The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, America’s longest-running canine exhibition, will welcome spectators to its new location for the first time next weekend.Traditionally held at Madison Square Garden at New York, the show last year moved to the Lyndhurst Estate at Tarrytown, New York, due to Covid restrictions, and outside spectators were not permitted to attend. Contestants — and their owners — are eager to display their talents at this year’s Westminster, the 146th annual show, with a full complement of spectators. A 2022 contestant, Lori Sirois, told The New York Sun that she was “excited to share her Pugs, Dashiell and Missy, with the public.”Ms. Sirois said she expects Dashiell and Missy to garner just as much attention at the Westminster as they do online.The internet-famous “Pugdashians” — a reference to the human reality television stars — regularly receive thousands of “likes” from their 311,000 followers on Instagram.Ms. Sirois’s Pugs have in the past made post-show appearances riding in a trolley wagon, which allows for interactions with their fans.“After we leave the ring, I put on their fancy clothes and take them around in their trolley. That’s what everybody loves,” Ms. Sirois said.Past contestants such as Joe Freni, owner of Lenny the Boston, also recalls the lively Westminster audience. He told the Sun how his Boston Terrier handles the crowd’s energy.“Most show dogs at the Westminster are not affected by people cheering” Mr. Freni said. “Lenny is focused on me and he wants to show it to the best of his ability.” When the dog show was held indoors, the dogs competed on artificial turf. This year, most Westminster events will take place on the Lyndhurst lawn.Regarding the switch to natural grass, Mr. Freni said the change is unlikely to affect a dog’s performance. As events moved outdoors due to Covid, dogs have become accustomed to competing on natural grass.Taking its name from the Westminster Hotel across the street, the Westminster Kennel Club held its first dog show in 1877 at Gilmore’s Gardens at New York City. The American Kennel Club says that the Westminster is one of America’s longest continuously held sporting events. Unlike another mainstay, the Kentucky Derby, the Westminster was held during the Great Depression and World War I.Traditionally held in February, the 2021 and 2022 Westminster events were postponed to June to adhere to New York’s Covid guidelines. The club says the show will welcome nearly 3,000 dogs and more than 200 breeds. To accommodate this many participants, the dogs compete in seven groups: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. Only one winner of each group advances to the final round, known as “Best in Show.” The winning dog also earns the title of “America’s Dog” until the following year’s Westminster. The day after the competition, the winning dog and handler often make televised appearances on major networks. Traditionally, the winners visit iconic New York City locations such as the Empire State Building and the New York Stock Exchange, where they ring the opening bell.
