Westminster vs National Dog Show: 7 Ways the Two Big Shows Differ
Westminster is a New York show for champions held since 1877; the National Dog Show is a Philadelphia show aired on Thanksgiving. How else they differ.
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and the National Dog Show are both all-breed conformation shows run under American Kennel Club (AKC) rules, and both end with one dog named Best in Show. Westminster is a New York show held since 1877, with entry generally limited to dogs that have already earned an AKC championship. The National Dog Show is held near Philadelphia each November by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and is best known as the dog show NBC airs on Thanksgiving Day.
Who runs each show and where is it held?
The Westminster Kennel Club runs Westminster, and its Best in Show has traditionally been judged at Madison Square Garden in New York City, usually in February. In some recent years the club moved the show to other venues in the New York area, so check the date and location each year before planning a trip.
The Kennel Club of Philadelphia runs the National Dog Show. It takes place in November at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania, a suburb northwest of the city. The judging happens before Thanksgiving, and viewers see the edited broadcast on the holiday itself.
How old are the two shows?
Westminster held its first show in 1877, which makes it the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the United States after the Kentucky Derby. The Philadelphia club is also among the oldest dog clubs in the country, but the National Dog Show as a national television event dates from 2002, when NBC first aired it after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. For most viewers, Westminster is the older institution and the National Dog Show is the newer TV tradition.
How do you watch each show on TV?
Westminster is shown live over its show days on Fox Sports channels, with group judging in the evenings and Best in Show on the final night. Fans who want the full program follow it across several nights.
The National Dog Show airs as a single program on NBC on Thanksgiving afternoon, right after the parade, and NBC usually repeats it later the same day. This year’s timing and streaming options are in our guide to how to watch the National Dog Show and how judging works, and the slot itself is covered in the NBC Thanksgiving broadcast schedule.
Which dogs can enter?
Westminster is the harder show to get into. Most entries must already be AKC champions of record, so the ring is full of dogs that have won repeatedly at other shows. The entry is also capped, and the club publishes its rules and deadlines well ahead of each show.
The National Dog Show is open to AKC-registered dogs of recognized breeds that meet the club’s entry rules. Many top-ranked show dogs enter both, so the same handlers and well-known dogs often appear at the two events in the same season.
Is the judging the same?
Judging at both shows follows the same AKC structure:
- Each breed is judged against its written breed standard, and one dog wins Best of Breed.
- Breed winners move on to their group: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding.
- The seven group winners meet in the final ring, where one judge picks Best in Show and a Reserve Best in Show.
Judges compare each dog with the ideal described in its own standard, so a Pekingese and a Great Dane are scored against different descriptions, and the winner is the dog that comes closest to its breed’s ideal. Judges change every year at both shows, which is one reason the two shows often pick different winners in the same season.
What else happens at each event?
Westminster runs extra competitions beside conformation, including the Masters Agility Championship, a Masters Obedience Championship and Junior Showmanship for young handlers. Agility at Westminster is open to mixed-breed dogs, so it is the one part of the event where a rescue dog can compete.
Both shows are benched, which is unusual today. At a benched show, dogs stay in assigned areas for set hours when they are not in the ring, so spectators can walk the aisles, see breeds up close and talk with breeders and handlers. The National Dog Show also has its share of famous guests, such as the Bullmastiffs playing Butkus from Rocky.
Which show should you attend in person?
The National Dog Show is usually the easier day out for families: tickets are sold for the show days in Oaks, and the benching area lets children meet many breeds in a single visit. Westminster suits fans who want the evening atmosphere of a New York arena and the agility finals. Check ticket sales early for the final night.
A few practical points for either show:
- Ask a handler before touching any dog, since many are groomed and waiting to go into the ring.
- Leave your own dog at home unless it is entered. Spectator dogs are generally not allowed.
- Arrive early for the breed judging if you want to see a particular breed, because each breed has a fixed ring time and is done within minutes.
- Bring questions about temperament, exercise and grooming. Breeders on the benches can tell you how a breed lives day to day.
Watching handlers work is also a good introduction to the sport. If it sparks an interest in showing, a local kennel club or a conformation handling class is the usual starting point, and our guide to dog training class costs explains how group and private lessons are priced.
Quick answers
Is Westminster more prestigious than the National Dog Show?
Westminster is generally seen as the more prestigious show because of its age and its requirement that most entries be champions. A National Dog Show win still carries weight, and the Thanksgiving broadcast puts the winner in front of a large national audience.
Can a mixed-breed dog win Best in Show?
Best in Show at both events is limited to AKC-recognized purebreds judged against breed standards. Mixed-breed dogs can enter the agility competition at Westminster.
Do winners get prize money?
The two shows are known for trophies and titles more than cash. For owners and breeders, the value of a win is mostly the prestige it brings to the dog and its bloodline.
Is the National Dog Show live on Thanksgiving?
The National Dog Show broadcast is recorded at the November show in Oaks and aired on Thanksgiving Day, so the winner has already been chosen when the program airs.
