The Westminster Dog Show 2023 is a dog conformation show, with separate agility and obedience competitions. “Conformation” is how well the dog meets breed standards.
Founded in 1877, it’s the second oldest sporting competition in the United States. The Westminster Dog Show entered popular culture through the 2000 comic documentary, “Best in Show.”
Westminster Dog Show 2023
The Westminster Dog Show 2023 moves to spring at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens. The Agility and Obedience Championships are Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 8am – 9:30pm and 8am – 4:30pm respectively. Breed, Group and Showmanship competitions are Monday-Tuesday, May 8-9, 2023 from 8am – 11pm. The climax is Best in Show. 🇨🇩🇨🇺🇫🇷🇮🇹🇲🇽🇵🇹🇿🇦🇪🇸🇿🇼
For tickets and more information, visit westminsterkennelclub.org
Latin Breeds at the Westminster Dog Show
There are a surprising number of Latin breeds.
Sporting Group
Sporting dogs are hunting dogs.
Brittany
Brittanys are a bird hunting dog developed in Brittany, France.
Lagotto Romagnolo
Lagotti Romagnolos are an Italian water retriever that is also used to hunt truffles.
Spaniels
Spaniels were originally a Spanish breed of hunting dog. Today there are many breeds of Spaniels.
Spinoni Italiani
Spinoni Italiani is an Italian hunting dog.
Hound Group
Hounds are the original hunting dog. Some track prey by sight, others by scent, some use both sight and scent. Some hound breeds are known for their hunting stamina.
Basenji
Basenji is a barkless African hunting dog from the Congo region.
Cirneco dell’Etna
Cirneco dell’Etna is an Italian rabbit-hunting dog from Sicily.
Ibizan Hound
The Ibizan Hound is a rabbit-hunting dog from the island of Ibiza, Spain. It is a traditional Catalan dog.
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a rabbit-hunting dog from Vendee, a French department (state) on the Atlantic coast near Nantes.
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno was originally used in the Middle Ages to kill rats on ships. They were brought to the United States by Portuguese families.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a South African hunting dog. Early settlers bred their dogs with the hunting dogs of the African Khoikhoi. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is also known as an African lion dog. Rhodesia is now called Zimbabwe.
Sloughi
The Sloughi is a North African sighthound.
Working Group
Working Group dogs were bred as guard dogs, sled dogs, and water rescue dogs.
Boerboel
Boerboels are a South African guard dog and farm dog.
Cane Corso
The Cane Corso is a large Italian dog bred as a companion, guard dog, and hunter.
Dogue de Bordeaux
Dogue de Bordeaux is an ancient breed of large French mastiff from the Bordeaux region. They are harnessed to pull things and used as guard dogs.
Great Pyrenees
Great Pyrenees is an ancient breed used by the Basque and Catalan people. They were a used to protect flocks of sheep and goats from wolves.
Portuguese Water Dogs
Portuguese Water Dogs are originally from the Algarve region at the southern tip of Portugal. They were taught to herd fish into fisherman’s nets and deliver messages from ship to ship or ship to shore.
Terrier Group
The name of the Terrier Group comes from terra, Latin for earth. These dogs were originally used to go underground to hunt rabbits and mice. Today they are mostly companions. Most Terrier breeds are English.
Toy Group
Long Coat Chihuahuas and Smooth Coat Chihuahuas
Long Coat Chihuahuas and Smooth Coat Chihuahuas are Mexican breeds. They are the smallest breed dog. Chihuahuas were originally raised as food. They were also used like live hot water bottles by the sick.
Havanese
Havanese are the national dog of Cuba. They are descended from the extinct Blanquito de la Habana (Little white dog of Havana). The “Havana Silk Dogs” look like a poodle terrier. They are very good companions.
Italian Greyhound
Italian Greyhounds are small greyhounds that were popular in Renaissance Italy. They were popular with royalty and occasionally included in portraits.
NonSporting Group
The NonSporting Group is a diverse group of dogs.
Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise was originally a Spanish sailing dog, but the French use these friendly animals as a lap dog.
French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is a cross between an English Bulldog and French rat dogs.
Miniature Poodles and Standard Poodles
Poodles are considered a French dog, although they may have Germanic origins.
Xoloitzcuintli
The Xoloitzcuintli or Mexican Hairless Dog is the first dog of the Americas. Xolo ancestors came to the Americas with humans across the Bering Strait.
Indigenous Mexicans believed that Xolos were guides on the journey to Mictlan, the Land of the Dead. They were also considered a delicacy.
Diego Rivera had a Xolo at Casa Azul.
Dante, the dog in Coco, Disney’s Day of the Dead movie is a Xoloitzcuintli.
The similarity between Xoloitzcuintlis and Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead, is absolutely striking.
Herding Group
Beauceron
Beaucerons are a guard dog and herding dog from northern France.
Bergamasco Sheepdog
Bergamasco Sheepdogs are herding dogs originally from Bergamo in the Italian Alps.
Berger Picard
Berger Picards are a French sheep dog from the plains region north of Paris. They have a scruffy mutt-like appearance.
Briard
Briards are an ancient breed of large herding dog, originally from France.
Pyrenean Sheperd
Pyrenean Sheperds are sheep dogs from the Pyrenees mountains that divide Spain and France.
Spanish Water Dog
Spanish Water Dogs (Perro Turco) are sheepdogs and guard dogs that were originally imported from Turkey.
See you at the Westminster Dog Show 2023.