The 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will be a historic entry, as it will feature only the third different venue in the history of the event after being held at Madison Square Garden every year through 2020.
LIVE: Follow updated results, highlights from 2023 Westminster Dog Show
This year will see the Westminster Dog Show take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, home of the US Open. The Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, N.Y., was the site of the dog show the last two years.
But enough about the venue: What about the dogs?
Last year saw Trumpet, a bloodhound, win the prestigious "Best in Show" award, becoming just the seventh dog from the hound group to take home the show's top award. Historically speaking, the smart money is on the terrier group, which has dominated the award more than any other group yet hasn't won since 2019.
Who will take home Best in Show this year? That remains to be seen through two days of judging, not including such events including agility, obedience and dock-diving competitions. No doubt every second of competition will be must-see TV for dog lovers everywhere.
MORE: Watch the Westminster Dog Show live with Fubo (free trial)
Here's everything you need to know about the Westminster Dog Show, including schedule events and TV info, previous winners and event history.
Westminster Dog Show schedule 2023
The 2023 edition of the Westminster Dog Show will be broadcast Saturday, May 6 through Tuesday, May 9. Below is a full schedule of events, with accompanying times, dates and TV and streaming info:
Saturday, May 6
| Event | Time (ET) | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Masters Agility Championship preliminaries | 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | westminsterkennelclub.org |
| Dock Diving at Westminster | 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | westminsterkennelclub.org |
| Breed Showcase | 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | westminsterkennelclub.org |
| Cosequin Demonstration Ring | 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | westminsterkennelclub.org |
| Masters Obedience championship | 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | westminsterkennelclub.org |
| Masters Agility Championship finals | 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m. | westminsterkennelclub.org |
Sunday, May 7
| Event | Time (ET) | TV/Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Anniversary Masters Agility Championship finals | 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
Monday, May 8
| Event | Time (ET) | TV/Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Breed Judging | 1 p.m.-4 p.m. | FS2, Fubo |
| Group Judging (hound, toy, non-sporting, herding) | 7:30 p.m-11 p.m. | FS1, Fubo |
Tuesday, May 9
| Event | Time (ET) | TV/Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Breed Judging | 1 p.m.-4 p.m. | FS2, Fubo |
| Junior Showmanship Finals | 7 p.m.-7:30 p.m. | FS1, Fubo |
| Group Judging (sporting, working, terrier) | 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. | FS1, Fubo |
| Best in Show | *after group judging | FS1, Fubo |
How to watch the Westminster Dog Show
- TV: Fox, FS1, FS2
- Streaming: Fox Now App, Fox Sports App, westminsterkennelclub.org, Fubo (free trial)
The Westminster Dog Show will be broadcast across the Fox family of networks, including Fox, Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2. Streaming options include the Fox Now App, Fox Sports App and Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Some content will also be available to stream via www.westminsterkennelclub.org.
Westminster Dog Show schedule of events
Here is the full daily schedule of events for the 2023 Westminster Dog show, which includes the Masters Agility Championship, the Masters Obedience Championship and the Westminster Dog Show.
- Masters Agility Championship: Saturday-Sunday
- Masters Obedience Championship: Saturday
- Westminster Dog Show: Monday-Tuesday
What is the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show?
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is an event that features nearly 3,000 dogs annually. Dogs entered into the show are judged by how closely they conform to a written description of the ideal specimen of that specific breed (i.e., the breed standard). While dogs are no longer required to perform the jobs for which they were bred, they are still judged by their ability to perform their original jobs. That includes arbitrary physical aspects such as color, eye shape, tail carriage and more.
The opening rounds of the competition sees each dog compete against other dogs of their breed. Each best of breed winner then advances to the group level, divided into sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting and herding. The seven group winners advance to the final round, where the final winner will be awarded Best in Show.
The show also includes the Masters Agility and Masters Obedience championships.
History of the Westminster Dog Show
The Westminster Dog Show is America's second longest-running sporting event, trailing only the Kentucky Derby, which predates it by two years. The event — which originated in 1877 as a show for gun dogs — has been held every year since its inception, including years encompassed by the Great Depression, World War I and II and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The original event took place at Gilmore's Garden, the predecessor for Madison Square Garden. It was held there every year until 2021, when it moved outdoors to Tarrytown, N.Y. It will now be held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the same site as the US Open grand slam.
The original show saw 1,201 entries, though it would take another 30 years for the event to award its first "Best in Show" award.
Westminster Dog Show winners
The Best in Show award is the top award available at the Westminster Dog Show, and has been since it became an annual award in 1907. The terrier group has been the most dominant, pacing the field with 47 wins. (The group hasn't won since Kingarthur Van Foliny Home, a wire fox terrier, won in 2019.)
Last year's Best in Show winner was Flessner's Toot My Own Horn, aka Trumpet, a bloodhound who became just the seventh dog from the hound group — and first since 2015 — to take home the prestigious award.
MORE: Full list of 2022 Westminster Dog Show breed and group winners
Recent Best in Show winners
| Year | Winner | Breed | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Rocky Top's Sundance Kid | Bull Terrier (Colored) | Terrier |
| 2007 | Felicity's Diamond Jim | Spaniel (English Springer) | Sporting |
| 2008 | K-Run's Park Me In First | Beagle (15 Inch) | Hound |
| 2009 | Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee | Sussex Spaniel | Sporting |
| 2010 | Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot | Scottish Terrier | Terrier |
| 2011 | Foxcliffe Hickory Wind | Scottish Deerhound | Hound |
| 2012 | Palacegarden Malachy | Pekingese Toy | Toy |
| 2013 | Banana Joe V Tani Kazari | Affenpinscher | Toy |
| 2014 | Afterall Painting The Sky | Fox Terrier (Wire) | Terrier |
| 2015 | Tashtins Lookin For Trouble | Beagle (15 Inch) | Hound |
| 2016 | Garbonita's California Journey | Pointer (German Shorthaired) | Sporting |
| 2017 | Lockenhaus' Rumor Has It V Kenlyn | German Shepherd | Herding |
| 2018 | Belle Creek's All I Care About Is Love | Bichon Frise | Non-sporting |
| 2019 | Kingarthur Van Foliny Home | Fox Terrier (Wire) | Terrier |
| 2020 | Stone Run Afternoon Tea | Poodle | Non-sporting |
| 2021 | Pequest Wasabi | Pekingese | Toy |
| 2022 | Flessner's Toot My Own Horn | Bloodhound | Hound |
Most wins by group
| Group | Number of winners |
|---|---|
| Terrier | 47 |
| Sporting | 18 |
| Working | 13 |
| Toy | 12 |
| Non-sporting | 11 |
| Hound | 7 |
| Herding | 5 |