Charles Olvis, a 74-year-old resident of Lake Wales with 35 years of experience as an American Kennel Club judge, served as the Best in Show judge for the 2025 National Dog Show, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia announced. The televised final aired on NBC from noon to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, immediately following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, bringing Olvis’s selection to a national audience.

The in-person judging occurred at the Philadelphia Expo Center on Nov. 15-16 as part of the multi-day National Dog Show competition. Olvis and his wife spent five days in Philadelphia during the event, standing ringside before what he described as “thousands and thousands” of spectators. The extended stay included time for ring duties, judge meetings and social events with handlers and other officials.

Reflecting on the assignment, Olvis said, “Too be honest, it’s very prestigious to judge that. Very few people get to judge Best in Show.” He added that the work remains a pleasure: “I wouldn’t do this if it were not fun. Getting to the shows, seeing the dogs, seeing all the people you’ve known all your life is fun.” Olvis has lived in Lake Wales for the past eight years.

Wayne Ferguson, president of the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, praised Olvis’s standing in the field: “He is extremely well-respected in the dog world and a mentor to a lot of people.” George Milutinovich, who served as the 2023 AKC Dog Show Non-Sporting Group judge, added: “His depth of knowledge is unsurpassed. In addition, he is a true professional in and out of the ring.” Those endorsements underline the pedigree of selection for a high-profile Best in Show assignment.

Olvis’s involvement in the sport extends beyond judging. He and AKC-certified judge Elizabeth Muthard organized the Penn Ridge Kennel Club Charitable Foundation Inc., a nonprofit created to contribute to dog-charitable events. The foundation’s formation underscores a long-running commitment to organized sport, breeder education and community-focused fund-raising tied to canine activities.

The National Dog Show is produced by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia with Purina as the presenting sponsor. The Thanksgiving broadcast places the National Dog Show in a high-visibility slot that has become an American viewing tradition; NBC’s post-parade telecast brings the competition and its participants to millions of households, elevating the profile not only of the winning entries but of the judges and clubs involved.

Eligibility and preparation for shows such as the National Dog Show follow AKC rules: all competing dogs are purebred and must be individually registered with a recognized kennel club. In fact, 100% of dogs shown in competitions like the National Dog Show are purebred. Prospective exhibitors should ensure their dogs are at least six months old, intact where required by the rules, healthy and current on vaccinations. Handlers commonly enroll in handling classes, study ring procedures and familiarize themselves with AKC entry and eligibility requirements well before an event.

Dog shows also shape breeding practices. Judges, breed standards and show success place a premium on appearance and conformation, which can lead breeders to select for extreme physical traits to meet those standards. That emphasis sometimes contributes to inbreeding and the “popular sire” effect, practices that experts say can exacerbate health and welfare problems in certain breeds. New study calls for dog breeding practices to put welfare over …

For viewers and participants curious about Olvis’s approach to judging, ShowSight Magazine has published coverage of his appointment and experience as the 2025 Best in Show judge, and the American Kennel Club provides background on the sport’s organization and standards. Olvis’s selection marks a notable capstone late in a long judging career — a recognition that combines his decades of ring experience with ongoing involvement in the broader dog community.

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