Westminster Dog Show 2025: The schedule, judges, group winners and best in show results — live updates
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
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.
