What is the world's best dog competition?

But for dog show lovers, Westminster is considered the Super Bowl of all shows. The prize is the most important and respected in the U.S. dog show world. At America’s 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monty the giant schnauzer won the top prize. The best in show winner gets an award – a large, shiny cup called a trophy – and a place in dog-world history. This year the comparison is especially fitting. In her report on the dog show, Learning English’s Caty Weaver explains that the Westminster show dates back to 1877. The top prize, however, does not include money. That is because the most respected U.S. dog competition opened on the same weekend as the Super Bowl -- the most important game in American professional football.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, leading U.S. dog show competition, held annually by the New York City-based Westminster Kennel Club (WKC). The designation Best in Show, awarded since 1907, is considered the highest distinction in American dog competition. All AKC breeds and varieties—adding up to about 185 in the early 21st century—take part in the competition. Every entrant to the WKC Dog Show must be a champion, a status it achieves by earning a minimum number of points in official AKC competitions. In the early rounds of the competition, dogs compete within their breeds according to a formal breed standard. The seven group winners then compete for the title Best in Show. The WKC show is one of only a few benched dog shows in the United States; that is, each dog is required to be in its assigned space (bench) in an offstage area when it is not competing in the ring. The show, telecast annually since 1948, takes place over two days in February.