The 2019 Beverly Hills Dog Show will see some of the top conformation canines in the country. But who will win? Our staff gives their predictions.
The third annual Beverly Hills Dog Show presented by Purina, hosted by the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills, airs on Easter Sunday on NBC at 1 p.m. ET.
Announcing the event will be David Frei, a legendary figure in dog circles, and actor John O’Hurley (Seinfeld), who starred in a movie called Best in Show, which inspired the real-life Thanksgiving tradition of the National Dog Show.
Over 1,500 competitors are entered across 206 American Kennel Club-recognized breeds and varieties. Among the celebrities attending are Olympic snowboarder Shaun White, former NFL player Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and actress Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical, Phineas and Ferb, Hellcats).
The Dog O’Day staff give their expert predictions before the BHDS. At the last major dog show, February’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Wesley and Kimberly ended up in a draw, with one point each.
The Herding Group
Wesley: There’s a lot of great contenders in this category. I’m going with the Old English Sheepdog because they look friendly, and also because of The Shaggy Dog.
Kimberley: I am such a fan of the Shetland Sheepdog that I have to give them the win in this category. It helps that I just spent an evening in a dog park watching one with the zoomies and he had all of our attention, including the other dogs.
The Hound Group
Wesley: As much as I love Beagles, I think the winner of the Hound Group will be a Dachshund. Mainly because they’re goofy and cute.
Kimberley: I am eternally a fan of the Dachshund, but this time I am going to give the Hound Group win to the Greyhound.
The Non-Sporting Group
Wesley: We’re in Hollywood. What’s the breed most associated with the silver screen? (Okay, that’s a lot harder to answer than I thought it would be.) But anyway, I was thinking of the101 Dalmatians franchise, which started with Dodie Smith’s novel. A Dalmatian shall reign.
Kimberley: Sure the Dalmatian might be a star of the silver screen, but we can’t forget the Boston Terrier and I am totally rooting for this pup to be a winner.
The Sporting Group
Wesley: Good looks, fantastic personality, everyone loves them – some breeds have it all, don’t they? That’s why a Golden Retriever will conquer this category. (This pick might also be influenced by Buddy‘s movie legacy.)
Kimberley: I have to give this to the Vizsla. Not only did a Vizsla take this category last year, but they are too cute for words.
The Terrier Group
Wesley: A Wire Fox Terrier named King was crowned Best in Show here last year, and captured Best in Show at the WKC, but I’m going to go with the West Highland White Terrier for this group. It just feels like a Westie’s year.
Kimberley: When it comes to the terrier group, there are a lot of excellent contenders. That being said I think this year could be the time for the Jack Russell Terrier to take the group win.
The Toy Group
Wesley: While the obvious pick here seems to be the Chihuahua, due to Nacho the Taco Bell dog and the Beverly Hills Chihuahua movies, I think the Pekingese will be the breed to beat, because it’s small and fluffy and looks unnecessary, which feels like would make it a popular trendy accessory dog among the LA elite.
Kimberley: There are a lot of obvious choices here because this is a great group, but I am totally throwing my win to the Pomeranian. I think these dogs could be the black horse of the competition who end up taking it all.
The Working Group
Wesley: The Great Dane will triumph here.
Kimberley: Boxers are a great breed and I could totally see them taking the win in the working group this year. Of course, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did a major upset and won the whole show.
Best in Show
Wesley: Best in Show will go to the winner of the Hound Group, the Dachshund.
Kimberley: Looking at all of the potential category winners, I am going to give the Best in Show to the Pomeranian. These pups tend to be a winning breed at other major dog shows, so I would not be surprised to see them winning it all again.
The 2019 Beverly Hills Dog Show will air on NBC at 1 p.m. ET. Follow the action on Twitter with the hashtag #BHDogShow.