Dog Show 101: What’s What at the Westminster Kennel Club

Shar peis stand in the Breed Showcase area during the 148th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on May 11, 2024. Julia Nikhinson/AP Photo

NEW YORK—To the casual viewer, competing at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show might look pretty simple: Get a dog. Groom it. Pose it. Lead it around a ring.

Here are the ins and outs of Westminster, which started Saturday with an agility competition at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York:

How Many Dogs?

Over 2,500 dogs from 200 different breeds and varieties, which are subsets of breeds, signed up to try for the best in show trophy to be awarded Tuesday night.