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Keepers show off their hunts at the 2022 National Dog Show in Oaks, Pennsylvania.

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Thanksgiving isn’t just about Turkey. It is also about man’s best friend.

Every year, millions of Americans tune in to the National Dog Show, one of the furriest and best-loved traditions of the holiday.

This month, nearly 2,000 of the nation’s top dogs gather in Philadelphia to compete in their categories and capture the coveted Best in Show title for furry finalists. they represent 205 racesFrom the Australian shepherd to the Yorkshire terrier.

For the 22nd year in a row, the pageant will air on Thursday on NBC, immediately following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Here’s what you need to know about the dog show, from its origins to its newest breeds.

How does it work?

Dogs of the day are classified as follows: seven groups according to the characteristics of their breeds and their intended functions: sporting (including labrador retrievers), greyhounds (including greyhounds), working (including boxers), terrier (including Scottish terriers), toy (including boxers), non-sporting (including poodles) and livestock (border including collies).

dogs racing within their own categories They will compete for First in the Group, then these seven finalists will face off for Best in Show. The winner receives the prestigious title and $20,000 prize money.

Although every dog ​​is the best dog, judges are evaluating Hopefuls are determined by “how closely each dog compares to the judge’s mental image of the perfect dog as defined in the breed’s official standard,” based on attributes such as appearance, temperament and build.

Last year’s Best in Show title went to a tiny, cream-coloured thing Sealyham terrier named Stache.

French bulldog Winston Won and back-to-back champions in 2022 Scottish deerhound Claire he had won it both years before that. Other past winners include Thor the bulldog, Whiskey the greyhound and Newton the Brussels Griffon.

Thor the bulldog won “Best in Show” at the 2019 National Dog Show. The pageant has been a Thanksgiving staple since 2002, but it started long before that.

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How did the tradition start?

Dog shows have their roots in mid-19th-century England and made their way to the United States shortly after the Civil War: American Kennel Club (AKC) says 21 pointers and setters participated in the nation’s first dog show in Chicago in 1874.

In 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club hosted the first dog show, which continues to this day; it is the second oldest continuously held sporting event in the United States, after the Kentucky Derby. Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog ShowNot to be confused with the Thanksgiving pageant, the competition will take place in New York in February.

Hosted by the Philadelphia Kennel Club, the National Dog Show began in 1879 as the Kennel Club of Philadelphia Dog Show and has been held annually since 1933. According to NBC. It is approved by the AKC, meaning only purebred dogs registered with the American Kennel Club can participate.

So how did displaying dogs become essential to Thanksgiving viewing? We have Christopher Guest’s 2000 movie Best in Show to thank

Jon Miller, president of programming for NBC Sports, watched the film, a satirical depiction of a fictional dog show, at a movie night and realized the real thing could pull it off. a Thanksgiving hit The key between the morning parade and the afternoon football is in the window.

Miller convinced Purina to sponsor the event, persuaded the Philadelphia Kennel Club to change the name of the event to the “National Dog Show” and convinced his patrons to give it a try, too. Washington Post.

At the time, NBC was filling this void with repeats of the series. It’s a Wonderful Lifehowever, the channel realized that this did not capture the attention of viewers. Managers let Miller try it out for a year in 2002 and the ratings were so high has been released every year since, even though the co-hosts are the same: seinfield actor John O’Hurley and host David Frei.

Who’s new this year?

Handler Jessica Plourde competes with Lancashire heeler Mando in breed group judging at the 148th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show in New York in May.

Julia Nikhinson/AP

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Julia Nikhinson/AP

This year’s show features 205 breeds, the highest number ever. And one of them is a new entrant to the competition: Lancashire heel.

Long recognized as a breed in the United Kingdom, the Lancashire Heeler joined the AKC’s list of official dog breeds earlier this year, qualifying it for thousands of US dog shows.

Originally bred as cattle herders and herders, dogs are classified as part of the herding group.

Lancashire heelers have long bodies and short fur, usually black and tan. The Associated Press describes their shape as “a bit like a scaled-down corgi.” They typically stand 10 to 12 inches tall and weigh between 9 and 17 pounds. According to AKCThis describes them as intelligent, versatile and compassionate.

“They are affectionate with their owners, always happy, talkative and always ready for a walk,” the organization says. “They have a unique characteristic called the Heeler Smile; Heelers are known to pull their lips back in an effort to mimic a human smile when pleased.”

The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom recognized the breed in 1981 and placed it on the endangered breed list in 2003 due to the small number of dogs making up the gene pool and the risk of various hereditary diseases. The AKC estimates that there are only about 5,000 Lancashire heels in existence worldwide.

How to watch

The dog show directly follows the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and will air from noon to 2 p.m. on NBC in all time slots. It will also flow On Peacock, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

Shows for those looking for more on-demand doggo content 2013 – 2023 It can also be streamed on Peacock.