Westminster dog show: facts, stats and favorites

Dogue De Bordeaux will debut at Westminster.
Photo: Westminster Kennel Club.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will begin Monday, February 9th at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Fans can watch the televised competition on both the USA network and CNBC.

The dog show is steeped in history when it began as a club formed by a group of Manhattan “gentlemen” who met to brag about the talents of their hunting dogs. They formed an official Kennel Club in 1876 and named it after their favorite hotel called the Westminster.

This year’s event has the exciting addition of a newly recognized breed called the Dogue De Bordeaux. The dog which is also known as the French Mastiff has actually been around for 600 years, but this is the first year it is recognized by the AKC and will compete.

Over the years many new breeds have been introduced, become popular and then lost favor with the public. From 1945 – 1960 the favorite dog was the Sealyham terrier. This beautiful white dog with a long flowing coat was sought after by royalty and celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Cary Grant. Today the breed is near extinction with only 43 registered dogs.

In recent years, winners like the Rottweiler, Bassett Hound and Lhasa Apso, have also declined in popularity. There is only one class of dog that has weathered the test of time and won more Best in Show awards than any other. It is the Terrier class with a total of 44 wins.

See how your favorite breed stacks up with Best in Show wins:
Terrier Class – 44 Wins
Specific breed with most wins is the Fox terrier with 13 titles.

Sporting Class – 18 Total Wins
Specific breed with most wins is the English springer spaniel with 6 titles.

Working Class – 15 Total Wins
There is a tie of 4 wins each for the Boxer and Doberman pinscher.

Non-Sporting Class – 10 Total Wins
Specific breed with most wins is the Standard poodle with 4 titles.

Toy Class – 9 Total Wins
Specific breed with most wins is the Pekingese with 3 titles.

Hound Class - 4 Total Wins
Specific breed with most wins is the Afghan hound with 2 titles.

Herding Class – 1 Total Win
One title for the German shepherd dog.

If you have the opportunity to attend the Westminster dog show and witness firsthand the beauty of these magnificent canines, please remember to make a contribution to their non-profit arm, Angel on a Leash which provides funding for therapy dogs used in medical facilities across the country.