THE 144th ANNUAL WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW EXPANDS TO THREE DAYS IN 2020

“king” Best In Show 2019

The Westminster Kennel Club will expand its iconic dog show to include an additional third day of breed judging at Pier 94 in New York City. The Westminster Week celebration of dogs will kick off on Saturday, Feb. 8, with the Masters Agility Championship followed by the 144th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Feb. 9-11, 2020.

Westminster will continue its annual benched dog show tradition, which offers the public an opportunity to meet and greet nearly 3,000 dogs of 205 breeds and varieties. In 2020, this will include an extra dog show day on Sunday, Feb. 9, at Pier 94. Spectators will now have a weekend opportunity to interact with hundreds of dogs and watch top show dogs vie for a chance to compete in the Groups, which will be held during the evening at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Feb. 10 and Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020.

For 2020, Westminster welcomes a newly eligible breed, the Azawakh, to the competition. Originally from the West African nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, this guardian and hunter has a long history as a companion to nomads of the region. The Westminster Best of Breed winning Azawakh will make history as the first in its breed to compete in the Hound Group at Madison Square Garden. To learn more about this African sighthound, please visit the Media Center or the Azawakh breed page on Westminsterkennelclub.org.

"We are thrilled to offer dog lovers another day to meet top canine competitors from around the world," Westminster Director of Communications Gail Miller Bisher said. “Westminster looks forward to continuing its tradition of celebrating purpose-bred dogs, and their owners, breeders, and exhibitors, by sharing their heartwarming stories and highlighting their achievements in dog sports.”

There are a variety of ticket options on sale now at westminsterkennelclub.org. Also, find a quick reference guide to Westminster event tickets here.

UPDATES: The Westminster Kennel Club welcomes 204 breeds and varieties among 2,630 entries from 49 states and 19 other countries to its expanded three-day dog show featuring the top three breeds per day—Dachshunds, Poodles, and Golden Retrievers—at Pier 94 in New York City from Sunday to Tuesday, Feb. 9-11, 2020. America’s longest continuously held dog show culminates with Best in Show awarded Tuesday evening during the live three-hour broadcast on FS1 from Madison Square Garden. 

Westminster Week kicks off with the Masters Agility Championship on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 with 330 entries followed by the iconic, all-breed, benched dog show including the Junior Showmanship competition with 108 entries. The Masters Obedience Championship with 22 entries will be held on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020.

Dachshunds dominate on Sunday with 55 entries (all varieties) during the Hound breeds judging. Historically bred to hunt badgers because of their tenacious hunting spirit and good nose, today’s dogs excel at assisting police with tracking duties and competing with their owners in Earthdog events.  

Poodles are paramount on Monday with 43 entries (all varieties) during the Non-Sporting and Toy breeds judging. Originally purpose-bred as a retrieving water dog, the Poodle still retains that job today as well as being a wonderful companion and superstar in the Obedience and Agility rings. 

Golden Retrievers grab the top spot on Tuesday with 48 entries during the Sporting breeds judging. Preservation breeders of this traditional bird hunter and field worker are maintaining the breed’s unique characteristics which make them valuable in today’s society as heroes in search-and-rescue work, amazing comfort dogs in the aftermath of tragedy, and brilliant guide dogs for the blind. 

Joining the Westminster roster of breeds for the first time is the Azawakh with 6 entries. This slender sighthound and ancient companion of desert-roaming nomads will debut on Sunday during the Hound breeds judging. 

The 144th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Sunday-Tuesday, Feb. 9-11, 2020 / Pier 94 / Madison Square Garden 

There are 2,630 dogs representing 204 breeds and varieties from 49 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico with the most dogs from California (238), followed by New York (208), Pennsylvania (175), New Jersey (156), Florida (153), Texas (124), and Massachusetts (114). They include Junior Showmanship qualifiers (108) and 101 entries from 19 other countries, topped by Canada (63), Japan (11), and South Korea (5). The farthest entries are from Australia (2) and Thailand (2).

