The National Dog Show is a Thanksgiving classic. Meet the Wilmington-area dogs competing

The National Dog Show Presented by Purina is the most widely viewed dog show in America, according to the show's webpage.

Over 2,000 of the top American Kennel Club-sanctioned dogs will compete for titles in Best of Breed, First in Group, and Best in Show on Nov. 18-19, however the show is broadcast on NBC after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The show takes place in Oaks, Pennsylvania and 205 breeds are eligible to compete.

“The competition is extremely tough,” said Maureen Rogers, a resident of Surf City. “It’s a very large special show."

Rogers said preparing for the show often involves a lot of grooming, handling, and experience in the show ring. 

Wrassy, the call name of a Brussels Griffon owned by Rogers, will be participating in the show.

“She is one of the top-winning Brussels Griffon,” Rogers said. “She’s in the top five, so she is competitive in a very strong toy group.”

Wrassy’s show name is CH Calicops Sassafras Gonnakikurass.

“That’s what she’s going to go out there and do,” Rogers said, noting the humor in her title. “She likes to show off.”

Rogers’ Brussels Griffon has won previous awards from The American Brussels Griffons Association National Specialty.

Various dogs owned by Rogers have participated and received awards in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, among others. Her other dog is the sire of previous national specialty winner.

Vicki Smith, resident of Oak Island, is the owner of two dogs participating in the upcoming event: a Great Dane and a soft-coated wheaten terrier.

“[My Great Dane] was a top-20 winner two years in a row,” Smith said. “We’ve never done this show but it’s kind of our swan song of our bucket list for her,” Smith added, noting that the dog has participated and received awards in a variety of other shows previously.

Felize, the call name of Smith’s Dane, is 8 years old. Her show name is GCHG CH Hauer N Luciana's Happily Ever After.

“She’s been showing her whole life,” Smith said. “She shows what good breeding can produce; you have an 8-year-old that is truly competitive with the young Danes.”

Ana, the call name of Smith’s wheaten, will also be participating. Her show name is Summerland Luciana's Beach Baby.

“My wheaten has what I consider to be the ‘it’ factor,” Smith said.

“There’s a lot of good dogs in every breed, but sometimes there’s one that ... when they come in the ring, it’s like ‘here I am,’” Smith said. “She’s got that.”

Owners from the following North Carolina places also have dogs participating at The National Dog Show 2023:

• Asheboro

• Asheville

• Boone

• Burnsville

• Chadbourn

• Chapel Hill

• Charlotte

• Cherryville

• Clemmons

• Currituck

• Durham

• Fayetteville

• Franklinville

• Fuquay-Varina

• Garner

• Greensboro

• Henderson

• Hillsborough

• Kitty Hawk

• Lenoir

• Lexington

• Marion

• Morrisville

• Oak Island

• Oak Ridge

• Pinehurst

• Raleigh

• Ramseur

• Rocky Mount

• Rutherfordton

• Siler City

• Surf City

• Waxsaw

• Wendell

• Williamston

• Winston-Salem

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: National Dog Show: Meet the contestants from coastal North Carolina