Plans for the 2021 show are moving forward. The safety and well-being of our exhibitors, judges, spectators, and dogs is our top priority. Due to the pandemic, our planning decisions are being guided by government mandates and public health guidelines. Therefore, the number of spectators, non-essential support personnel, and possibly exhibitors may be limited based on these state requirements. Please check back for the latest updates concerning attendee participation on our website and social media channels.
The 145th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina Pro Plan ® will be held at Lyndhurst, a property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in Tarrytown, New York on Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13, 2021, with live coverage across FOX Sports networks. Due to the ever-changing government restrictions during the pandemic a move to a springtime, outdoor dog show was necessary to uphold Westminster’s strong commitment to the health and safety of everyone who attends our show.
Westminster Weekend will kick-off with the Masters Agility Championship on Friday, June 11, 2021 followed by the Masters Obedience Championship on Saturday, June 12, 2021. Junior Showmanship, Breed, Group, and Best in Show judging will be June 12 – 13, 2021. For the first time, the Best in Show competition will be televised live on FOX.
We are excited to host the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Lyndhurst, a unique icon of American culture with its park-like landscape and majestic castle overlooking the Hudson River, said Westminster Kennel Club President Charlton Reynders III. “The wide-open outdoor space at this extraordinary venue allows us to hold a dog show safely while following current social distancing guidelines and public health regulations.
Lyndhurst—home to America’s Finest Gothic Revival mansion just 25 miles north of New York City—is a 67-acre estate on Route 9 in Tarrytown, New York. The property was donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded not-for-profit, in 1961. The estate was designed in 1838 by renowned architect Alexander Jackson Davis. Noteworthy occupants include former New York City mayor William Paulding, merchant George Merritt, and railroad tycoon Jay Gould.
Gould’s youngest son, Frank Jay Gould, was an avid owner, breeder, and exhibitor of rough- and smooth-coated St. Bernards at Westminster in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The family offered many trophies to St. Bernard winners including the silver Gould Challenge Cup.
Lyndhurst is no stranger to dog shows having hosted them for more than three decades. In 1983, the legendary New York Times dog show reporter Walter Fletcher called Lyndhurst, one of the most beautiful show sites in the country.
Three newly AKC-recognized breeds will join the 208 eligible breeds at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2021. The archetype water dog of France, the Barbet is a joyful, bright, and loyal companion. A rustic breed with roots as far back at the 16th century, this medium-sized dog locates, flushes, and retrieves birds. The Barbet will join the Sporting Group.
The rarest of the four native Belgium breeds, the Belgian Laekenois (pronounced “Lak-in-wah”) is an affectionate, alert and intelligent dog bred to herd and guard flocks and fields. Similar to the Malinois, Shepherd and Tervuren, this sturdy dog’s main difference, besides region of origin, is his rough, coarse coat with a tousled look. The Belgian Laekenois joins the Herding Group.
The Dogo Argentino, developed in Argentina’s Cordoba province in the 1920s, was bred to find, chase, and catch dangerous game such as wild boar, pumas, and other destructive predators. The Dogo Argentino joins the Working Group.
The Westminster Kennel Club wishes to thank the Greenwich Kennel Club and the Longshore Southport Kennel Club for relinquishing their respective AKC-licensed dog show dates to the Westminster Kennel Club so its dog show could continue in 2021, securing its history, since 1877, as the second, continuously held sporting event in America behind the Kentucky Derby. The club would also like to thank the LEAP Agility Club of Central Massachusetts for allowing Westminster to hold the Masters Agility Championship within the 100-mile limit of their event.
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