Dog Show Breed Entries by Group 

Sporting (442): Brittanys (19), Lagotti Romagnoli (10), Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes (5), Pointers (17), Pointers (German Shorthaired) (28), Pointers (German Wirehaired) (9), Retrievers (Chesapeake Bay) (13), Retrievers (Curly-Coated) (6), Retrievers (Flat-Coated) (23), Retrievers (Golden) (48), Retrievers (Labrador) (44), Retrievers (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling) (15), Setters (English) (16), Setters (Gordon) (8), Setters (Irish) (14), Setters (Irish Red and White) (11), Spaniels (American Water) (2), Spaniels (Boykin) (5), Spaniels (Clumber) (9), Spaniels (Cocker) A.S.C.O.B. (8), Spaniels (Cocker) Black (9), Spaniels (Cocker) Parti-Color (7), Spaniels (English Cocker) (11), Spaniels (English Springer) (29), Spaniels (Field) (9), Spaniels (Irish Water) (4), Spaniels (Sussex) (7), Spaniels (Welsh Springer) (7), Spinoni Italiani (13), Vizslas (17), Weimaraners (10), Wirehaired Pointing Griffons (5), Wirehaired Vizslas (4).

Hound (361): Afghan Hounds (17), American English Coonhounds (2), American Foxhounds (4), Azawakhs (6), Basenjis (13), Basset Hounds (8), Beagles, (13”) (9), Beagles, (15”) (18), Black and Tan Coonhounds (5), Bloodhounds (7), Bluetick Coonhounds (5), Borzois (16), Cirnechi dell'Etna (10), Dachshunds (Longhaired) (16), Dachshunds (Smooth) (23), Dachshunds (Wirehaired) (16), English Foxhounds (1), Grand Basset Griffon Vendeens (3), Greyhounds (9), Harriers (2), Ibizan Hounds (12), Irish Wolfhounds (13), Norwegian Elkhounds (8), Otterhounds (5), Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens (14), Pharaoh Hounds (12), Plotts (7), Portuguese Podengo Pequenos (15), Redbone Coonhounds (7), Rhodesian Ridgebacks (28), Salukis (12), Scottish Deerhounds (6), Sloughis (1), Treeing Walker Coonhounds (8), Whippets (23).

Working (399): Akitas (6), Alaskan Malamutes (10), Anatolian Shepherd Dogs (6), Bernese Mountain Dogs (30), Black Russian Terriers (15), Boerboels (5), Boxers (15), Bullmastiffs (16), Cane Corsos (19), Doberman Pinschers (17), Dogues de Bordeaux (8), German Pinschers (4), Giant Schnauzers (15), Great Danes (26), Great Pyrenees (11), Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs (10), Komondorok (1), Kuvaszok (4), Leonbergers (17), Mastiffs (14), Neapolitan Mastiffs (10), Newfoundlands (19), Portuguese Water Dogs (16), Rottweilers (22), St. Bernards (8), Samoyeds (26), Siberian Huskies (22), Standard Schnauzers (15), Tibetan Mastiffs (12).

Terrier (314): Airedale Terriers (14), American Hairless Terriers (6), American Staffordshire Terriers (10), Australian Terriers (10), Bedlington Terriers (11), Border Terriers (15), Bull Terriers (Colored) (3), Bull Terriers (White) (2), Cairn Terriers (15), Cesky Terriers (3), Dandie Dinmont Terriers (3), Fox Terriers (Smooth) (15), Fox Terriers (Wire) (12), Glen of Imaal Terriers (4), Irish Terriers (6), Kerry Blue Terriers (18), Lakeland Terriers (7), Manchester Terriers (Standard) (11), Miniature Bull Terriers (11), Miniature Schnauzers (16), Norfolk Terriers (9), Norwich Terriers (14), Parson Russell Terriers (6), Rat Terriers (8), Russell Terriers (14), Scottish Terriers (14), Sealyham Terriers (9), Skye Terriers (3), Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers (10), Staffordshire Bull Terriers (12), Welsh Terriers (5), West Highland White Terriers (18).

