Vito the Pug, Winston the French Bulldog, Claire the Scottish Deerhound 
— these are the names of a few National Dog Show winners. For the past 24 years, the National Dog Show has been televised on Thanksgiving Day, with nearly 20 million Americans tuning in to see who will be crowned Best in Show. But it hasn’t always been this way. While the National Dog show is a popular event today, it is quite different than the dog shows of the past.
The first dog shows originated in the mid 1800’s as competitions among dog breeders. In the Victorian era, dog shows grew in popularity when owning a beautiful dog became a symbol of status and good taste. As these shows became more common, the American and UK Kennel Clubs arose as a way to standardize dog shows and regulate judging. These groups created standards for common breeds and dogs were judged by their similarities to these idealized standards. However, despite their popularity, dog shows were still unique to the upper class. Most working-class people could not afford the luxurious dogs they saw on stage and were not privy to the complex breed standards which informed judging.
While the dog shows of the past were meant for the culturally elite, the National Dog Show changed the game. Today, the National Dog Show seeks to make dog shows accessible to everyone. Their goal is to “celebrate top breeds, family fun, and the joy of dogs” with viewers far and wide. The show is enjoyable to old pros and first-time watchers alike, and there are a few unique features of this event that make this possible.
While this event is now a staple of the Thanksgiving festivities, it was originally inspired by a mockumentary-style film intended to make fun of dog show participants. The film, titled “Best in Show” poked fun at eccentric dog handlers and the tricks they use in order to make their dogs perform. However, after seeing this film, NBC executives were inspired to bring dog shows to television and approached the Philadelphia Kennel Club with their idea. Thankfully, the prestigious dog club was up for their idea, and the National Dog Show was born. The origins of this broadcast have remained important. Coming from a film poking fun at dog shows, the National Dog show doesn’t take itself too seriously and is never afraid to make fun of itself.
This highly publicized event is the only single venue benched dog show in the country. This means that unlike other competitions in which dogs only show up for their category, each dog receives their own special designated area where they can be visited both before and after they compete. This gives the camera crew more opportunities to get up close and personal with each dog and allows the audience to get to know more about each dog’s background and personality.
The variety of dogs included in the National Dog Show is also unique. This event welcomes around 2,000 dogs each year representing more than 200 breeds. These breeds are sorted into seven different groups according to distinctive features like size, talents and breeding history. Groups like the working group, herding and sporting group focus on each dog’s unique talents, like hunting, herding and guarding. Other groups like the toy group and the non-sporting group tend to focus on the dog’s personality and physical features. The breeds within each group vary widely, from the iconic German Shephard to more strange and obscure breeds like the Bergamasco, whose coat is twisted to create dreadlocks.
Even if groups, breeds and standards may sound completely unfamiliar to you, the National Dog Show explains these terms in detail. NBC hires both knowledgeable and enjoyable hosts for this yearly event who make the show fun to watch. Seinfeld alum John O’Hurley heads up the commentary along with dog expert David Frei and NBC sports analyst Mary Carillo. With their deep understanding of dog breeds and history, along with their charm and obvious love of pets, these hosts are what make the show fun for all.
The National Dog Show makes accessibility an art and makes a historically stuffy, upper-class tradition available to everyone. Everyone can appreciate the beauty, charm and adorableness of a cute dog. The National Dog show brings this joy into our homes each year and gives us a front row seat to the action. The art of the National Dog Show is in its presentation, bringing happiness and fun each Thanksgiving for years to come.
