The 2025 National Dog Show will take place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa., on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, and will feature approximately 1,994 dogs representing 201 breeds competing for the title of Best in Show, matching last year’s entry numbers reported by NBC Sports. The show spotlights an impressive array of breeds, as the American Kennel Club (AKC) currently recognizes 214 breeds and varieties.

The event, presented by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and licensed by the American Kennel Club, will be televised on NBC at 12:00 p.m. local time and presented as a two-hour telecast. The show remains one of the calendar’s largest conformation competitions, bringing hundreds of handlers and their dogs to the Expo Center for group judging and the final Best in Show round. Dog shows like the National Dog Show significantly influence breeding practices by rewarding dogs that best match breed standards for aesthetics and conformation, encouraging breeders to prioritize these traits to gain titles and prestige.

Judging at the National Dog Show follows the American Kennel Club’s breed standards; dogs compete within their own breeds and advance through group rounds to the final Best in Show judging. The 2025 entry list totals 1,994 dogs across 201 distinct breeds, a field that reflects the breadth of AKC-recognized varieties that the show spotlights. Owners interested in entering their dogs must ensure they are registered with the AKC, meet eligibility requirements, and understand the specific rules for the event.

Hosts for the telecast will be John O’Hurley and David Frei, with commentary from Mary Carillo and Britney Eurton. Carrie Chase is listed as the Best in Show judge for the event. NBC Sports has published information on the program schedule and broadcast team for the Thanksgiving telecast, which follows the network’s Thanksgiving Day parade coverage.

Among returning references to recent champions is Vito, a Pug who won Best in Show at the 2024 National Dog Show. “The large round head, the big eyes, and the wrinkled brow give Pugs a range of human-like expressions that have given owners joy for centuries,” reads the description accompanying the breed entry, underscoring why the Toy group often draws strong viewer interest.

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia hosts the event at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, while the American Kennel Club provides licensing and breed recognition for the competition. The combination of a major indoor venue and network broadcast has long made the National Dog Show a high-profile opportunity for breeders and handlers to present dogs to judges and a national audience.

Entries will be assessed across the show’s seven traditional groups—Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding—before the Best in Show selection. Handlers and judges move quickly through breed and group rings during the two-hour broadcast window, culminating in the final selection for Best in Show on Thanksgiving Day. With nearly 2,000 dogs on display, anticipation builds around which breeds will thrive in their group rounds.

For viewers unable to watch on the NBC broadcast channel, the telecast timing and network presentation remain central to the event’s profile as a Thanksgiving tradition. The combination of a midday slot and a national audience has made the National Dog Show a regular companion to the day’s other programming at the network.

Public and professional attention will focus on which breeds advance to the group rounds and who emerges as the 2025 Best in Show champion on Nov. 27 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. 12000 Attend A Historic National Dog Show In Oaks.

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