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Explore the rich history and traditions of top dog shows, including Westminster, National Dog Show, and AKC National Championship.
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The wonderful world we call The Sport of Purebred dogs is filled with a rich history and traditions that date back centuries. History is defined in several ways. For example: “The study of past events, particularly in human affairs.” It is also “a continuous, typically chronological, record of important or public events, or of a particular trend or institution.”
Tradition, on the other hand, is “the transmission of customs and beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way.” It can also be described as “cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions.”
Beginning in November each year and ending traditionally in the second week of February, three of our most popular events take place. Each has a unique history and traditions, yet all three are significant in American dog show lore.
We are just a short time away from the 149th edition of the Westminster Kennel Club’s Annual “World-Famous” Dog Show. No show in the country has the excitement and traditions of Westminster.
The WKC is the oldest organization in the United States dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs. The club was established in May 1877. Many of the original members of the WKC would go on to establish the AKC in September 1884 as the governing body of the sport as we know it today.
Westminster’s annual show predates the invention of the light bulb, the automobile, the zipper, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Washington Monument, manned air flight, and the establishment of baseball’s World Series. The Manhattan, NY-based show has outlasted three versions of the world-famous Madison Square Garden and is one of only four events to have been held in all four versions of “The Garden.”
Through the years, the show has changed and adapted as needed, going from being wholly held at The Garden to the years when Breed judging took place at The Piers and Groups at The Garden, and when the required changes over the past few years following COVID required a change of venue and date for the show to continue.
With the next edition, Number 149, moving the Groups back to The Garden and the Breeds to the Javits Center, the second-oldest continuous sporting event in history returns to its roots.
There is no other show like Westminster. It has the honor of being first televised in 1948, and the Groups and Best in Show continue to be televised live and in their entirety. And there is nothing like competing or judging on the famed “Green Carpet.” Another unique aspect of The Garden is its Monday and Tuesday night format, which allows for excellent exposure of the show and our sport to people watching from all over the world.
I look forward to the return of the February date and the traditions of all the fantastic events at Madison Square Garden.
With the move of the daytime judging location, it will be interesting to see if the WKC decides to increase the limited entry from 2,500 to a larger number. However, as it is one of the few remaining “bench shows,” the limited entry may need to remain.
Part of the history and tradition of “The Garden” is the number of show careers that have either begun or ended at the historic show. The Breed and Group rings are always filled with the highest-quality exhibits, and I have often wondered, if not for the entry limit, just how big the entry of top dogs from all over the world would be.
Another show rich in history and traditions is the “National Dog Show,” hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia club, founded in 1879, is just two years younger than the Westminster Kennel Club. It is also one of the few remaining clubs that still hosts a “bench show.”
The National Dog Show continues to grow in popularity. It has become an annual tradition for many families on Thanksgiving Day, with its nationally televised presentation.
Although presented in a condensed version, the event reaches millions of Americans during the holidays, further promoting our sport to many who have never seen a dog show.
Last but certainly not least, is the largest show in the country, the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin.
Launched in 2001 in Orlando, Florida, with stops in Long Beach, California, and Tampa, Florida, the AKC National Championship has grown from an invitational show to the largest dog show in the US.
It appears to have found a permanent home at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando as the end-of-year event for all dog lovers.
The Saturday and Sunday event is the climax of a cluster of shows that begins on Tuesday with three days of All-Breed Shows and a Friday filled with Group and Specialty Shows.
This past year’s events started with around 4,700 dogs on Tuesday and culminated with 5,637 Conformation entries at the AKC National Championship.
The end-of-the-year cluster in Orlando has often decided the top winners in Breed, Group, and Best in Show rankings for the year.
With special recognition for the National Owner-Handled Series and the Best Bred-By Exhibitor, this show is one that many people plan for years in advance.
Linda Rowell, the cluster coordinator, works hand in hand with Michael Canalizo to make sure that all the T’s are crossed and the I’s are dotted to run a safe and efficient week of shows.
The rings at the ANC are always significant, with great lighting, and spaced out so that you never seem crowded. The competition within the breeds is of the highest quality, with majors available in most breeds. It is an excellent challenge for all the judges, with the highest quality in the Specials class.
The AKC National Championship continues to grow in history and traditions, and ranks right up there with Westminster and the National Dog Show on the bucket list of every fan, breeder, and exhibitor of purebred dogs.
Well, 2024 has come and gone, and 2025 has arrived, and our sport continues to survive and, in some places, thrive. We live in a world of constant change, and for those of us who love our sport, we are fortunate to have our beloved four-legged companions who never judge us and love us for who we are. I wish everyone success in the new year, and never forget those wonderful companions that are GOD spelled backward – those beautiful creatures, our dogs.
American Kennel Club (AKC)
The AKC has released the judging panel for the 2026 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin in Orlando this December.
