Introduction
Dogs shows are popular competitive events where dogs are judged on their conformation to a breed standard. Some of the most famous annual dog shows include the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the National Dog Show, Crufts, and the World Dog Show. These major dog shows attract top breeders and handlers from around the world who compete for “Best in Show” and other top honors.
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, first held in 1877, is considered one of the most prestigious dog shows globally. The National Dog Show, hosted each November in the US after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, is another significant American dog show. Crufts, held annually in the UK, is among the largest dog shows attracting around 27,000 dogs each year. Finally, the World Dog Show hosted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale represents top dogs from over 70 countries.
Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is one of the most prestigious dog shows in the United States. It is hosted annually in New York City, typically in February. The 2023 show will be held on May 8-9 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The Westminster Dog Show has taken place every year since 1877, making it the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the country after the Kentucky Derby. It was originally held at Gilmore’s Garden (Madison Square Garden) in Manhattan before moving to a few other locations throughout New York City over the years. Since 1920, the show has been held at Madison Square Garden except for 2021 and 2023 when it was moved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The move to May for 2023 allows dogs accustomed to cooler weather to compete safely. Over 200 breeds and varieties are eligible to compete, with judging of the seven groups preceding Best in Show. The show draws thousands of spectators and is televised nationally on the Fox Sports network.
Sources:
https://showsightmagazine.com/2023-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-location-date-announced/
History of Westminster Show
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has a long and storied history. It started in 1877 as the First Annual New York Bench Show of Dogs, which was organized by a group of hunters who met regularly at the Westminster Hotel in Manhattan [1]. It is the second longest continuously held sporting event in the United States after the Kentucky Derby, having been held annually since 1877 except in 1893, when the American Kennel Club denied its proposed show date, and during World War I and World War II years [2].
The original purpose of the show was to showcase gun dogs like Setters and Pointers. Over the years, many more breeds were added. In 1877, 35 breeds competed at the show while there are now over 200 breeds eligible to compete. The show introduced the practice of judging dogs by breed rather than by weight. It originally took place at Gilmore’s Garden (the forerunner to Madison Square Garden) in New York City before moving to various venues and settling at Madison Square Garden in 1880 where it is still held today.
Groups and Breeds
Dogs compete in 7 different groups at Westminster based on breed characteristics and heritage. The seven groups are Hound, Toy, Working, Terrier, Sporting, Herding, and Non-Sporting https://nds.nationaldogshow.com/event-info/the-seven-groups/. There are over 200 eligible breeds that can compete at Westminster, ranging from popular breeds like Labs and Golden Retrievers to more obscure breeds like the Norwegian Lundehund and Xoloitzcuintli. Each group is judged separately to select the best in breed winner who advances to compete for Best in Group. The Group competition narrows the field down to the single best dog in each of the 7 groups. Those 7 group winners then compete head-to-head for the coveted Best in Show title.
Best in Show
The Westminster Dog Show culminates each year with the prestigious Best in Show award, which is given to the overall winner selected from the group winners. Best in Show is the highest honor awarded at Westminster and represents the pinnacle for any show dog.
The Best in Show winner is chosen through several rounds of competition starting with breed judging to select the best representative of each breed. The breed winners then compete in their respective groups (hound, toy, herding, etc.) where group winners are chosen. Finally, the seven group winners compete for Best in Show, the crowning award.
Winning Westminster Best in Show is a rare achievement that instantly propels a dog to fame within the dog show world. Past Best in Show winners have often gone on to become influential sires or dams within their breeds. For the handlers and owners, it represents a career-defining accomplishment.
Other Notable Awards
In addition to Best in Show, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show features several other coveted prizes:
Best in Breed – This award goes to the dog judged to be the finest representative of its breed at the show. There are over 200 Best in Breed awards given out at Westminster each year. Some of the most competitive breed judging occurs in popular breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Poodles (Westminster Kennel Club).
Group Winners – Dogs competing at Westminster are divided into 7 groups: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. The dogs who win First Place in each breed go on to compete for the top honor in their respective group. The Group winners then advance to compete for Best in Show (AKC).
Reserve Best in Show – The dog judged as runner-up to the Best in Show winner. This is considered a prestigious title, as the Reserve Best in Show winner is judged to be the second-best dog at one of the most competitive dog shows in the world.
Westminster Dog of the Year – Selected by fans through online voting from the group winners. This popular vote prize was first awarded in 2020.
TV Coverage
The 2023 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show takes place over two days, February 13-14, and can be watched on television and streaming services.
On February 13th, FS1 will air breed judging and junior showmanship preliminaries from 1-4pm ET. At 7:30pm ET, FS1 will broadcast the junior showmanship finals followed by group judging for the hound, toy, non-sporting and herding groups.
On February 14th, FS1 picks up at 7:30pm ET for the sporting, working and terrier groups, best in show, and winner interviews. The coverage concludes at 11pm ET.
In addition to FS1, Westminster will be streaming on the FOX Sports app, FOX NOW app, westminsterkennelclub.org, and the WKC YouTube channel. This provides viewers with several options to watch the prestigious dog show live or on demand.
Coverage of the early breed judging on February 13th allows viewers to get a glimpse of all the dogs competing before the primetime group and best in show events. The 2023 Westminster Dog Show offers two full days of canine competition aired nationally on FS1.
Tickets and Location
The 2023 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will be held at Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown, New York. This National Historic Trust site provides a picturesque backdrop for the iconic dog show. The event will take place from February 11-14, 2023.
Tickets for the 2023 Westminster Dog Show are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Prices range from $35 for weekday daytime preliminaries to $225 for best in show finals. Tickets often sell out in advance, so early booking is recommended. The Lyndhurst Estate offers convenient access just north of New York City.
COVID Changes
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has made several modifications over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the show was postponed from its usual February date to June and moved outdoors to Lyndhurst estate in Tarrytown, New York in order to allow for social distancing and other safety precautions (source). The 2022 show was also postponed from February and rescheduled for late spring 2022 due to the surge in Omicron cases (source). These postponements mark the first time in Westminster history that the show did not take place in February at Madison Square Garden. The organizers have prioritized the health and safety of attendees, competitors, judges, and dogs.
Conclusion
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is one of the most prestigious dog shows in the world. In 2023, it will take place on February 13-14 at the usual location of Madison Square Garden in New York City. This will be the 147th year for the iconic event.
The Westminster Dog Show features dogs competing in seven different groups – Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. Best in Show is awarded to the top dog across all groups, which is considered a great honor. Over 200 breeds are represented at the show.
While the COVID-19 pandemic forced some changes to Westminster in recent years, the 2023 event is expected to be back in full form with spectators welcomed. The Westminster Dog Show has a long and storied history, and the 2023 edition promises to continue the excitement and prestige associated with this beloved competition.