This week, I got to cover the 140th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and I am 100 percent serious when I say it is one of the coolest experiences I've ever had. I spent two entire days roaming around Piers 92 and 94 in New York before settling in at Madison Square Garden to watch a winner be named [1]. I also may or may not have mentally called every dog "baby" and "good doggy" in my head and wished for them all to win all the awards, but that is neither here nor there.

I can now tell the difference between a Siberian Husky and an Alaskan Malamute

I think. This is a Siberian Husky. I'm, like, 99 percent sure.

Accidents happen in the ring.

Sometimes they show them on TV — like when this hungry Leonberger just wanted to eat the treats out of his handler's pocket. And sometimes they don't show them on TV — like when the Old English Sheepdog really, really had to go to the bathroom and didn't quite make it to the side of the ring.

The dogs all have prettier hair than me.

The grooming process can be long and very thorough, so it's no surprise that all of these dogs have beautiful hair. Even the Komondor [2].

All the dogs came from responsible breeders.

According to an announcement made during the show, all the dogs competing in Westminster came from a responsible breeder, nothing from any puppy mills or the like.

Everyone is supportive of everyone else.

Yes, this is a competition, but I've never seen a more gracious group of people. Handlers are quick to congratulate the winning dog's handler in the ring and are happy to share a spray bottle for a quick primp on the side.

It's a big frickin' deal.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the premier dog show of the world. Literally, the world. People and their dogs come from everywhere for this show to try to claim the coveted title of best in show. One of the breed winners came all the way from Argentina. Show dog people don't mess around.