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A Conversation With Dr. Donald Sturz: President, the Westminster Kennel Club On the eve of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, SHOWSIGHT spoke with WKC President Dr. Donald Sturz to review plans for this year’s landmark celebration in Midtown Manhattan. As Madison Square Garden and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center once again welcome […]
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On the eve of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, SHOWSIGHT spoke with WKC President Dr. Donald Sturz to review plans for this year’s landmark celebration in Midtown Manhattan. As Madison Square Garden and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center once again welcome fans of purebred dogs in record numbers, a few surprises await exhibitors and spectators. We hope readers enjoy this sneak peek courtesy of the club’s inspirational leader.
Dr. Donald Sturz: When you think about it, 150 years is really kind of heady. This milestone speaks volumes about the dedication of all those who have come and gone before us, but the one constant has been the commitment to the sport of dogs and the event that New York City deserves.
This year we wanted to tell a story, and one of the things I love about this year’s judging panel is that there are so many Westminster stories. From the Breeds to the Groups, and right on up to Best in Show, we’re bringing in judges who have their own Westminster stories. And as a nod to the future, we’re purposefully bringing in some new faces who will be building Westminster stories of their own.
Dr. Donald Sturz: I refer to it as “The Westminster Magic.” There’s always an excitement and a joy around the show. There’s a reverence for Westminster’s legacy and traditions, and everyone’s individual and collective memories tie people in the sport together in a way that doesn’t happen with a lot of events. In more recent years, when we were displaced because of COVID, the venues created different experiences but the magic still brought everyone together. And now, back home at Madison Square Garden with the addition of the Javits Center, it feels just right.
Dr. Donald Sturz: A big challenge for any legacy brand is paying homage to tradition and history while remaining relevant in ways that society is engaged today. Westminster has leaned in to technology to make things more accessible and efficient. As an example, this year we have a new sponsor, Acuity Scheduling, coming in to assist exhibitors and attendees with signing up ahead of time for special events. People can schedule visits in the Marketplace where we will have an area we’re calling the Sensation Stage. There, different speakers and demonstrations will appear throughout the day on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. We’re also planning a Meet and Greet with several Westminster Legends—though we’ve been keeping those dogs’ names close to the vest for now!
Dr. Donald Sturz: Purina ProPlan is our presenting sponsor for the entire event. We have increased the number of sponsor and vendor activations. In addition to the Merch Store, we’ve brought in ororo® Heated Apparel who is doing a collaboration with Westminster-themed clothing and has offered a $150 gift certificate to each of the Best of Breed winners. Lingua Franca NYC will also have a pop-up store that creates really beautiful cashmere sweaters. They have collaborated with culture icons like Hamilton and Wicked, and now with us, they’ve created a series of different Westminster-related phrases that can be embroidered on their sweaters.
Also, in line with the storytelling theme, we’ve created an immersive walk-thru gallery experience that tells the story of Westminster through photos and quotes. And something that I hope people will be excited about is the 150th show commemorative book that evolved from a small project to become an incredibly luxe visual experience with lots of photos from our archives. A limited series of numbered hardcover copies will be available in addition to a soft cover version.
Dr. Donald Sturz: The Westminster members are committed to the show’s benched format. Part of the club’s mission is dedicated to education, and so, similar to the Sensation Stage, the benching area provides an opportunity for the public to engage with breeders and owners and handlers, and ask questions about the dogs. But benching is also important for the exhibitors as it encourages them to interact with their peers. In this day and age of “show and go,” benching creates this moment when everyone gets to hang out for a while, talking with each other. It changes the whole atmosphere of the dog show experience and it can build camaraderie, especially among those who have come into the sport in more recent years.
Dr. Donald Sturz: When people can’t get to a show, they still want to be involved in what’s going on, and so livestreaming has worked its way into our culture. It is something that people now expect in one form or another. It serves an educational purpose by allowing people to watch the judging of a breed and attune their own eye in a focused way. Livestreaming is certainly something that Westminster has prioritized as part of the show’s presentation, and it’s something that I hope we will be able to provide in the future.
Dr. Donald Sturz: Conformation is the crown jewel of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show—and always will be. But the notion of the Canine Celebration on Saturday, with Agility and Flyball, and a demo ring that exposes people to Scent Work, Obedience, and Herding in addition to Conformation Dog Show 101, provides another educational opportunity to show ways in which people can engage with their dogs and celebrate the joy of having dogs in our lives.
Dr. Donald Sturz: Of Westminster’s 150 shows, 139 have been held at The Garden. The World’s Most Famous Arena has contributed enormously to the show’s staying power. In the past we have had different performers at The Garden, but since 2026 marks our 150th year celebrating the love of dogs, and since people come to Westminster to see the dogs, we thought, “Let’s just give them more dogs.” So, we’re going to run an Agility race and a Flyball race on Monday night to turn up the volume a little bit—and those Westminster Legends will take another spin around the floor—between the Groups. On Tuesday night, we’re bringing in a hugely entertaining performance that has appeared at NBA and NFL halftimes… and we have a couple other surprises planned for the evenings that I’m not going to let out of the bag just yet!
Dr. Donald Sturz: I think the accolade is very fitting. The excitement that Westminster generates speaks for itself. I would even go so far as to say that Westminster has become iconic internationally as well.
Dr. Donald Sturz: The love of dogs is part of New York City’s culture. As someone who is a lifelong New Yorker, I can say that the city is a very dog-friendly town. People and dogs are closely associated here, and there are lots of dog parks and dog runs everywhere. Neighbors recognize one another by their dogs.
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has not only become an integral part of the fabric of the sport, it has also become an integral part of New York City’s own culture. Last year’s show at Madison Square Garden sold-out on Tuesday night. That just doesn’t happen very often. Concerts and sporting events may do this, but New Yorkers have proven they will show up for the dog show too. That tells you how the hometown crowd feels about dogs and how they feel about Westminster.
American Kennel Club (AKC)
