Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at Westminster Kennel Dog Show? Well I’m here to tell you. My mother is the event planner for the annual Westminster Kennel Dog Show, meaning I get a special look at what goes into the show.
During the day they were still filing out the best of the different breeds. Who’s the best of the pitbulls? Or the best of the Springer Spaniels? All of that gets decided during the day and people are allowed to purchase tickets to view this part of the show as well. This part of Westminster is set up in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, in New York City. Just days before the events the whole place is transformed from a plain blank space to an area filled with outstanding decor, grass covering every inch and the cutest little pups!
There were also many brand collaborations and food stands to browse and shop through during the day time shows. For example, this year Purina did a collaboration where you can get a photo of your dog printed onto a tote-bag! There was also plenty of Westminster Dog Show merch to look at during the day at the Convention Center.
In the back of the Convention Center was where the spectacular show dogs were held and prepared! Prim and propper, these dogs truly are the best of the best. I was able to walk through the many aisles of dogs and see each getting groomed and ready for their shows. From Great Danes to Norwich Terriers, it was so much fun to get to see how everything operates behind the scenes of these shows, and how people prepare their dogs to be shown.
Another perk of my mother planning the event is that I got free tickets to the actual show! I was able to watch the whole Westminster Kennel dog show and even got to visit the winning dogs! The main show was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
First up was the Sporting Group, showing dogs such as the English Setter, the Golden Retriever, the Barbet and the Vizsla. These elegant but large dogs used to be bred for assisting hunters in locating, flushing and retrieving game birds and waterfowl. The winner of the Sporting group this year was Cota, a 5-year-old male Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
During the break between this group I was given an exclusive chance to see the dogs getting ready and I was able to give Cota a visit! It really gets intense back there with everyone working hard to make their dogs look presentable and ready for the Judges. They do make sure to give the pups lots of love and treats for their good work.
The next group was the Working Group. This group showed dogs like the Akita, the Boxer, the Great Dane, or Bernese Mountain dog. These dogs were originally used for herding livestock, Military and Police operations (k9), security or protections and service assistance. The winner of the Working Group this year was Penny, a 4-year old Doberman Pinscher.
Next was the Terrier Group, showing dogs such as Border Terriers, the Scottish Terrier, the Norfolk Terrier, or the Wire Fox Terrier. They were originally bred for specialized tasks like to hunt and kill vermin and to protect crops, livestock and homes. The winner of the Terrier Group this year was Wager, a 2-year old Smooth Fox Terrier.
The Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups were all done on Monday Feb. 2, the day before I went.
Finally it was time for Best In Show! In the finale, the Judge was left with the Hound: Zaida (Afghan Hound); Toy: Cookie (Maltese); Non-sporting: JJ (Lhasa Apso); Herding: Graham (Old English Sheepdog); Terrier: Wager (Smooth Fox Terrier); Sporting: Cota (Chesapeake Bay Retriever); and Working: Penny (Doberman Pinscher. The Judge, David Fitzpatrick, went through a rigorous decision making process to pick the Best In Show winner for 2026. In the end he chose, drum roll please, Penny the Doberman Pinscher. As Penny is classified as a working dog, she showed the highest skill and when she hit her pointing stance everyone, including me, was wowed. My experience at the Westminster Kennel Dog Show was spectacular and I highly recommend it.
