Who will win Best in Show? Schedule, TV, streaming info for 2023 Westminster Dog Show
"America's Dog Show" is back!
The 147th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the second oldest continuously running sport event in the U.S., behind only the Kentucky Derby, will take place in New York City's USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the first time ever. Over 3,000 dogs of more than 200 different breeds will compete for the ultimate prize.
The coveted "Best in Show" honor will be announced on Tuesday night. Trumpet the Bloodhound won last year's honors, becoming the first Bloodhound to win Best in Show in Westminster's 146-year history.
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Here's what you need to know about this year's event:
When is the 2023 Westminster dog show?
The 2023 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will run from Monday, May 8 to Tuesday, May 9.
The weekend kicks off with the 8th annual Masters Obedience Championship and 10th Anniversary Masters Agility Championship on Saturday prior to the Westminster Dog Show.
How can I watch the 2023 Westminster dog show?
Monday and Tuesday's broadcasts will air on FS2 (Fox Sports 2) from 1-4 p.m. ET and shift over to FS1 (Fox Sports 1) from 7-11 p.m. ET , with streaming available on Westminsterkennelclub.org and the FOX Sports App. "Best in Show" will be announced on Tuesday at the end of the broadcast.
Where will the 2023 Westminster dog show be held?
For the first time, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is being held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York, the same location as the annual U.S. Open tournament.
Westminster was previously held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden from 1877-2020, but moved to the Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown, New York in 2021 and 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
How does judging work?
There are seven different breed groups at Westminster: Herding, Hound, Non-sporting, Sporting, Terrier, Toy and Working. Breeds are evaluated based on the standard set by their parent club, meaning competing dogs aren't compared to other competitors but to the ideal proportions, weight and size, head shape, gait and other qualities of the breed.
Once a dog wins its breed, it is judged within its group that purebred dogs are divided into. Group winners then move on to the Best in Show category.
Who won the Westminster dog show last year?
Trumpet the Bloodhound won the Best in Show honor at the 146th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, besting over 3,500 dogs of more than 200 different breeds.
Trumpet made history by becoming the first Bloodhound ever to win Best in Show in Westminster's 146-year history. A Bloodhound first entered Westminster in 1978.
"I am so excited for Trumpet," said handler Heather Buehner, who co-owns and bred the "goofball." She added, "He has a lot of attitude and he's a little crazy."
What new dog breeds have been added?
The Bracco Italiano is the latest breed recognized by the American Kennel Club and is eligible to compete in the Sporting group. According to the AKC, the Bracco Italiano is a "strong, active, and sturdy breed of dog" that has hunting origins.