NEW YORK — It is go time for hundreds of America’s most dogged rivals.

Massive or small, smooth or shaggy, imposing or impish, they’re all attempting for the highest prize on the Westminster Kennel Membership Canine Present in its milestone one hundred and fiftieth 12 months.

May Comet the shih tzu snag the trophy after coming shut the final two years? What about Neal the bichon frisé, one other 2025 finalist who’s competing once more? May this be the 12 months for Zaida the Afghan hound, who has twice received the World Canine Present, a serious worldwide showcase, however has but to make the finals at Westminster?

Or will the prize go to a different well-known contender — or a darkish horse?

Here is what to find out about the USA’ most prestigious canine competitors.

The breed-by-breed judging — formally known as “conformation” — occurs Monday and Tuesday, at a mix of the Javits Middle conference corridor and Madison Sq. Backyard. Finest in present is awarded on the Backyard round 11 p.m. EST Tuesday.

For followers who can’t be there in individual, Fox Sports activities is displaying the occasion’s varied elements on FS1 and FS2 and its varied streaming platforms. Westminster is streaming some, as nicely.

Some 2,500 canine from 212 breeds and varieties (subsets of breeds) are signed as much as compete. (No doodles, although. These well-liked poodle mixes aren’t acknowledged as distinct breeds by the American Kennel Membership, the governing physique for Westminster and lots of different U.S. canine exhibits.) There are contestants from each U.S. state and 18 different nations.

A couple of hundred extra canine, together with mixed-breed ones, competed Saturday in Westminster’s agility and flyball contests.

Moreover Comet, Neal and Zaida, entrants embrace Soleil, a Belgian sheepdog who received the Nationwide Canine Present televised final Thanksgiving Day, and a Lhasa apso known as JJ, who triumphed on the big AKC Nationwide Championship that aired in late December. The runners-up from these exhibits — George, an American foxhound, and a Gordon setter named River — are also due at Westminster.

And preserve a watch out for Child Joe, a miniature schnauzer who topped nationwide canine present standings for 2025. Do not forget Penny the Doberman pinscher, who’s been climbing the rankings since her crowd-pleasing flip in final 12 months’s Westminster semifinals. There’s additionally a high-ranking Chesapeake Bay retriever, a distinguished papillon and lots of different buzzy contenders.

However something can occur at Westminster, a champions-only present the place each contestant is a confirmed winner. Cognoscenti typically say victory goes to “the canine on the day,” which means the one which has the efficiency of a lifetime.

Whichever canine the decide chooses, others typically run away with the viewers’s coronary heart.

A 2020 crowd fave, Daniel the golden retriever, is amongst eight previous finalists or winners set to return for a particular presentation Monday night time. So are another 2020 finalists, Bono the Havanese, Wilma the boxer — and Siba, the usual poodle who defeated all of them to assert that 12 months’s greatest in present award. Do present canine maintain grudges? We will see.

First, canine are judged in opposition to others of their breed. Then every breed winner goes up in opposition to others in its “group,” comparable to terriers or herding canine. Within the closing spherical, the seven group winners compete for greatest in present.

At every degree, judges resolve which canine greatest matches the best, or “commonplace,” for its personal breed.

Wire fox terriers (15 wins), adopted by poodles of varied sizes (11).

Many breeds have not received but, together with such favorites as Labrador and golden retrievers. However by no means say by no means: Final 12 months’s winner, Monty, was the primary big schnauzer chosen as greatest in present. He then retired from displaying however is anticipated to affix Monday’s particular tribute to Westminster “legends.”

Bragging rights, ribbons and trophies. There aren’t any money prizes, although the agility winner will get to direct a $5,000 Westminster donation to a coaching membership or to the American Kennel Membership Humane Fund.

Animal welfare activists routinely protest the Westminster present. They see it as an irresponsible canine magnificence contest that overlooks shelter canine’ predicament and a few purebreds’ well being issues.

For Westminster’s milestone present this 12 months, PETA plans to exhibit outdoors the present and has erected billboards close by with such messages as “flat-faced canine wrestle to breathe,” echoing elements of the animal rights group’s ongoing lawsuit in opposition to the American Kennel Membership. The AKC has known as the case frivolous and is attempting to get it dismissed.

The Westminster membership notes that it donates to rescue teams, veterinary scholarships and different endeavors that assist canine. Membership President Donald Sturz says that “exhibits an overarching dedication to accountable canine possession and accountable canine breeding.”