PUTTING ON THE DOG FOR FANS OF THE WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB SHOW, THESE ARE DAYS OF WHINE AND NOSES.

Byline: Fred Shuster Staff Writer

If your dog is so well bred it not only picks out its own food at the supermarket but has a vote on where to spend the next family vacation, the pooch is probably already reaching for the remote to set the channel for tonight's canine show of shows.

For purebreds and breeders, the annual Westminster Kennel Club pageant is the Oscars, Grammys and World Series rolled into one. Except these models have almost certainly never worn Vera Wang and would undoubtedly prefer to chow down out of a Super Bowl than win one.

Tickets for the two-day event, in which 2,500 fussed-over competitors strut around Madison Square Garden under the scrutiny of judges and a national cable audience expected to draw nearly 5 million, are as coveted as seating for Springsteen.

Despite rampant dog breath, these high-society mutts are remarkably polite. But then, they're in the media's glare. More than 400 reporters fly in from throughout the United States, Europe and various nations to cover the program. Two-legged celebs like Bill Cosby, Martha Stewart, Glenn Close, Mary Tyler Moore and Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis have been spotted in the box seats.

It's safe to say there's no other TV trophy show quite like the Westminster Kennel Club ceremony, renamed the Mayflower Dog Show for Christopher Guest's off-the-leash send-up, ``Best in Show,'' a few years ago. Few other show-biz contests put such a high premium on ears, tail and texture of coat.

Now in its 127th year, the Westminster has earned the right to be picky about snouts and pouts; it's the second-oldest continuously held sporting event in the country after the Kentucky Derby, which has a leg up by 20 months.

All 159 currently eligible breeds will be represented. Leading entries include Chinese cresteds, rottweilers, whippets, pugs, Cavalier King Charles spaniels and Labrador retrievers. Top dogs from the dachshund, beagle, Chihuahua and poodle communities will also compete.

Pooches that reach the top will have been passed by judges in the breed, group and Best in Show areas.

For viewers curled up on the couch - and for those curled at the foot of that couch - USA Network will televise the working, terrier, toy and nonsporting selections tonight and winners in the sporting, hound and herding categories will be announced Tuesday. You can also look forward to on-air color commentary, although perhaps not as breathlessly delivered as in ``Best in Show.''

The Westminster is a New York social event for people, too. This year, Central Park's Tavern on the Green was the site of a party for dachshund owners such as Liza Minnelli and Henry Kissinger.

Predictably, Rover's big night out has been dogged by controversy. At the 1999 show, basset hound owner David Keene of Plano, Texas, howled after his award-winning pooch was shut out of competition when his entry form arrived too late. But Keene's hound - Ch. Morningwood Ulysses S. Grant - doesn't have to chase the postman this year. He and 780 champion dogs received special invites.

So open up a bag of kibble and settle in for some big-city tail-wagging. Here, then, are some facts and figures from the annals of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Last year, miniature poodle Surrey Spice Girl was the champ. The doggie took home the Westminster Kennel Club's silver-plated trophy, the James Mortimer Memorial sterling silver trophy and a silver-plated replica of the Leash's Challenge Cup. Ideally, winners refrain from drinking out of their trophies on camera.

Leading the entries for the 10th consecutive year is the dachshund, whose three varieties number 75 contestants. The remaining most-popular breeds are: Irish setter (58), Chinese crested (44), rottweiler (43), pug (36), Labrador retriever (35), golden retriever (32), Australian shepherd (30), boxer (29), Portuguese water dog (29), Chinese Shar-pei (28).

Top five entries by state: California (299), New York (253), Pennsylvania (181), New Jersey (163), Texas (156).

Dogs that won multiple Best in Show titles: Warren Remedy (smooth fox terrier), Matford Vic (wire fox terrier), Conejo Wycollar Boy (wire fox terrier), Pendley Calling of Blarney (wire fox terrier), My Own Brucie (cocker spaniel), Rancho Dobe's Storm (Doberman pinscher) Chinoe's Adamant James (English springer spaniel).

Some well-named winners: Fairewood Frolic (Norwich terrier), Whisperwind on Carousel (standard poodle), Warland Protector of Shelterock (Airedale terrier), Gaelforce Post Script (Scottish terrier).

Staff writer Michelle J. Mills contributed to this story.

WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW

What: The Academy Awards of show-dog derbies is in its 20th year on TV. Like the Oscars, nominees aren't fed until afterward.

Where: USA Network.

When: 8 tonight and Tuesday; repeated 11 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 3 -- color) More than 2,500 dogs and their owners will converge on Madison Square Garden in New York today to compete for the Westminster Kennel Club's prestigious awards, including Best in Show.

(4 -- color) Dave Frei, in tuxedo, will serve as the announcer for this year's festivities.

(5 -- color) no caption (Dog)