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Our Events
AGILITY
Agility is a timed competition that tests a dog’s ability to complete an obstacle course following the commands of its handler. Purebred and All-American (mixed breed) dogs are eligible, to compete in 1 of 5 height classes and are judged on time and completion (minus faults) of the course.
OBEDIENCE
Obedience is a command-driven competition that tests a dog’s ability to comply with the asks of the handler. Commands can include a combination of sit, stay, jump, retrieve and scent discrimination. Purebred and All-American (mixed breed) dogs will compete to showcase the desired skills of a model dog.
FLYBALL
Flyball involves teams of dogs racing against each other. Each dog runs from the starting line, leaps over a series of hurdles, triggers a spring-loaded pad to release a tennis ball, and then returns to their handler with the ball.
BREED JUDGING
The dogs entered at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show each compete within their own breed to be chosen as Best of their Breed/Variety. There are 212 AKC-recognized breeds and varieties.
GROUP JUDGING
Once selected as Best of Breed/Variety, dogs advance to compete within their AKC-recognized Group: Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, Herding, Sporting, Working, and Terrier.
JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP
Junior Showmanship is a competition assessing the handling skills of children 9-18 years of age independent of the traits of the dog. The competition promotes proper training and care to prepare future generations for responsible dog ownership, sportsmanship, and future success in the sport.
BEST IN SHOW
The winning dogs across the seven Groups compete for the ultimate prize. From those seven Reserve Best in Show is awarded as a runner up, followed by the Best in Show selection.
FIELD TRIALS
A field trial is a mock hunting competitive event at which purpose-bred dogs demonstrate their ability to perform the tasks their breed was bred to do. These trials are divided into type by the function of the breeds they include: Trailing Hounds, Pointing Breeds, Flushing Breeds, and Retrieving Breeds.
Event Highlights
Awards
BEST IN SHOW
The Westminster Kennel Club offers the following for Best in Show:
- A Pewter Trophy
- The Westminster Legend Trophy, a hand-engraved Steuben Crystal Bowl
- The James Mortimer Memorial Sterling Silver Trophy if American-Bred. For permanent possession must be won five times by the same ownership. An 8” x 10” Pewter Picture Frame will be given to commemorate the win.
- The Leash offers a Perpetual Sterling Silver Challenge Cup, if American-Bred, a Polished Pewter Trophy will be given to commemorate this award
RESERVE BEST IN SHOW
The Westminster Kennel Club offers the following for Reserve Best in Show:
- A Pewter Trophy
- An 8″ x 10″ Pewter Picture Frame
SPORTING GROUP
- The Westminster Kennel Club offers a Pewter Trophy to the winner.
- The McGivern Challenge Trophy, a Sterling Silver Trophy, is offered by his family in memory of Dr. Bernard E. McGivern Jr. to the winner of the Sporting Group. For permanent possession, must be won three times by the same ownership. A Pewter Trophy will be given to commemorate the win.
HOUND GROUP
- The Westminster Kennel Club offers a Pewter Trophy to the winner.
- St. Hubert’s Giralda offers a Sterling Silver Trophy in memory of Geraldine R. Dodge, to the winner of the Hound Group. For permanent possession, must be won three times by the same ownership. A Pewter Trophy will be given to commemorate the win.
WORKING GROUP
- The Westminster Kennel Club offers a Polished Pewter Trophy to the winner.
- The Pouch Cove Trophy, a Sterling Silver Trophy, is offered by Dr. Donald Sturz in memory of Mr. David A. Helming to the winner of the Working Group. For permanent possession, must be won three times by the same ownership. A Pewter Trophy will be given to commemorate the win.
TERRIER GROUP
- The Westminster Kennel Club offers a Pewter Trophy to the winner.
- The William A. Rockefeller Memorial Trophy is offered by his children in his memory to the winner of the Terrier Group. For permanent possession, must be won three times by the same ownership. A Pewter Trophy will be given to commemorate the win.
TOY GROUP
- The Westminster Kennel Club offers a Pewter Trophy to the winner.
