Calling all pointers, mastiffs, whippets, Yorkies, Rottweilers, Chihuahuas and chow chows: The 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is here. This is the Super Bowl of dog shows, except its competitors don’t have to yell “hut!” or wear shoulder pads. (And don’t expect a halftime show.)
The New York Times will be providing live analysis on Tuesday evening as representatives of more than 200 breeds face off at Madison Square Garden in hopes of capturing best in show.
What time does the show start?
The judging of breeds and groups starts on Monday, but Tuesday is the main event. That’s when winners of the sporting, working and terrier groups will be decided, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. When those wrap up — typically around 10:30 p.m. — it’s on to best in show.
Where can I watch it?
If you didn’t manage to snag seats at the Garden, the evening’s events will air on FS1 and will be streamed on the Fox Sports app. You can also follow along with live coverage from New York Times reporters.
How does it work again?
More than 3,000 dogs are competing, with representatives from all 50 states. They are divided into seven groups: hound, toy, non-sporting, herding, sporting, working and terrier.
First, all members of the same breed compete against one another — out of seven Scottish deerhounds, for instance, only one will emerge victorious. Then that lucky Scottish deerhound will compete against the top representatives of all the other hound breeds: bloodhounds, otterhounds, beagles and so on.
It all comes down to seven dogs, one from each group, that then compete for best in show — and a place in canine history.
Who judges the dog show?
You! Just kidding, can you imagine? The best in show judge is David Fitzpatrick, a longtime Pekingese owner, handler and breeder whose dogs have won the whole shebang twice. (His most recent victor, Wasabi, resembled a rather dignified dust bunny.) There are also judges for each breed and group.
What are judges looking for?
The dogs are assessed based not on how cute they are or how much we love them, but on how closely they adhere to the American Kennel Club’s breed standard — a list of written ideals for how members of each breed should look, move and act.
According to its breed standard, a greyhound should have “fairly well-sprung ribs” and eyes that appear bright and intelligent, “indicating spirit.”
Why is this year interesting?
This year’s competition is the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The event was first held in 1877 at Gilmore’s Garden, an open-air arena in Manhattan that was later renamed Madison Square Garden. “Some of the dogs were disposed to be quarrelsome, especially the big fellows,” according to coverage of the event in The New York Times.
There is also a new arrival this year: The Danish-Swedish Farmdog, an agile, compact breed that was once a popular choice to perform in circuses, became the 202nd breed eligible to compete for the title.
Who won last year?
Monty, a giant schnauzer who enjoys chewing on soccer balls.
So, who is going to win best in show?
It’s anybody’s game. The top-ranked dog going into the competition is a miniature schnauzer known as Baby Joe. But the winningest breed at Westminster is the wire fox terrier, which has claimed best in show 15 times.
A golden retriever has never won despite being one of the country’s most popular breeds. Could this be the year?
Callie Holtermann reports on style and pop culture for The Times.
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