Toy (359): Affenpinschers (10), Brussels Griffons (14), Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (34), Chihuahuas (Long Coat) (19), Chihuahuas (Smooth Coat) (16), Chinese Cresteds (28), English Toy Spaniels (Blenheim & Prince Charles) (3), English Toy Spaniels (King Charles & Ruby) (3), Havanese (19), Italian Greyhounds (12), Japanese Chin (9), Maltese (12), Manchester Terriers (Toy) (9), Miniature Pinschers (11), Papillons (22), Pekingese (11), Pomeranians (27), Poodles (Toy) (11), Pugs (32), Shih Tzu (17), Silky Terriers (9), Toy Fox Terriers (7), Yorkshire Terriers (24). 

Non-Sporting (261): American Eskimo Dogs (9), Bichons Frises (26), Boston Terriers (24), Bulldogs (8), Chinese Shar-Pei (10), Chow Chows (11), Cotons de Tulear (6), Dalmatians (16), Finnish Spitz (8), French Bulldogs (32), Keeshonden (10), Lhasa Apsos (10), Lowchen (5), Norwegian Lundehunds (3), Poodles (Miniature) (11), Poodles (Standard) (21), Schipperkes (6), Shiba Inu (9), Tibetan Spaniels (10), Tibetan Terriers (16), Xoloitzcuintli (10).

Herding (364): Australian Cattle Dogs (10), Australian Shepherds (28), Bearded Collies (18), Beaucerons (10), Belgian Malinois (12), Belgian Sheepdogs (4), Belgian Tervuren (13), Bergamasco Sheepdogs (7), Berger Picards (13), Border Collies (24), Bouviers des Flandres (5), Briards (6), Canaan Dogs (4), Cardigan Welsh Corgis (19), Collies (Rough) (18), Collies (Smooth) (11), Entlebucher Mountain Dogs (2), Finnish Lapphunds (10), German Shepherd Dogs (13), Icelandic Sheepdogs (7), Miniature American Shepherds (28), Norwegian Buhunds (7), Old English Sheepdogs (8), Pembroke Welsh Corgis (25), Polish Lowland Sheepdogs (11), Pulik (6), Pumik (9), Pyrenean Shepherds (7), Shetland Sheepdogs (17), Spanish Water Dogs (9), Swedish Vallhunds (3).

Dog Show Entries by Location

States (49): Alaska (8), Alabama (23), Arkansas (11), Arizona (18), California (238), Colorado (48), Connecticut (99), Delaware (18), Florida (153), Georgia (68), Hawaii (10), Idaho (14), Illinois (58), Indiana (37), Iowa (15), Kansas (10), Kentucky (31), Louisiana (22), Maine (6), Maryland (75), Massachusetts (114), Michigan (77), Minnesota (38), Mississippi (6), Missouri (31), Montana (6), Nebraska (4), Nevada (15), New Hampshire (17), New Jersey (156), New Mexico (3), New York (208), North Carolina (79), Ohio (103), Oklahoma (21), Oregon (17), Pennsylvania (175), Rhode Island (18), South Carolina (44), South Dakota (3), Tennessee (45), Texas (124), Utah (6), Vermont (12), Virginia (103), Washington (81), West Virginia (6), Wisconsin (46), Wyoming (1). Other: Washington D.C. (8), Puerto Rico (1).

Other Countries (19): Argentina (2), Australia (2), Belgium (1), Bermuda (1), Brazil (2), Canada (63), Chile (2), Columbia (1), Costa Rica (1), Croatia (1), Germany (1), Guatemala (1), Japan (11), Lithuania (2), Mexico (2), Russia (1), South Korea (5), Sweden (1), and Thailand (1).