- The Hershey Kennel Trophy, a Sterling Silver Trophy, is offered by Mr. Edwin M. Hershey II, to the winner of the Toy Group. For permanent possession, must be won three times by the same ownership. A Pewter Trophy will be given to commemorate the win.
NON-SPORTING GROUP
- The Westminster Kennel Club offers a Pewter Trophy to the winner.
- The James F. Stebbins Sterling Silver Trophy is offered by his family in memory of Mr. James F. Stebbins to the winner of the Non-Sporting Group. For permanent possession, must be won three times by the same ownership. A Pewter Trophy will be given to commemorate the win.
HERDING GROUP
- The Westminster Kennel Club offers a Pewter Trophy to the winner.
- The Strathglass Trophy, a Sterling Silver Trophy, is offered by the Westminster Kennel Club in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh J. Chisholm to the winner of the Herding Group. For permanent possession, must be won three times by the same ownership. A Pewter Trophy will be given to commemorate the win.
JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP
- The Westminster Kennel Club offers the perpetual Leonard Brumby, Sr. Memorial Junior Showmanship Trophy, a Polished Pewter Trophy and a Sash to the Best Junior Handler to commemorate the win
- Rosettes for First (Rose), Second (Brown), Third (Green) and Fourth (Gray) place in the Finals
- A Rosette to each Finalist from the Preliminary Competition
- A commemorative grooming Apron to each entrant
- The Professional Handlers Association, Inc. offers an 8″ x 10″ Silver-Plated Picture Frame to the winner in memory of Tom Tobin.
- Brass Plate Inscribed with Best Junior Handler name for the Leonard Brumby, Sr. Memorial Junior Showmanship Trophy
BEST OF BREED / VARIETY AND OTHER MEDALLIONS
Sterling Silver Finish Medallion and Purple & Gold Rosette for Best of Breed/Variety.
Antique-Finished Bronze Medallion and Red & White Rosette for Best of Opposite Sex.
Silver Oxide-Finished Medallion and Blue & White Rosette for Select Dog and Select Bitch.
Bronze Finished Medallion and a single streamer Gold Rosette for Awards of Merit.
Variety Groups Rosettes with WKC Medal in center for First (Blue), Second (Red), Third (Yellow) and Fourth (White) prize winners.
Polished Bronze Medallion for New Champions.
Finished Bronze Medallion for New Grand Champions
FROM OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR PURINA PRO PLAN
Best of Breed – Purina Pro Plan/Westminster Kennel Club commemorative Grooming Towel.
Best of Opposite Sex – Purina Pro Plan/Westminster Kennel Club commemorative Grooming Towel.
MASTERS OBEDIENCE CHAMPION
The Walker-Saunders Cup, an Antique Trophy is offered by the Westminster Kennel Club to the Winner of The Masters Obedience Championship in memory of Mrs. Alexander Griggs Bishop. For permanent possession, must be won five times by the same ownership.
A Pewter Trophy will be given to commemorate the win
OBEDIENCE HIGH IN TRIAL
- The Streicher Cup, an Antique Trophy is offered by David W. Haddock to the High in Trial winner from either of the two competing classes, in memory of Judson L. Streicher. For permanent possession, must be won three times by the same ownership.
- A Pewter Trophy will be given to commemorate the win
MASTERS AGILITY CHAMPIONSHIP
- The Westminster Kennel Club offers a Purple and Gold Rosette to the Masters Agility Champion
- Rosettes for 1st through 4th place in the Championship Round
- Bronze-Finished Medallion for First Place in Each Height Class
- Copper-Finished Medallion for New MACH and NEW PACH title holders
- Polished Pewter Trophy to the Highest Scoring All-American Dog
- The Tiger McCarthy Trophy, a Sterling Silver Challenge Trophy is offered by Mr. and Mrs. Seán W. McCarthy to the Masters Agility Champion. For permanent possession to be won
HIGHEST SCORING AGILITY ALL-AMERICAN DOG
- Purple & Gold Rosette
- Pewter Trophy will be given to commemorate the win
- Glass Trophy offered by Purina Pro Plan
