Competing at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show may seem simple to the casual viewer: Get a dog, groom it, pose it, and lead it around a ring. Here are the details of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show:
How Many Dogs?
Over 2,500 dogs from 200 different breeds and varieties have signed up to compete for the best in show trophy. The lineup includes familiar breeds like French bulldogs and Labrador retrievers, as well as rarities like Azawakhs and Norwegian lundehunds. This year, Chihuahuas are the best-represented breed with 49 entries. Some returning favorites from last year include Trouble, an American Staffordshire terrier, and Monty, a giant schnauzer. New contenders like Comet, a Shih Tzu, and Stache, a Sealyham terrier, are also in the running.
Related Stories
Westminster’s agility and obedience contests involved a few hundred more dogs, including some mixed-breed ones.
How Do Dogs Get Into the Show?
All the dogs at Westminster are champions who have earned a certain number of points in the sport’s system. The process of becoming a show dog starts when breeders select puppies suited for conformation competition. Some owners show their own dogs, while others hire professional handlers who compete regularly. Judges determine which dog best fits the breed’s standard based on physical and temperament qualities.
How Does Dog Showing Work?
Conformation dogs compete against others of the same breed, with winners moving on to semifinals and then the final round for best in show. Judges assess how well each dog matches the breed’s ideal standard, looking for subtle distinctions. Winning often comes down to the dog’s performance on the day.
What Do Winners Get? What Breeds Have Won, or Not?
Winners receive trophies and bragging rights, with no cash prizes. Wire fox terriers and poodles have been past champions, while many breeds are yet to win. The competition includes agility and obedience contests with special prizes for mixed-breed dogs.
Protests from Animal Rights Activists
Westminster has faced protests from animal rights activists who criticize the competition as promoting puppy buying and irresponsible breeding. The event comes amid a scandal involving a judge’s arrest for child sexual abuse material distribution, leading to discussions about child safety in the dog show world.
A recent investigation by Business Insider in April revealed that four professionals in the show-dog world have been convicted of crimes against children since 2008, some of which occurred at dog events.
In response to these findings, the American Kennel Club (AKC) implemented a new requirement in 2021 for its field representatives and registered handlers to complete an abuse prevention program. This requirement has now been extended to judges, handlers, and other individuals, totaling around 20,000 people, according to spokesperson Brandi Hunter Munden.
Furthermore, the AKC has approved a new policy that allows for easier termination of relationships with individuals, especially for behavior outside of dog shows. The policy mandates discipline, including potential lifetime suspension, for individuals convicted of crimes, engaging in sex offenses, harassment, or any behavior that jeopardizes the well-being of others or the reputation of the club.
Brandi Hunter Munden emphasized that the AKC’s primary objective is to ensure the safety of all individuals involved in the sport, not just youth participants. The club aims to promote a safe, inclusive, and family-friendly environment within the dog show community.
