Are those the things that you can't get wet or feed after midnight? Or am I mixing up two equally attractive and adorable little animals?

Attitude is everything! Think about a Miss America contest or something similar. No matter the talent or beauty if they walk all slouched over or dragging their feet, or their hair and makeup is a mess then how far do you think they would get.
It's all a beauty contest only the dogs don't have to answer and questions or show any talent other then getting around the ring in a breed correct manner.

Connie, a LOT of those dogs would fit the bill of can't get wet or fed after midnight. The coats on all the heavily coated breeds are primary to the "contest". Chows and other breeds will build their schedule around moult/shedding season simply because they don't look their best.

Dog shows are every day, all year round except for Christmas and many of the Pros are traveling most all year. The dogs live in motor homes and rarely see much exercise other then road work and learning to stand pretty for the judge in these situations.
These pro handler often travel with and show a number of dogs belonging to a number of people. Many have handlers that work for them because ring times can conflict. If a ring time conflict creates a problem the dogs that aren't at the top level don't get shown.

Obviously there are plenty of show dogs that live a happy family life so my above comments aren't written in stone. Just quite common for the big winning handlers.

I know exactly what you are talking about though. As much as I hate to admit it, the GSD Covy Tucker Hills Manhattan had "IT" in 1987; there was a Pointer a few years ago named something-something Bee's Knees that had "IT". Just a movement and a joy exuded from them that made them impossible to ignore. There was a Doberman that that won in the early 90's that I remember having "IT" as well. Not so many in the 10 years or so, though.

I showed a pointer my junior year in vet school. He was very mild. The only time Spot did well the dog in front of him was in heat--at a show in Denver. Spot was confident and fancy that day. He won the sporting group which was SUPER exciting.

Then we moved to Minnesota where poor Spot FROZE and ran deer too. We didn't have him very long after moving and I never showed again.

I did not follow the Westminster but it remind me a lot of line class in horse show.

It is supposed to be for young sport prospect but if you get a judge that is a hunter judge no jumper or even dressage horse will win. Conformation affect the way of going and the way of going for a hunter, jumper or dressage horse is not the same so conformation and attitude is not the same.

For performance people pretty only goes so far, form to function is much better. But what do I know, I am all about performance.

 Quote: Becky Shilling

I know exactly what you are talking about though. As much as I hate to admit it, the GSD Covy Tucker Hills Manhattan had "IT" in 1987; there was a Pointer a few years ago named something-something Bee's Knees that had "IT". Just a movement and a joy exuded from them that made them impossible to ignore. There was a Doberman that that won in the early 90's that I remember having "IT" as well. Not so many in the 10 years or so, though.

I met "Hatter" that year when the AKC Museum opened here in the St. Louis area. I have to admit that he had a great temperament. I was barely getting to know the working vs Show at the time but I still didn't like his angulation. His handler, Jimmy Moses, was very much anti-working line GSD.
I also recall a big winning Pug of that era that had "IT". I don't recall the registered name but they called him Woodchuck. Fantastic movement. Also a Terv called Bo Jangles.
This was in the time I was most involved in breed Showing.

"His handler, Jimmy Moses, was very much anti-working line GSD.

Interestingly enough, I read an interview with Jimmy Moses where he mentioned even he thought the "angulation" being bred had strayed too far from the ideal conformation of GSDs. I'll say!!!!!!!