The National Dog Show has drawn a record 2,107 entries to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania, as the televised Thanksgiving tradition marked its 25th anniversary.
Organised by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, the two-day event on 14 and 15 November brought together competitors representing 208 breeds and varieties. Organisers said it was the largest entry since 2017 and the second-biggest since the show moved to Oaks in 2009.
The anniversary programme also featured three breeds making their National Dog Show debuts: the Basset Fauve de Bretagne, the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka and the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier.
National Dog Show celebrates 25 years at Oaks
Show chairman Frank DePaulo said the event remained unusual because it is one of the few remaining “benched” shows, with competing dogs staying in designated areas throughout the day rather than leaving immediately after being judged.
That format allows visitors to meet handlers, breeders and groomers, and to see the dogs at close quarters between judging sessions. More than 200 breeds were represented across the show, from established favourites to newer additions to the American Kennel Club’s roster.
Carolyne Kelley, from Evesham, New Jersey, described the judging as a detailed assessment of each breed against its standard, including features such as the correct ear set and front.
For many participants, the event has become part of their annual routine. Dog handler Kaylee Wagoner said she had been showing dogs since she was five and had grown up in a family involved in the sport.
Charlotte Foster, from Ambler, said attending had become “a tradition starting our holiday season”, while visitors said the show offered an opportunity to learn about breeds and see them outside the more familiar setting of television or social media.
Handlers also highlighted the relationships formed around the competition. Kamilla Szasz said the most important thing was that her dog was happy, while describing the friendships made with people who travel from across the country and meet at the show each year.
Sarah Devilbiss said she enjoyed introducing visitors to her black pug, adding that the dog had met people who had never seen one before.
The Saturday competition was filmed for NBC’s annual Thanksgiving broadcast, which is due to air on Thursday 26 November from noon to 2pm Eastern time, immediately after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
