A Day In The Life Of A Show Dog

The Westminster Kennel Club dog show is the oldest of its kind in the country and has been held every year since 1877. Before it started Feb. 10, The Early Show's Melinda Murphy spent some time with a very special pet in that elite crowd, Magoo.

Magoo is a champion bulldog, having won trophy after trophy at dog shows across the country.

He is also a man about town. He spends his days at a hardware store and even stops by the local meat market where he gets a cheese snack. But most of the time, he hangs out with his mom, Crystal Bennett.

Their house in Bridgewater, Pa., is really a tribute to Magoo. Every nook and cranny is decorated with a bulldog "this" or a bulldog "that."

And Magoo has his own space, too. He has his very own bedroom where Bennett grooms him every day.

"You're going to look so pretty when you go visiting people today," she says to him as she wipes his wrinkles, trims his whiskers and even brushes his teeth.

Magoo needs downtime, too. Sometimes he watches TV or looks at his favorite book, full of his own photos.

He was a looker way back, but now this bulldog is a regular fashion plate. He has a large wardrobe, including pajamas to wear in his leopard bed.

But Magoo's favorite thing is eating.

He doesn't have a bowl. "No, he won't eat out of a bowl," says Bennett. "He wants to be hand-fed. So anything that drops on the floor, he will not eat."

And he is picky when it comes to his food. Magoo only likes red apples and when it comes to dog biscuits, Magoo is tough tcookie, says Bennett.
"Every day, it's a different type of cookie. So we might have to purchase five different cookies, different brands of cookies, just because we don't know which one he's going to like," she explains.

Lucky for Magoo, Bennett fetches his favorite food daily in his brand new Christmas present, Magoo's Hummer.

Bennett takes Magoo to McDonalds in the $50,000 Hummer every day and buys him "seven plain cheeseburgers" she says.

He eats them at home - each and every one. And don't try another brand. Magoo likes only McDonald's.

All this is so Magoo can keep up appearances for Westminster. And don't think folks don't know he's going. Bennett made sure of that; she put a big sign on side of the Hummer's door.

In New York, Murphy caught up with Magoo and Bennett at the Hotel Pennsylvania. What was he wearing? A boa and a tux.

Magoo wanted to check out the facilities in the basement and the competition in the lobby.

There were dogs of all shapes and all sizes - Magoo was in his element.