Westminster Dog Show: Breeds, format, schedule and what to know

USA Today

10-02-2025

The 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the USA's second-oldest continuously held sporting event − behind only the Kentucky Derby − is taking place this week in New York.
This year, the competition is back to its traditional time of year and location in the heart of New York City, with events at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Madison Square Garden. The past four years in the wake of the COVID pandemic, the event was held outdoors and moved to the spring.
The main event brings together more than 2,500 dogs from over 200 different breeds for the two-day competition, with winners crowned in seven different categories and the awarding of the coveted overall title of Best in Show.
Here's what you need to know about this year's event:
Where is the 2025 Westminster dog show being held?
This year, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show returns to Madison Square Garden and the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.
For the past two years, it has been held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in nearby Flushing, with the Best in Show winner crowned on the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Westminster was previously held at Madison Square Garden until 2020, but moved to the Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown, New York in 2021 and 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
What is the 2025 Westminster dog show schedule?
Saturday, Feb. 8: Obedience training demonstrations and agility competition. (Javits Center)
Monday, Feb. 10: Prelimimary judging in four groups (Javits Center), with the top finishers advancing to the Best of Breed competition. (Madison Square Garden)
Tuesday, Feb. 11: Preliminary judging continues in the remaining three groups (Javits Center), with the top finishers advancing to the Best of Breed competition. (Madison Square Garden).
Best in Show honors will be announced after the judging concludes on Tuesday night.
The dog show will be broadcast on FOX, FS1 and FS2.
What breeds are in the competition?
More than 2,500 dogs from 201 different breeds will take part in this year's Westminster Dog Show.
The participating dogs are divided into seven categories:
Hound
Toy
Non-sporting
Working
Sporting
Terrier
Herding
The first four groups are judged on Monday; the remaining three are judged on Tuesday.
How does judging work?
There seven different breed groups 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. Group winners then move on to the Best in Show category.
Who won the Westminster dog show last year?
"Sage," the Miniature Poodle, won the Best in Show honor at the 148th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last May, beating over 2,500 dogs of more than 200 different breeds for the ultimate prize. Sage, a three-year-old from Houston, Texas, was handled by Kaz Hosaka in the final show of his career.
Sage was the first poodle to win Best in Show since 2020.