal caretaker would really need to know about. maybe.
posted by gavtaylor at 9:55 PM on February 12, 2008

It looks like it keeps the chain in place.
posted by fshgrl at 9:56 PM on February 12, 2008

I was going to say slide on tag but that is ruled out. Interesting that the loops aren't solid, there is a break in the middle of each.
posted by Mitheral at 9:57 PM on February 12, 2008

Derail: how come tags aren't allowed?
posted by PercussivePaul at 10:29 PM on February 12, 2008

It looks like an evil version of this.
posted by Shoggoth at 6:01 AM on February 13, 2008

The only identification allowed in the ring is the handler's armband. That's supposed to keep politics and favoritism out of the arena.

Shoggoth might be on to something. I wonder if there's padding on the inside that we can't see.
posted by acorncup at 12:47 PM on February 13, 2008

lead?
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 2:39 PM on February 13, 2008