Thanksgiving is upon us once more, marking an important time of year for turkeys and dogs alike (albeit in a very different way). NBC continued its tradition of airing the National Dog Show after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, treating canine lovers to a delightful parade of paws.
Held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia's National Dog Show actually took place a few weeks ago on Nov. 15 and 16. Fortunately, NBC was on the scene as always, dutifully documenting the dogs for all those not in attendance.
This year saw the National Dog Show's largest entry list since 2019, with 1994 dogs across 201 different breeds taking part. As always, these pups were sorted into seven separate divisions: Herding, Hound, Non-Sporting, Sporting, Terrier, Toy, and Working. Each group awards one winner, with the Best in Show chosen from among these seven top dogs.
To determine the winners, the National Dog Show's furry contestants were assessed according to how closely they resembled the judges' "mental image of the perfect dog as described in the breed’s official standard." While technically every dog is a perfect dog, the judges specifically consider their "overall appearance, temperament and structure" of the canine, "looking for characteristics that allow the dog to perform the function for which his or her breed was bred."
This year, the title of the 2025 National Dog Show's Best in Show was awarded to Soleil, a six-year-old Belgian Sheepdog. Winner of the Herding Group, this magnificent black pup beat out the best of the other six categories — no small feat considering that each was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for their breed. Even so, Soleil's showmanship apparently gained her an edge.
"She was looking around confidently," said the National Dog Show's co-host David Frei. "She owned the ground she stood over."
"Didn’t put its foot down wrong. Didn’t miss a beat. And it is in drop-dead gorgeous condition," said judge Charlie Olvis.
Along with receiving a Best in Show ribbon recognising her as a very good girl, Soleil also wins a $2,000 cash prize.
