How to Watch the National Dog Show This Thanksgiving
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Thanksgiving is a holiday for homebodies. Traditions include spending the day in the kitchen, preparing a lavish meal, eating said meal, and spending time curled up on the couch, usually with the television tuned to a family-friendly program.
Among the most popular—and arguably the best—of those Thanksgiving broadcasts is the National Dog Show, a celebration of man's best friend (and the internet's favorite obsession). While the show may look a bit different this year, that shouldn't keep you from watching America's cutest competition. A light in dark times, tune into the National Dog Show after the Macy's parade for the spark of joy this year needs.
Here's what you need to know about the 2020 edition.
It'll start at noon on NBC.
NBC, the channel that hosts the broadcast, says that this year's program will begin at 12 p.m. and end at 2 p.m. in all time zones.
Those with cable can watch on any local NBC channel, or login on the NBC website to stream. Other online options include Hulu's Live TV subscription program, and YouTube TV (also a paid, subscription-based service).
The competition will have safety precautions in place, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Kennel Club of Philadelphia, the organization that hosts the competition, recently released information regarding how they'll safely operate this year's show. Some of these precautions include banning spectators from the live show, limiting the number of dogs participating, and enforcing social distancing and mask-wearing.
While the competition normally begins with 2,000 dogs, the show will now be limited to roughly 600, spread out over two days. This number will, of course, decrease as the competition progresses. In order to further limit capacity, only Kennel Club officials, NBC broadcast staff, and dogs and handlers will be allowed at the event, which will be held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.
Nearly 20 million people are expected to watch it live.
The National Dog Show has been an annual event for dog-lovers since 1933, but in recent years, it's become something of a phenomenon. These days, according to the Washington Post, it's the highest-rated canine competition in the country, ranking above even the Westminster Dog Show and the all-important Puppy Bowl.
One of the show's annual co-hosts,John O’Hurley, described it to the Post as the "happiest day of the year." He added, "I’ve always said I’m a better person with a dog in my lap. They just have an infectious influence on our lives. You see it in this room: Everyone was happy today."
Over two thousand very good dogs will compete.
A whopping 2,080 purebreds take part in the competition, all vying for the Best in Show title. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, this year's line-up features a record number of breeds (195!), who hail from 40 states.
Hardly surprising, as the National Dog Show is one of the three biggest canine competitions in America. Like those other two (the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and the Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show), the National Dog show is not only a large competition, but a "benched" one. That means that in-person attendees can actually meet with the dogs. Unfortunately this experience can't be replicated at home—but you can certainly cuddle up with your own pup while watching from the comfort of your couch.
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