National Dog Show facts for kids

Quick facts for kids National Dog Show
Genre	Dog show
Created by	Kennel Club of Philadelphia (KCP)
Presented by	John O'Hurley David Frei
Judges	Frank DePaulo (Show Chairman & Judge)
Country of origin	United States
Production
Production location(s)	Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks in Oaks, Pennsylvania
Running time	2 hours
Distributor	NBC Sports Productions
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	November 2002; 22 years ago (2002-11)

The National Dog Show is a super exciting dog competition held every year on Thanksgiving! It's a special kind of dog show called a "conformation show." This means judges look at how well each dog matches the perfect look and qualities for its breed. The show is put on by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and has been shown on NBC since 2002. It's a fun way to celebrate Thanksgiving with amazing dogs!

The National Dog Show: A Look Back

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia has been holding dog shows for a very long time, since 1879! The only time they stopped was during the Great Depression from 1928 to 1932. This show usually happens in November, a few weekends before Thanksgiving.

In 2002, NBC Sports started showing the event on TV on Thanksgiving Day. That's when it became known as The National Dog Show. It's now a big part of many families' Thanksgiving traditions.

Major Dog Shows in the U.S.

The National Dog Show is one of the three biggest dog shows in the United States. The other two are the AKC National Championship and the Westminster Dog Show. Winning at these shows is a huge honor for a dog and its owner!

Only purebred dogs can compete in these "conformation shows." This is because the judges are looking for how well a dog fits the specific standards of its breed. Mixed-breed dogs, also known as mutts, are not allowed to participate in these types of competitions.

The National Dog Show is also one of the last "benched" dog shows in the U.S. This means that all the dogs are kept in special areas called "benches" when they are not competing. This allows visitors to see them up close and learn about different breeds.

In 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show was held without an audience for the first time ever. This was to keep everyone safe.

A Scottish Deerhound named GCH Foxcliffe Claire Randall Fraser made history! She was the first dog to win the "Best In Show" award two years in a row, in 2020 and 2021.

Watching the Show on TV

The National Dog Show is shown on NBC every Thanksgiving afternoon. It usually airs right after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This means you can watch it at noon in most places.

The show is hosted by actor John O'Hurley and dog expert David Frei. The main sponsor of the show is Nestlé Purina PetCare, a well-known pet food company.

Show Leaders

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia has had several important leaders, called Chairmen, who help organize the show:

• Charles Schaefer (2001–2004)
• William H. Burland (2005–2013)
• Frank DePaulo (2014–present)

Past Champions: Best in Show Winners

Here's a list of the amazing dogs who have won the top prize, "Best in Show," at the National Dog Show: