How to watch
Westminster has aired on television in the United States every year since 1948. Fox Sports signed a 10-year deal for the global broadcasting rights in 2015, taking over for NBCUniversal’s USA network, which had carried it for more than three decades.
Tonight’s final night will be nationally televised in the US on FOX, FS1 and FS2. It can also be streamed on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App.
A half-hour pre-show begins at 7pm ET with the final three best-of-group competitions starting at 7.30pm. The judging for best in show, going by previous years, should begin at approximately 10.30pm.
Key events
Monty the giant schnauzer wins best in show!
And Monty takes it! It’s the first ever Westminster best in show title for a giant schnauzer in the 95 years they’ve been entered!
Bourbon the whippet takes reserve best in show.
Nykiel has made her decision and she’s heading to the officials’ table to notify them before letting the world know. First the Reserve Best in Show will be announced … sort of a runner up. Then the big prize.
The final assessment begins. More than 2,500 dogs from 201 breeds and varieties came to New York with a dream, but only one will come away with the title of Westminster’s best in show. The moment of truth is here as Nykiel steps forward to inspect the septet, one by one.
Monty the giant schnauzer is surely a sentimental favorite with no shortage of crowd support, but there’s also lots of pop for the Skye and bichon frisé. Watch out for the English springer spaniel, also.
Nykiel has each of the seven dogs and their handlers take one last trip around the ring. Not much longer now.
The lights go down, the crowd swells and seven group winners are announced into the ring one by one. First it’s Mercedes the German shepherd, followed by Monty the giant schnauzer, Freddie the English springer spaniel, Bourbon the whippet, Neal the bichon frisé, Archer the Skye terrier and Comet the shih tzu.
The biggest crowd reaction is for the bichon frisé, who enters fifth and struts onto the Madison Square Garden floor to whoops of applause from the upper reaches of the arena. Each of them will be announced one more time and take another lap around the ring.
The judge tasked with conferring best in show honors to one of these seven outstanding dogs is Mrs Paula Nykiel of Washington, Missouri. It marks her ninth judging assignment at Westminster, having previously judged the Sporting group in 2005 and 2017, as well as the Working group in 2009 and 2023. Some more background on the chief arbiter, per the Westminster Kennel Club:
Veteran breeder and owner-handler Paula Nykiel has been involved with the sport of purpose-bred dogs for nearly 50 years. She has bred over 50 Pointer Champions under her Sydmar banner, including the breed’s all-time top producer, Ch. Sydmar the Heartless Wench. Paula owner-handled her Pointers to the No 1 ranking in 1978, 1979 and 1982.
She transitioned to judging in 1990 and has since judged 33 National Specialties in the Sporting, Hound, and Working Groups. International assignments have included Sweden, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Canada and Mexico.
Paula is a lifetime member of the American Pointer Club, a current member of the Judges Education Committee, and a founding and lifetime member of the Missouri Rhineland Kennel Club and the Gateway Sporting Dog Association.
The 2025 Best in Show assignment will be Paula’s ninth at Westminster. She previously judged the Sporting Group in 2005 and 2017, as well as the Working Group in 2009 and 2023. Recently, Paula received the esteemed “Judge of the Year” honor in the 2023 Show Dogs of the Year Awards.
The final seven
Archer the Skye terrier wins the group and the field of seven for best in show is set. They are …
Terrier group winner: Archer the Skye terrier
Mr David Kirkland will now make his pick from this exceptionally strong group. He pulls out the Bedlington terrier, border terrier, wire fox terrier, miniature schnauzer, Scottish terrier, Skye terrier and West Highland white terrier. He goes up the line, down and up again, then takes a few steps back.
And the winner is Archer, the Skye terrier! That means our magnificent seven are complete. The 149th Westminster best in show winner will be decided in the next 20 minutes.
We’re making our way through the back end of the Terrier group. A big crowd reaction just went up for Archer, the Skye terrier, a breed that’s managed to win best in show here only once in 148 years. After the last four are shown, it will be up to Mr David Kirkland. We’ll know our final seven in the next couple of minutes.
We’re flying through the Terrier group. So many of these breeds have winning histories at Westminster, none more than the wire fox terrier, which has won best in show here an eye-popping 15 times with 24 best in groups. A Norfolk terrier named Tom seems to have caught the fancy of the nearly sold-out crowd.
There’s an old saying about Westminster. Twenty-five hundred dogs pile into a stadium for two days and at the end, the terriers always win. Yes, the winner of this group will always be a hot favorite for best in show and this year’s outstanding crop doesn’t appear to be a exception. It seems like any one of this first wave could be capable of winning the top prize: Airedale terrier, American hairless terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Australian terrier, Bedlington terrier, border terrier, colored bull terrier, white bull terrier, Cairn terrier, Cesky terrier and Dandie Dinmont terrier.
Next up is the Terrier group, the winningest group in Westminster history by some distance. Mr David Kirkland of Sanford, North Carolina, will judge. This group has produced an eye-popping 47 best in show winners at Westminster through the years, most recently a wire fox terrier named King in 2021.
Here’s what the American Kennel Club has to say about the Terrier Group:
Feisty and energetic are two of the primary traits that come to mind for those who have experience with Terriers. In fact, many describe their distinct personalities as “eager for a spirited argument.” Bred to hunt, kill vermin and to guard their families home or barn; sizes range from fairly small, as in the Norfolk, Cairn or West Highland White Terrier, to the larger and grand Airedale Terrier. Prospective owners should know that terriers make great pets, but they do require determination on the part of the owner because they can be stubborn; have high energy levels, and require special grooming (known as “stripping”) to maintain a characteristic appearance.
So here’s where things stand. Six of the seven dogs who will compete for best in show have been determined.
All that remains to fill out the field of seven is the winner of the Terrier group, which is coming up next.
Working group winner: Monty the giant schnauzer!
All 31 have made the circuit in the Working group! The Portuguese water dog, Rottweiler, St Bernard, Samoyed, Siberian husky, standard schnauzer and a Tibetan mastiff named Theodore.
Dr Niksa Lemo takes a close look at the competitors. Finally, he picks out the Akita, Doberman pinscher, German pinscher, giant schnauzer, Kuvasz, mastiff, St Bernard and Samoyed.
Lemo watches them make the circuit again. And he points to Monty, the giant schnauzer!
It’s a three-peat for the New Jersey pup, who reached the final seven in each of the past two years. If he can clear the final hurdle later tonight, he would become the first giant schnauzer to be named Westminster’s best in show in the 95 years they have competed.
Lots of crowd favorites in this next run: Great Pyrenees, greater Swiss mountain dog, Komondor (always a favorite), Kuvasz, Leonberger, Mastiff. Draco the Neapolitan Mastiff gets a big reaction from the crowd.
A warm crowd reaction for Monty the giant schnauzer. He’s won this group and reached the final seven in each of the last two years. Could this be the year he finally breaks through and goes the distance? It would be historic: no giant schnauzer has won since they were first entered in 1930.
Even bigger cheers for Lexus the Great Dane, a breed that hasn’t won best in group in 42 years.
First five into the ring are the Akita, Alaskan malamute, Anatolian shepherd dog, Bernese mountain dog and Black Russian terrier. None of these five have previously won best in show, though the Akita has come closest in recent years, winning the group in 1995, 2007 and 2008. Apparently, the design of Chewbacca was based on George Lucas’s mamalute.
Three more crowd favorites follow: the Boerboel, boxer and bullmastiff. According to the AKC, Marlon Brando, Bob Dylan and Christina Aguilera, Michael Bay, and Jon Bon Jovi have all owned bullmastiffs.
Next up is the Working group. They will be judged by Dr Niksa Lemo of Zagreb, Croatia. This group has produced a total of 15 best in show winners through the years, most recently a slobbery crowd favorite Newfoundland named Josh in 2004. The 20 years since one of these dogs took Westminster’s top honors is the longest active drought of any group.
Boxers have tended to dominate at this stage. They have taken first in the group a total of 26 times, most recently Wilma the boxer in 2020, including runs of five straight from 1954-58 and 2009-13.
Here’s what the American Kennel Club has to say about the Working Group:
Quick to learn, dogs of the Working Group are intelligent, strong, watchful, and alert. Bred to assist man, they excel at jobs such as guarding property, pulling sleds and performing water rescues. Doberman Pinschers, Siberian Huskies and Great Danes are part of this Group, to name just a few. They make wonderful companions but because they are large, and naturally protective, prospective owners need to know how to properly train and socialize a dog. Some breeds in the Working Group may not be for the first-time dog owner.
So here’s where things stand. Five of the seven dogs who will compete for best in show have been determined.
All that remains to fill out that field are the winners of the Working group and the Terrier group.
Sporting group winner: Freddie the English springer spaniel!
Now it’s Mrs Virginia Murray’s turn to narrow the field. She’s making a circuit on the floor, looking at each of the 34 good boys and girls. The crowd buzzes as she paces back and forth along the green carpet. She’s pulled out the Lagotto Romagnolo, German shorthaired pointer, the Chesapeake Bay retriever … and the crowd erupts when she points to Truffy the golden retriever for the final group! She goes on to pick the Black cocker spaniel, the English cocker spaniel, the English springer spaniel and the Welsh springer spaniel.
An interminable wait ensues then after one final circuit, Murray points to Freddie the English springer spaniel: he’s the winner of the Sporting group.
Truffy the golden retriever comes in fourth, to the disappointment of what seems like the entire arena.
The Labrador retriever is shown next followed by the Setter run (English, Gordon, Irish, Irish Red and White). Lots of Madison Square Garden love for the Spinone Italiano, the ancient Italian gun dog known as the most versatile of the Sporting dogs. Not so much for the Vizsla, pride of Hungary. The Weimaraner, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and Wirehaired Vizsla close things out.
Robert Kraft is taking in tonight’s action from ringside. The Hall of Fame owner of the New England Patriots became a dog owner not long ago. I mean just look at this good boy.
Spaniel run! Clumber, Black Cocker, Ascob Cocker, Parti-Color Cocker, English Cocker, English Springer, Field, Irish Water, Sussex and Water Springer. Spaniels have historically enjoyed great success at Westminster ever since a Parti-Color with the champion’s name Midkiff Miracle Man won the group in the first year it was judged in 1924.
The Clumber, who goes by Houston, seems to be another early crowd favorite.
Lots of cheers for the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje. This breed debuted at Westminster in 2019, but has been in the headlines a lot in recent years thanks to Shohei Ohtani, the two-way Japanese star of the Los Angeles Dodgers whose Kooiker named Decoy has earned a bit of notoriety.
As usual, the biggest cheers of the night so far have been for Truffy the golden retriever. Goldens are the third most popular breed in the United States according to AKC registration (after the Labrador retriever and the French bulldog). Alas, despite their popularity, a golden has never won Westminster despite having been entered since 1928. Only three have even made the final round by winning the Sporting group, most recently the crowd-pleasing Daniel in 2020.
No official word on tonight’s attendance but the entire lower bowl and most of the upper tiers looks appear nearly full, creating a terrific atmosphere for these fine animals.
First up tonight is the Sporting group. They will be judged by Mrs Virginia Murray of Island Lake, Illinois. This group has produced a total of 20 best in show winners through the years – second only to the Terrier group (47) – most recently the German shorthand pointer named CJ in 2016.
Here’s what the American Kennel Club has to say about the Sporting Group:
Naturally active and alert, Sporting dogs make likeable, well-rounded companions. First developed to work closely with hunters to locate and/or retrieve quarry. There are four basic types of Sporting dogs; spaniels, pointers, retrievers and setters. Known for their superior instincts in water and woods, many of these breeds enjoy hunting and other field activities. Many of them, especially the water-retrieving breeds, have well –insulated water repellant coats, which are quite resilient to the elements. Thinking of getting one? Just realize that most require regular, invigorating exercise.
The Westminster agility championship took place over the weekend with an 8-year-old female border collie named Vanish besting a field of more than 300 competitors over two rounds of competition under judges Michele Fletcher of Pikeville, Tennessee, and Paul Moore of Welford Northants, England. After advancing to the championship round of 50 finalists, Vanish posted the fastest clean round of 26.49 seconds.
Animal-rights activists have long claimed that Westminster’s confirmation portion enables the breeding of dogs for beauty over health and function to the detriment of the animal. Judging at these shows, critics say, almost exclusively places an emphasis on physical appearance, effectively ignoring the genetic factors like health, temperament and function that enable a dog to live a successful life as a working or companion animal.
The origins of dog agility can be traced to the 1978 Crufts dog show in Birmingham, where a former committee member named John Varley was tasked with coming up with intermission entertainment for the audience between the conformation and obedience competitions. His solution was a variation on show jumping designed to demonstrate a dog’s willingness to work with their handler in a variety of situations. Nowadays it’s more popular than every – the AKC claims more than one million entries to the registry’s agility program each year – offering a far more inclusive, dog-positive arena free of controversy. One very, very good boy, border collie named Verb profiled by the Guardian in 2020, won top prize in 2019 and 2021.
The essential purpose of dog shows is to facilitate the evaluation of breeding stock for use in producing the next generations. Each breed’s parent club creates a standard, a written description of the ideal specimen of that breed. Judges are charged with evaluating dogs in comparison to their breed standard. Most breed standards relate form to function. Some can be very specific, while others can be general and leave much room for interpretation.
A total of 201 breeds and varieties are represented at this year’s show, from Affenpinschers to Xoloitzcuintlis. Some have better odds of advancing than others: only one bluetick coonhound, Dandie Dinmont terrier and Belgian laekenoi apiece were entered, compared to 52 dachshunds, 44 poodles, 40 French bulldogs, 39 Chihuahuas, 38 golden retrievers, 34 Rhodesian ridgebacks and 33 Labrador retrievers.
There’s no prize money for winning Westminster, but owners of champions can demand top dollar for breeding rights.
Four of the seven group winners who will compete for the title of best in show were decided on Monday night. The remaining three groups (Sporting, Working and Terrier) will be judged tonight in advance of the final showdown.
Bourbon the whippet won the Hound group …
… Comet the shih tzu won the Toy group …
… Neal the bichon frisé won the Non-Sporting group …
… and Mercedes the German shepherd won the Herding group.
How to watch
Westminster has aired on television in the United States every year since 1948. Fox Sports signed a 10-year deal for the global broadcasting rights in 2015, taking over for NBCUniversal’s USA network, which had carried it for more than three decades.
Tonight’s final night will be nationally televised in the US on FOX, FS1 and FS2. It can also be streamed on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App.
A half-hour pre-show begins at 7pm ET with the final three best-of-group competitions starting at 7.30pm. The judging for best in show, going by previous years, should begin at approximately 10.30pm.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the final night of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show! We’re ringside at Madison Square Garden for the 149th edition of the nation’s most prestigious conformation show, the oldest continuously held sporting event in the United States after the Kentucky Derby, and there’s an unmistakable electricity in the air as the title of America’s top dog will be chosen from the more than 2,500 canines from over 200 different breeds and varieties. Tonight one will emerge from the pack.
Last year it was Sage, the miniature poodle. Who will bring home the hardware in 2025?
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s our Alaina Demopoulos’s look at day one of America’s most prestigious dog show.
