Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkey. It’s also about man’s best friend.

Every year, millions of Americans tune in to one of the holiday’s furriest and most beloved traditions: the National Dog Show.

This month, approximately 2,000 of the country’s top dogs will gather in Philadelphia to compete in their respective categories for the furry finalists to win the coveted Best in Show title. They represent 205 breedsfrom Australian Shepherd to Yorkshire Terrier.

The competition will air Thursday on NBC – right after Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – for the 22nd consecutive year.

Here’s what you need to know about the dog show, from the original tail to the newest breeds.

How it works

The dogs of the moment are divided into categories seven groups based on the characteristics and intended functions of their breeds: sporting dogs (including Labrador Retrievers), hunting dogs (including greyhounds), working dogs (including boxers), terriers (including Scottish terriers), toy dogs (including pugs), non-sporting purposes (including poodles), and Herding (including Border Collies).

The canines compete within their categories for “First in Group”, then these seven finalists compete against each other for “Best in Show”. The winner receives the prestigious title and $20,000 in prize money.

Although every dog ​​is the best dog, Judges evaluate Contestants are judged on “how closely each dog matches the judge’s mental image of the perfect dog, as described in the breed’s official standard,” based on characteristics such as appearance, temperament and structure.

Last year’s Best in Show title went to a tiny, cream-colored animal Sealyham terrier named Stache.

Winston the French bulldog won in 2022 and became champion twice Claire, the Scottish deerhound won both years before. Other previous winners include Thor the bulldog, Whiskey the whippet, and Newton the Brussels Griffon.

How the tradition began

Dog shows originated in England in the mid-19th century and came to the United States shortly after the Civil War: The American Kennel Club (AKC) says 21 pointers and setters participated in the country’s first dog show in Chicago in 1874.

In 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club held its first dog show, which continues to this day – it is the second oldest continuously running sporting event in the United States, after the Kentucky Derby. The annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Shownot to be confused with the Thanksgiving competition, takes place in February in New York City.

The National Dog Show, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, began in 1879 as the Kennel Club of Philadelphia Dog Show and has been held annually since 1933. according to NBC. It is AKC approved, meaning only purebred dogs registered with the American Kennel Club can compete.

So how did displaying dogs become a Thanksgiving staple? We have Christopher Guest’s 2000 film Best in show to thank.

NBC Sports programming president Jon Miller saw the film — a satirical take on a fictional dog show — on a movie night and realized that reality might well play a role a Thanksgiving hit in the crucial window between the morning parade and the afternoon football.

Miller persuaded Purina to sponsor the event, convinced the Philadelphia Kennel Club to rename it the National Dog Show and persuaded his superiors to give it a try, they said Washington Post.

At the time, NBC had filled that time slot with reruns of It’s a wonderful lifebut the network noted that it failed to capture viewers’ attention. Executives let Miller try it out for a single year in 2002 – and that The ratings were so high that it has aired every year since, even with the same co-hosts: Seinfeld Actor John O’Hurley and presenter David Frei.

Who’s new this year?

There are 205 breeds represented at this year’s exhibition, more than ever before. And one of them is completely new to the competition: the Lancashire Heeler.

Long recognized as a breed in the United Kingdom, the Lancashire Heeler was added to the AKC’s list of official dog breeds earlier this year, making it eligible for thousands of dog shows in the United States.

The dogs, originally bred as cattle herders and rat dogs, are classified as herding dogs.

Lancashire Heelers have long bodies and short fur, often black and brown. The Associated Press describes their shape as “a bit like a miniaturized corgi.” They typically stand between 10 and 12 inches tall and weigh between 9 and 17 pounds. according to the AKCwhich she describes as intelligent, versatile and loving.

“They are affectionate with their owners, always cheerful, talkative and always ready for a walk,” the organization says. “They have a unique trait called the Heeler Smile. When satisfied, heelers are known to retract their lips to mimic a human smile.”

The Kennel Club in Great Britain recognized the breed in 1981 and placed it on the endangered species list in 2003 due to the small gene pool of dogs and the risk of several hereditary diseases. The AKC estimates that there are only about 5,000 Lancashire Heelers in the world.

Here’s how to watch

The dog show follows the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and airs on NBC from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in all time zones. It will also stream on Peacock, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

And for those looking for more on-demand Doggo content, the shows are from 2013 to 2023 are also available to stream on Peacock.