To the casual viewer, competing at the 2024 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show may seem fairly simple. It’s about raising a dog. Take care of it. Strike a pose. Connect them around the ring.
But there is much more involved in reaching the pinnacle of the American Dog Show, now in its 148th year.
Here are the details for Westminster, which begins Saturday with an agility competition at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
How many dogs do you have?
More than 2,500 dogs from 200 different breeds, a subset of breeds, have signed up to strive for the best of show trophy to be awarded Tuesday night.
Welcomed from every state and country in the U.S., from Chile to Thailand, the lineup includes familiar breeds such as French Bulldogs and Labrador Retrievers, rare breeds such as Azawaks and Noregian Lundhunds, and the new Lancashire Heeler. Chihuahuas are the most well-known breed this year, with 49 breeds registered.
Two of last year’s seven semifinalists are expected to return. Trouble, an American Staffordshire Terrier, and Monty, a Giant Schnauzer who is currently America’s top dog according to statistics from The Canine Chronicle magazine.
Also participating were Comet, a Shih Tzu who won the massive American Kennel Club National Championship Show last December, and Stache, a Sealyham Terrier who won the National Dog Show televised on Thanksgiving Day.
And then there’s Zaida, the Afghan hound who won the World Dog Show in Croatia last month. Other big contenders for the title include a German shepherd named Mercedes and an otter hound named Melody.
Saturday’s agility and obedience competition will feature hundreds more dogs, including mixed breeds.
How do dogs participate in the show?
Every dog is a champion. This means they have achieved a certain number of points in the sport’s complex system.
The process of becoming a show dog begins when breeders determine which puppies are physically and temperamentally suited to “conform” competition.
Some owners show their dogs. Other canines have professional handlers who travel across the country to compete most weekends. They may gather information about their rivals’ schedules and ponder the judges’ past choices. Some owners even take out full-page ads in dog publications to honor and promote their animals.
(Related: 2024 Westminster Dog Show: Schedule, Dates, TV, Streaming, How to Watch)
How does a dog show work?
The “transformed” dog first competes against another dog of its own breed. Sometimes this may include dozens, sometimes only a few or none at all. The winners of each breed advance to the semifinal round where they are judged against other breeds in a group of dozens of breeds. In the final round, seven group winners compete for best show.
Judges decide which dog best fits the breed’s ideals, or “standards.” For example, herding dogs may need proportions that allow for sharp turns, while some hunting dogs may need thick paw pads for rough terrain.
The judges conduct practice tests and watch the dogs move. The distinction can be very subtle. Show people often say that victory can go to “the dog of the day.” That means a dog that has achieved the accomplishments of a lifetime.
“At Westminster, for once this year, all the great dogs are in the same place,” said David Frey, a dog expert who has hosted Westminster broadcasts for decades. “Everyone wants to be there, and you’ll have to go toe-to-toe with your best competition.”
What does the winner get? Which breed won?
Bragging rights and trophies are at stake. There are no cash prizes, but the agility and obedience winners will each receive a $5,000 Westminster donation directly to the training club or the American Kennel Club Humane Fund.
The Wire Fox Terrier has won the top award 15 times, most recently in 2019. Poodles of various sizes have won 10 times.
Many breeds have yet to win, including popular breeds like Labrador Retrievers. But last year the tiny basset griffon Vendéen took top spot for the first time, and in 2022 the bloodhound did the same.
The winners of the recently added agility and obedience competitions were all purebreds. However, there is a special agility award each year for the best mix, called the “All American Dog” in show parlance.
The Associated Press reported.
Get more from Westminster Kennel Club Follow your favorites to stay informed about games, news, and more.
