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The Westminster Kennel Club (WKC) Dog Show stands as the world's oldest and most distinguished dog show. The event has been a hallmark for purebred dogs since the late 19th century. The WKC Dog Show is an all-breed conformation show that takes place annually in the New York metropolitan area.
This year's show started with its 12th Masters Agility Championship competition, which featured skillful dog athletes. According to Fox Sports, a border collie named Vanish won the event.
A total of 300 dogs participated in these agility contests split into divisions with height requirements starting from 8 inches up to 24 inches. The ability to guide dogs through obstacle courses using handlers shows their agility, as the dogs are instructed to navigate jumps, tunnels and ramps.
The competition requires participants to finish their course swiftly and with zero faults.
Vanish executed his 16-inch course run at a speed of 26.49 seconds.
The Westminster Kennel Club was formed in 1877, according to the official website of the Westminster Kennel Club, and went on to become one of the most established kennel clubs in the United States. The creators established the club as a homage to the Westminster Hotel in Manhattan, since that was their meeting spot.
The organization was formed with the mission to establish a space where purebred dogs of the nation could be displayed to their best potential.
The first Westminster Dog Show occurred from May 8-10, 1877, at the venue Gilmore’s Garden that later became Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The inaugural Westminster Dog Show of 1877 gained massive popularity as over 1,200 entries took part during its first year, and became a coveted social event on New York’s social scene, which created interest among dog lovers and elite society members.
Early growth and American Kennel Club
In 1884, the American Kennel Club (AKC) was formed as an institution that included the Westminster Dog Show among its founding members. The event cemented Westminster's status as one of the leading dog competition venues that strictly followed ethical breed standards and expert judging practices.
Westminster Kennel Club was formed seven years before the AKC. It was also the first club to be accepted into the AKC after its formation.
Breed parent clubs establish the criteria for judging their breeds, and the AKC enforces the regulations regarding shows and judging.
Important Westminster Dog Show milestones
Westminster Dog Show has several milestones in its history:
1923: The show was expanded to include Junior Showmanship, which encouraged young handlers to participate and learn about dog shows.
1948: The Westminster was first broadcast on television. This increased its popularity as more people were able to view the event. It is the longest, continually broadcast, live dog show in the country, having been on television since 1948.
1992: The show introduced the Herding Group, which was a recognition of the importance of these breeds.
2014: A more expansive location, Piers 92/94 in Manhattan was added to accommodate more entries and events, such as agility competitions.
2021 & 2022: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held in June at Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, New York.
2023: The event was re-scheduled for May and moved over to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, to be held across Arthur Ashe Stadium.
2025: The Westminster Kennel Club returns to Madison Square Garden for February's 149th annual dog show.
About the name
The Westminster Kennel Club is named after the Westminster Hotel in Manhattan, where a group of sporting gentlemen used to meet.
They met in the bar to drink and discuss their shooting accomplishments. They formed a club, acquired a training area and kennel, and hired a trainer. They decided to name the club after their favorite bar.
A benched show
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is one of a few benched shows in the United States. Dogs have to be in their assigned places during the entire show, except for when they are in the ring, grooming, or stepping out. This allows all spectators and breeders to view all the dogs that have been entered.
It's a party for dogs
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The Westminster show has been a celebration of all dogs while calling for responsible dog ownership and breed preservation. In fact, it's a public education event by which people learn about breeds before bringing one home.
Reflecting the growth and success of New York City, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has become a symbol of the purebred dog. Its influence is felt in show rings and millions of television homes across the country, becoming known as "America's Dog Show".
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