Everything You Need to Know About NBC The National Dog Show

The National Dog Show is one of the most iconic and beloved events in the dog world. It's a tradition that dates back to 1933, when it was first held at the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial Exposition.

The show is produced by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and is broadcast on NBC every Thanksgiving Day. It's a tradition that's been going strong for over 80 years.

The show features over 200 breeds of dogs, from the tiny Chihuahua to the massive Great Dane. Each breed is judged on its unique characteristics and conforming to the breed standard.

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia Dog Show began in 1879, following a format established by a one-time dog show held at the United States centennial in 1876. It ran annually through 1927, then resumed in 1933 and has been held every year since.

The show is held by The Kennel Club of Philadelphia, a founding club of AKC, and traditionally takes place on the third from last weekend in November over two days. In 2002, NBC Sports began televising the show on Thanksgiving Day and rebranded it as The National Dog Show.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused the show to be held behind closed doors for the first time.

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The National Dog Show has a rich television history, and it all began with a movie night with neighbors hosted by NBC's Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC sports, in 2000. He was inspired by the movie Best in Show, a satirical look into the dog show world.

The movie's fictional "Mayflower" show was modeled after the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, but the writer/director Christopher Guest placed it in Philadelphia, where The National Dog Show takes place each year. This sparked the idea of placing a major dog show on NBC Thanksgiving Day following the Macy's Parade.

The two-hour special, which airs from noon-2p.m. in all time zones, was a stroke of genius, as it perfectly fits between the parade and the tradition of football watching that dominates the rest of the afternoon and evening on Turkey Day. The massive parade audience leads into two hours of gorgeous dogs and focused handlers competing and frolicking in a celebration of the wonderful attributes of man's best friend.

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The show is nationally televised on NBC every Thanksgiving, and it's a perfect fit for the slot after the parade, as pets are often considered an extension of the family unit. Viewers often have a rooting interest for the breeds of dogs they own, which is dubbed an "alma mater effect" by NBC Sports's Jon Miller.

The introduction of the television showings was drawn out of inspiration from the movie Best in Show, and it was an immediate ratings blockbuster. The show has been a holiday tradition, attracting a total audience of over 20 million each November.

This year's event will feature a new American Kennel Club-sanctioned breed, the Azawakh, bringing the total recognized breeds to 193. The Azawakh is a loyal, independent, and deeply affectionate sighthound known for its short coat, long and lean appearance, and excellent companionship and guardianship.

The "National Dog Show Presented by Purina" is hosted by John O'Hurley and David Frei, with Mary Carillo reporting from inside the show ring and Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir offering behind-the-scenes access as backstage contributors.

Last year's Best in Show winner was a 3-year-old male Whippet named Whiskey, who also won the American Kennel Club's National Championship in January. Whiskey has more than 20 Best in Show titles.

The telecast reached nearly 25 million viewers over Thanksgiving week last year, delivering its third-best score in total viewers since its first broadcast in 2002.

David Frei has been a fixture on Thanksgiving Day for millions of Americans, hosting the National Dog Show on NBC since its inception in 2002. He's a natural choice to serve as the expert analyst for the show, given his extensive experience in the world of canine events.

As an American Kennel Club (AKC)-licensed judge, Frei has officiated dog shows all over the world. He's also a successful breeder, handler, and owner in the purebred dog show world.

David Frei's work extends beyond the dog show circuit. He's proudest of the work his dogs have done as therapy dogs at various hospitals, including the Ronald McDonald House New York and the New York City VA Hospital.

Frei has written two books about his experiences with therapy dogs, "The Angel By My Side" and "Angel On A Leash", both of which won Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) awards.

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To get started with dog shows, it's essential to understand the basics.

Dog shows are not about comparing dogs to each other, but rather about how well each dog meets its breed standard.

Each dog is judged individually against its breed standard, not against other dogs.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is responsible for setting these breed standards.

A dog that best conforms to its breed standard is considered the winner.

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