The Westminster Kennel Club dog show is back for a 149th year 香蕉视频直播� and for the first time since early 2020.

It香蕉视频直播檚 a happy homecoming for the United States香蕉视频直播� most prestigious canine event, which moved to venues outside Manhattan in recent years and then . But organizers longed to return to the self-described World香蕉视频直播檚 Most Famous Arena.

香蕉视频直播淚f you love dogs and you want to see the very best dogs from all around the world competing for the top prize of best in show at Westminster, just be there,香蕉视频直播� club President Donald Sturz said. For fans who can香蕉视频直播檛 be there in person, Fox Sports is on FS1 and FS2 and streaming some on the network香蕉视频直播檚 website and app; Westminster is streaming some others. The competition spans Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, with best in show awarded around 11 p.m. Tuesday on the East Coast.

Might Mercedes, the German shepherd who was Westminster香蕉视频直播檚 runner-up last year, become top dog this time? Or could this be the year for Monty the giant schnauzer, who was a Westminster finalist the last two years, won the American Kennel Club香蕉视频直播檚 big show in December and is currently the sport香蕉视频直播檚 top-ranked dog? Will the prize go to another high-ranking dog 香蕉视频直播� or a dark horse?

Here are the basics on Westminster and the dog show world it epitomizes.

When is Westminster?

It begins Saturday morning at the Javits Center convention hall with agility and obedience championships and some demonstration events, including Westminster香蕉视频直播檚 first experiment with flyball. That香蕉视频直播檚 essentially a canine relay race that involves running a course of jumps and retrieving a ball.

The traditional, breed-by-breed judging 香蕉视频直播� what show folk call 香蕉视频直播渃onformation香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� unfolds Monday and Tuesday. First-round competition, where dogs are judged against others of their breed, happens during the daytime at the Javits Center. Then, in what are essentially semifinals, each breed winner is judged against others within its 香蕉视频直播済roup香蕉视频直播� of dozens of breeds at Madison Square Garden in the evenings. In the final round, the seven group winners compete for best in show Tuesday night.

At each level, judges decide which dog in the ring best matches the ideal, or 香蕉视频直播渟tandard,香蕉视频直播� for its own breed.

How many dogs?

About 2,500 dogs from 201 breeds and varieties (subsets of breeds) are signed up to compete.

Hailing from every U.S. state and 12 other countries, contestants include such familiar breeds as golden retrievers and such rarities as . No doodles, though. At least for now, those poodle mixes aren香蕉视频直播檛 recognized as purebreds by the American Kennel Club, the governing body for Westminster and many other U.S. dog shows.

Dachshunds are the best-represented breed, with 52 entered.

The agility and obedience contests involve a few hundred more dogs, ones. Last year a became the first mixed-breed winner in the agility trial香蕉视频直播檚 decade-long history.

How do dogs get into the show?

First, breeders determine which puppies are physically and temperamentally suited for showing. Those pups are raised, trained and groomed to put their best paw forward in the show ring. 香蕉视频直播淏eginner puppies香蕉视频直播� can start competing in AKC shows at 4 months.

Some owners exhibit their own dogs where and when they can. Others have professional handlers who crisscross the country to compete most weekends, sometimes with multiple pooches.

Trying for a national ranking is known as 香蕉视频直播渃ampaigning香蕉视频直播� a dog, and no wonder. As in politics, hopefuls 香蕉视频直播� or, here, their owners and handlers 香蕉视频直播� may gather intel about rivals香蕉视频直播� plans and either seek or avoid a face-off. They may weigh a particular judge香蕉视频直播檚 record. Some even run full-page ads in dog magazines to congratulate, salute and promote their animals.

Are there favorites?

All Westminster dogs are champions, as measured by their sport香蕉视频直播檚 complicated point system. But yes, there are stats, kept by the Canine Chronicle magazine.

Besides Monty and Mercedes, entrants include Vito, a pug who won the National Dog Show televised Thanksgiving Day, along with 2024 Westminster semifinalists Comet the shih tzu and Louis the Afghan hound. There香蕉视频直播檚 a high-ranking otterhound, representing one of the country香蕉视频直播檚 rarer breeds, and a big-winning wire fox terrier, whose breed won more than any other at Westminster.

Still, show cognoscenti often say victory goes to 香蕉视频直播渢he dog on the day,香蕉视频直播� meaning the one that has the performance of a lifetime.

And regardless which dog the judge chooses, others sometimes win the audience香蕉视频直播檚 heart. Among the crowd faves over the years: straight on his hind legs before the judge; a who gnawed at his handler香蕉视频直播檚 pocket while going around the ring; and a shiba inu .

What breeds win most?

Wire fox terriers have taken the top prize 15 times, . Poodles of various sizes have 11 wins. A won last year.

Many breeds , including such favorites as the and Labrador retriever. But never say never: Two of the last three winners have been firsts for their breeds: the and .

What do winners get?

Bragging rights, ribbons and trophies. There are no cash prizes, though the agility and obedience winners each get to direct a $5,000 Westminster donation to a training club or the American Kennel Club Humane Fund.

OK, it香蕉视频直播檚 prestigious, but aren香蕉视频直播檛 there protests?

Animal rights activists routinely protest outside, and sometimes inside, the show. During last year香蕉视频直播檚 final round, someone carrying a sign reading 香蕉视频直播渂oycott breeders香蕉视频直播� tried to climb into the ring. The demonstrator was quickly intercepted and arrested.

The Westminster club says it promotes responsible dog ownership and celebrates all canines while highlighting the 香蕉视频直播減reservation香蕉视频直播� of breeds with particular traits.