Behind the Scenes at Westminster

Awesome Afghan

An Afghan Hound is groomed pre-competition in the Garden’s Benching Area.

Pre-Competition Meditation

A Shih Tzu gets Zen backstage prior to his turn before the judges.

Dance of the Dachshunds

Longhaired Dachshunds compete for Best in Breed.

Bright Lights, Big City

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is held at the world renowned Madison Square Garden. This year’s show, held over February 15th and 16th, was completely sold out.

Sheepdog Chic

It’s star treatment for this Old English Sheepdog prior to hitting the green carpet.

Coiffed Cutie

A Bichon Frise is coiffed to the nines.

Not by the Hair of my Chinny Chin Chin

A Japanese Chin surveys the crowd from a grooming table.

Backstage Butterflies

The calm before the storm. Competing dogs, like this Papillon, are carried rather than walked through the very crowded Benching Area.

Busy Benching Area

It’s backstage madness in the Benching Area, which is open to the public. Fans crowd the backstage area to meet their favourite dogs and watch the intense grooming procedures.

Hairspray and Blow Dryers

Old English Sheepdogs undergo elaborate grooming prior to competition.