Philadelphia’s annual canine beauty pageant, The National Dog Show, had their usually enormous event tapered down due to the ongoing pandemic. From almost 2,000 competing dogs in 2019, there were fewer than 600 dogs at this year’s show that also held no spectators, sponsors, or media inside the Greater Philadelphia Expo Centre. The show went on with only handlers, security personnel, and NBC’s film crew.

A staple Thanksgiving Day event that many look forward to, The Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s National Dog Show was held on November 14 and 15 this year with social distancing and safety guidelines in place, including mask wearing and temperature checks. The event was aired yesterday after the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which also scaled back on the number of participants by 88%.

All furry participants at the National Dog Show are grouped into seven categories: Herding, Hound, Non-Sporting, Sporting, Terrier, Toy, and Working. This year’s grand winner of ‘Best in Show’ went to Claire, a 3-year-old Scottish Deerhound, and winner of the Hound category.

“Claire has so many wonderful traits. She embodies the same qualities [as her mother and grandmother, who have also placed at dog shows]. She is very similar to her grandmother, especially in the eyes.”

Clair’s handler, Angela Lloyd

The English Springer Spaniel, winner of the Sporting Group, was named Reserve Best in Show. The Miniature American Shepherd won the Herding Group; the Standard Poodle won the Non-Sporting Group; the Wire Fox Terrier won the Terrier Group; the Affenpinscher won the Toy Group; and the Portuguese Water Dog won the Working Group.

There were also three additional breeds that were featured in the National Dog Show for the first time this year: the Dogo Argentino, the Belgian Laekenois, and the Barbet.

Last year’s National Dog Show was won by Thor the Bulldog.

With the wrap-up of this year’s National Dog Show, let’s not forget that all dogs are good dogs, but the best ones are rescue dogs! Adopt, don’t shop.