I was in New York City from Feb. 12-18, and it’s hard to know where to begin in describing what went on between those dates.

Saturday was the American Kennel Club’s “Meet the Breeds” at Pier 92 and the Master Agility Championship Trial was in Pier 94. Sunday night was the Dog Writers Association of America awards banquet and on Monday and Tuesday, Westminster Kennel Club dog shows were held.

The Progressive Dog Club held dog shows on the 18th floor of the Hotel Pennsylvania on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There was a French bulldog specialty scheduled, and there was a pet fashion show, also held at the hotel. It was Fashion Week in the city, and the National Basketball Association was having some big game at Madison Square Garden.

All of this meant that the hotel was packed with people and dogs. It took me more than an hour just to check in, and that was the case for almost everyone Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For the first time, I chose the winner of the Westminster show, and I even got the reserve winner right. I think this was because I wasn’t really rooting for any specific dog. Of the seven group winners, the beagle was the only one I’d have chosen, and even then, I’d have preferred the long-haired dachshund.

In the sporting group, I thought the golden retriever was gorgeous. The judge preferred the English springer spaniel. In the terrier group, my pick was the Russell terrier, while the judge’s was the Skye. Of the toy breeds, I liked the toy fox terrier and I adore papillons. The judge thought the Shih Tzu was the best.

Generally, while I like standard poodles very much, I tend to want some other breed to win because poodles win so often. This year, I thought the xoloitzcuintle was stunning. The judge agreed up to a point, giving that dog second place. In the working group, where the winner was the Portuguese water dog, I liked either the leonberger, which placed second, or the Siberian husky, which placed fourth.

In the herding group, I favored the Swedish vallhund, the Australian shepherd and the cardigan Welsh corgi. However, the blue ribbon went to the old English sheepdog.

So, by the time the Best in Show competition began, none of my favorites had made it. The buzz in the press box was that Best in Show would either be the Portuguese water dog or the old English, so I crossed them off my list, preferring to see an underdog win. Then I ruled out the English springer and the Shih Tzu. That left the beagle, the Skye and the poodle, but I left the poodle out because poodles win frequently. So, my choices were the beagle and the Skye.

Of course, all my choices were based on seeing the dogs at a distance and not getting to see them close up or put my hands on them. I’d hate to be the judge when there are seven deserving dogs being presented.

Speaking of gorgeous, deserving dogs, local resident Ben Swanson and his lovely Australian shepherd, Bubba, did not win a placement in the Aussie ring. I got to the piers early Monday morning and was lucky enough to get a seat in the front row of Ring No. 9, where the Australian shepherds were being judged. Ben and Bubba both showed so well. At 19, Ben is so poised and professional in the ring that it was a joy just to watch him. I felt like a proud grandmother and pointed him out to the people sitting on either side of me. We all gave a collective sigh of disappointment when Ben and Bubba didn’t make the cut.

While I’m sure Ben was disappointed as well, he had this to say in an email exchange we had later that day: “I’m very proud of how Bubba showed. It’s always a pleasure to be in the company of such stiff competition, especially at this level. Westminster is a difficult venue for the dogs, but Bubba really handled it very well. It’s always exciting to be here.”

It was exciting for me too, to be able to see so many beautiful dogs of all breeds and to sit on the floor of Madison Square Garden, chatting with media representatives from all across the country, as well as a wonderful trio from Australia. The marketing pros got it right when they came up with the slogan, “Westminsterthere’s only one.”