7th Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster

Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 at Pier 94

There are 330 dogs entered representing 71 breeds and 35 states with the most coming from New York (49), New Jersey (47), Pennsylvania (24), Ohio (23), and Virginia (23). The top five entries are Border Collies (44), Shetland Sheepdogs (32), Golden Retrievers (25), All-American Dogs (23), and Papillons (21).

Agility Entries by Breed

Breeds (71): All-American Dogs (23), American Eskimo Dogs (2), American Hairless Terriers (1), American Staffordshire Terriers (1), Australian Cattle Dogs (1), Australian Shepherds (19), Beaucerons (1), Bedlington Terriers (1), Belgian Malinois (1), Belgian Tervuren (2), Berger Picards (1), Bichons Frises (5), Border Collies (44), Borzoi (1), Boston Terriers (5), Boxers (5), Boykin Spaniels (1), Brittanys (1), Bull Terriers (1), Cardigan Welsh Corgis (2), Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (5), Chesapeake Bay Retrievers (1), Chinese Cresteds (4), Cocker Spaniels (8), Cotons de Tulear (1), Dachshunds (2), Dalmatians (4), Danish Swedish Farmdogs (2), Doberman Pinschers (2), English Cocker Spaniels (2), English Springer Spaniels (5), Fox Terriers (1), German Shepherd Dogs (2), German Shorthaired Pointers (1), Golden Retrievers (25), Havanese (2), Icelandic Sheepdogs (1), Irish Red & White Setters (1), Irish Setters (1) Keeshonden (1), Kerry Blue Terriers (1), Labrador Retrievers (10), Maltese (1), Manchester Terriers (3), Miniature American Shepherds (10), Miniature Pinschers (2), Miniature Schnauzers (5), Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers (4), Papillons (21), Parson Russell Terriers (2), Pembroke Welsh Corgis (5), Pomeranians (3), Poodles (14), Portuguese Water Dogs (1), Pugs (1), Rat Terriers (2), Rhodesian Ridgebacks (1), Rottweilers (2), Rough Collies (2), Salukis (1), Scottish Terriers (3), Shetland Sheepdogs (32), Shiba Inu (2), Siberian Huskies (3), Soft-Coated Wheaton Terriers (1), Toy Fox Terriers (1), Vizslas (3), Weimaraners (1), Welsh Terriers (1), West Highland White Terriers (2), Wire Fox Terriers (1), and Yorkshire Terriers (1). 

Agility Entries by Location

States (35): Alabama (1) Arizona (1), California (13), Colorado (1), Connecticut (21), Delaware (2), Florida (9), Georgia (3), Illinois (10), Indiana (5), Kentucky (2), Maine (1), Massachusetts (27), Maryland (7), Michigan (6), Minnesota (2), Missouri (2), North Carolina (8), Nebraska (1), New Hampshire (11), New Jersey (47), New Mexico (3), Nevada (1), New York (49), Ohio (23), Pennsylvania (24), Rhode Island (2), South Carolina (2),Tennessee (4), Texas (6), Virginia (23), Vermont (3), Washington (3), Wisconsin (2), West Virginia (4), and Canada (1). 

***As of January 3, 2020 we have reached 330 entries. The Agility entry numbers are subject to change until the secondary cancellation date of January 20, 2020.***

5th Annual Masters Obedience Championship at Westminster Entries

Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020 at Pier 94

There are 22 dogs entered from 13 states led by New Jersey (6) and Illinois (3). The top breeds are Border Collies (8) and Labrador Retrievers (3).

Obedience Entries by Breed

Breeds (10): Belgian Tervuren (2), Border Collies (8), German Shepherd Dogs (1), Miniature American Shepherds (1), Papillons (1), Poodles (2), Retrievers (Golden) (2), Retrievers (Labrador) (3), Shetland Sheepdogs (1) and Spaniels (English Springer) (1).

Obedience Entries by Location

States (13): Connecticut (2), Florida (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (3), Indiana (1), Iowa (1), Maryland (1), Minnesota (1), New Jersey (6), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), Texas (1), and West Virginia (1).

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