The cutest sporting event is back on the calendar this weekend when the Westminster Dog Show returns to the Big Apple on Monday and Tuesday.
This year, and for the third time in its extensive history, it'll be held at a different venue. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens will host thousands of prestigious dogs from around the globe, all hoping to take home the title of Best in Show. Who are you rooting for?
Here's what you need to know about how the Westminster Dog Show works, including rules, group breakdowns and judging.
MORE: Watch the Westminster Dog Show live with Fubo (free trial)
What are the groups in the Westminster Dog Show?
There are seven different groupings of pup in the Westminster Dog Show:
- Herding
- Working
- Hound
- Terrier
- Sporting
- Non-sporting
- Toy
Things get more specific when it comes to the exact breed of the dog being entered. Breeds are broken up based on what group they best fall under. Let me lay it out for you. We can start with something easy:
Last year's winner, Trumpet, is a bloodhound. Therefore, Trumpet was judged in the hound category. Hounds are bred to pursue warm-blooded quarry with sharp scent-tracking ability and wide range of vision. Pretty simple.
However, the 2021 crown-bearer, Wasabi, was a Pekingese. That specific breed was judged in the toy category. Toy dogs are essentially lap or purse dogs, bred for affection. Chihuahuas, pugs and shih tzus are the most commonly known.
Terriers come in all shapes and sizes. The short-legged feisty ones were bred to burrow, while the long-legged ones were bred to dig. Then there's the bully breeds, which were bred for gruesome tasks like bull-baiting.
Herding dogs are exactly what they sound like; a type of dog that's either been trained in herding or belongs to a breed that's specially developed for herding and guarding livestock. This includes corgis, sheepdogs and border collies.
Working dogs are also exactly what they sound like; a dog that has a purpose, such as to protect or assist. These breeds, like boxers, Great Danes and Rottweilers, impose stature, strength and intelligence. They can also impose a "beware of dog" sign kind of fear.
Sporting dogs are dogs meant to assists hunters in the capture and retrieval of feathered game. This includes retrievers, setters, spaniels and pointers.
On the other hand, non-working dogs are sought after as companions, with not much in common other than their rich histories and wet noses. This includes bulldogs and poodles.
What are the rules in the Westminster Dog Show?
According to the Westminster Kennel Club, each breed has a standard they must meet.
These standards are written, maintained and owned by the national breed club explaining the ideal specimen of that breed and they must be approved by the American Kennel Club.
What parts of a dog may be judged?
Things relating to form and function. So, in laymen's terms, the entire dog.
The WKC cites these as the original function the dog was bred for, as well as the desired general appearance, movement, and temperament. It also looks at specific physical characteristics, like height and weight, coat type and color, eye color and shape, ear shape and placement, feet, tail and more.
How does the judging at the Westminster Dog Show work?
Standards vary by breed in terms of how specific they are, and judges apply their thoughts and opinions to select the best dog in each standard that day.
How does a dog progress to the coveted Best of Show? There are several steps:
Dogs will first compete against their own breed, where one must win Best in Breed. Here, a singular judge will officiate the entry of a singular breed, and the ones in first-place advance.
The winners go on to competes within their groups, which were mentioned above. Here, the respective group judge will examine all and select the top four, with the first-place dog advancing to the next round.
If the No. 1 pooch is in the dog show god's good graces, it will advance to the final stage, where it will compete against the seven other Best in Group winners for the almighty title: Best in Show.
Westminster Dog Show schedule 2023
Below is the full schedule, watch options and air times for the 2023 Westminster Dog Show.
Monday, May 8
| Event | Time (ET) | TV channel/Live streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Breed judging (hound, toy, non-sporting, herding) | 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | FS2, Fubo (select coverage) |
| Junior showmanship preliminaties | 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | westminsterkennelclub.org |
| Group judging (hound, toy, non-sporting, herding) | 7:30-11 p.m. | FS1, Fubo |
Tuesday, May 9
| Event | Time (ET) | TV channel/Live streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Breed judging (sporting, working, terrier) | 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | FS2, Fubo (select coverage) |
| Junior showmanship finals | 7-7:30 p.m. | westminsterkennelclub.org |
| Group judging (sporting, working, terrier) | 7:30-11 p.m. | FS1, Fubo |
| Best in show | *after group judging | FS1, Fubo |