Soleil, a Belgian sheepdog, was named Best in Show at the National Dog Show held Nov. 15–16 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, organizers announced. The two-day event, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and televised by NBC, drew 1,994 entries vying for group titles and the final Best in Show honor.

The final selection came after breed and group judging over the weekend. Soleil advanced from the Herding Group to face winners from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy and Non-Sporting groups in the Best in Show ring. Judge Charlie Olvis cited the dog’s ring presence, gait, stance and condition as decisive factors.

Olvis, who awarded Soleil the top honor, praised the dog’s performance: “Didn’t put its foot down wrong. Didn’t miss a beat. And it is in drop-dead gorgeous condition,” he said during the televised final. Co-host David Frei guided viewers through the closing moments and underscored the dog’s command of the ring: “She was looking around confidently. She owned the ground she stood over,” he said.

Soleil’s entry described her as a “magnificent black pup” whose showmanship “apparently gained her an edge.” Officials and commentators repeatedly pointed to the dog’s condition and composure as key elements that distinguished her among nearly 2,000 competitors. Reserve Best in Show was awarded to George, an American Foxhound, who finished as the runner-up in the final judging.

The National Dog Show is a conformation event, and like similar competitions sanctioned by organizations such as the American Kennel Club (AKC), it accepts only purebred dogs. According to event guidelines, dogs competing in conformation classes, Best of Breed rounds and the group competitions that lead to Best in Show must be purebred and registered with the AKC or equivalent registries.

Judging at the National Dog Show focuses on how closely each dog conforms to its breed standard; officials at this year’s event repeatedly noted gait, stance and overall condition in explaining their choices. Amanda Yeo, Assistant Editor at Mashable, provided coverage of the event and reported on the final results and judges’ assessments. Current trends shaping dog shows include massive event scales, integration of performance events like agility and obedience alongside traditional conformation, and the rising popularity of certain breeds — for example, French Bulldogs remain America’s No. 1 breed for the third consecutive year while others, such as the Kerry Blue Terrier, have been noted as emerging climbers.

For owners who aspire to compete, preparation is a multi-step process. Many handlers attend conformation handling classes so dogs learn to walk on a loose lead, “stack” (pose) and stand calmly while judges examine them. What percentage of dogs that enter competitions like the National Dog Show are purebred and must be registered with the AKC or equivalent registries to compete in conformation classes, Best of Breed rounds and the group competitions that lead to Best in Show.

The National Dog Show’s weekend in Philadelphia concluded with Soleil’s victory on Nov. 16. The win capped two days of intense judging and showcased both the long-standing traditions of conformation competition and the evolving landscape of dog events that now encompass performance and popularity trends across the sport.

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