(Photo credit: Mark Makela via Getty)
The 2022 National Dog Show will air this Thanksgiving, as it does every year. For many homes, this spectacle is as traditional as turkey or cranberry sauce.
Whether you bet on winners or just love to watch the pups trot, here’s all the information you’ll need to prepare for the show.
Breeds Included in the 2022 National Dog Show
There are a whopping 212 breeds competing in the 2022 National Dog Show. While you can find the full list here, there are a few breeds that have been selected Best in Show multiple times in the last 20 years. Those breeds are: Poodle (one standard and one miniature), Scottish Deerhound, and Wire Fox Terrier. Other breeds that have claimed the title are: Bulldog, Whippet, Brussels Griffon, Greyhound, Skye Terrier, Bloodhound, American Foxhound, Irish Setter, Scottish Terrier, Pointer, Australian Shepherd, Bull Terrier, Fox Terrier, and Doberman.
If you couldn’t tell by reading the names, the judges have a knack for choosing between the Terrier and Hound groups. This year will also see three new breeds: Russian Toy, Mudi and Bracco Italiano.
Groups included in the 2022 National Dog Show
There are seven groups included in the National Dog Show: Terrier, Toy, Working, Sporting, Hound, Herding, and Non-Sporting.
Most terriers, like the Cairn Terrier and the Scottish Terrier, were bred to hunt vermin. If you own one of these dogs, you know this to be true, as they often chase cats and squirrels and like to jump around in the dirt. Toy dogs, like the Pug and Pomeranian, have no other job than to be our sweet little companions. Working dogs, like the German Shepherd and Great Pyrenees, are highly intelligent and do specific jobs for their humans.
Sporting dogs, such as the Golden Retriever and the German Wirehaired Pointer, are bred to assist in human hunting. This can range from pointing the game out to getting it back. Also hunting dogs, hunting dogs have their own pack due to their history of running alongside a human while hunting prey with their noses or eyes. Herding dogs are also technically working dogs but with the specific purpose of herding livestock. The Non-Sporting group is any breed that does not fit into any of the previous groups. This group contains everything from a Chow Chow to a French Bulldog.
Where to watch the 2022 National Dog Show
Tune in to NBC at 12 pm local time to catch the 2022 National Dog Show. The show will air right after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you’re not on Eastern Standard Time, don’t worry. Stream the show at 12 p.m. EST on Peacock, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app.
After the show, we recommend a “Best in Show” follow-up viewing.
