Category: Arts & Entertainment

by Alex Pittelli ‘26 on December 11, 2025

A Dog Day Afternoon

Among Thanksgiving television traditions, one stands out as particularly endearing. It’s not the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as I rarely get up in time to watch it, nor football, as it often overlaps with dinnertime. In between, however, is the pinnacle of television: the American Kennel Club’s National Dog Show.

For those unfamiliar, the National Dog Show judges dogs based on how closely they match the idealized description of their breed. One dog is selected from each of its seven categories: hound, herding, sporting, non-sporting, terrier, toy, and working. The winners from each of these categories then meet in a final judgement to determine which dog is the perfect specimen of its breed.

Excited to see this year’s show, I sat on the couch with my own dog next to me and watched the last few minutes of the parade. The ridiculousness of the show might just be my favorite part. Alongside majestic dogs are bizarre breeds that I can only imagine must be inconvenient to care for, such as the shaggy Bergamasco and Puli, or the pretentious-looking Shih Tzu.

The show felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the commercialization of most television today. Although it was sponsored by Purina, it kept blatant advertisements minimal and instead focused on the show itself, as well as other fun segments. Some were educational, showing the backstage grooming process it takes to get a dog ready, while others focused more on popular culture and entertainment, such as having NBA Star Tyrese Maxey guide dogs through an obstacle course.

I found myself rooting for what I considered to be the underdogs of the competition. In the final round, I was glad to see the Belgian Sheepdog and the American Foxhound triumph over the aforementioned Shih Tzu, two Schnauzers, an English Setter, and a Bichon Frise by taking No.1 and No. 2, respectively. 

The best part? Throughout it all, my dog lay next to me on the couch, sound asleep.