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2020 WKC Dog Show picks: Our expert predictions

By dogoday

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 10: A dog is groomed before participating in the 144th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on February 10, 2020 in New York City. The show brings more than 200 breeds and varieties of dog into New York City for the the competition which began Saturday and ends Tuesday night in Madison Square Garden with the naming of this year's Best in Show.(Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 10: A dog is groomed before participating in the 144th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on February 10, 2020 in New York City. The show brings more than 200 breeds and varieties of dog into New York City for the the competition which began Saturday and ends Tuesday night in Madison Square Garden with the naming of this year's Best in Show.(Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) /
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It’s time for 2020 WKC Dog Show picks – will they be accurate?

With the 144th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina Pro Plan airing Monday and Tuesday on Fox Sports 1, it’s time for the 2020 WKC Dog Show picks here at Dog O’Day, though it remains to be seen how accurate our staff picks will be this year. (Last year could have gone better.)

These picks were done through an email chain among our staff, though not everyone submitted picks in every group.

Westminster is the oldest dog show in the country, dating continuously back to 1877, with a Best in Show given annually since 1907.

[Want to learn more about how dog shows work? See here for our explanatory guide of the basics, and here for what the pros wish the average viewer knew.]

Herding Group

Wesley: I think it’ll be a year for the Shetland Sheepdog. Shelties are just as intelligent and hardworking as their Collie cousins, and they’re pretty darn adorable, too.

(No other picks submitted.)

Hound Group

Wesley: Let’s go with the Whippet, since they’ve claimed the category the past two years in a row. (Siblings Whiskey in 2018 and Bourbon in 2019.)

Kimberley: I am giving this to the Greyhound. The Whippet may be the favorite, but these pups are amazing as well.

Non-Sporting Group

Wesley: Dalmatians were left out of the Super Bowl this year (along with Clydesdales), so they need something good to happen this month.

Kimberley:  I am giving this one to the Bulldogs. They deserve this win!

Sporting Group

Wesley: A Golden Retriever won this group at the National Dog Show and the AKC National Championship (though they were different dogs), so I’m going to say the streak continues.

Kimberley: Maybe the Golden will get knocked out of the top spot by a Vizsla this time around. These dogs are award winning in their own right.

Terrier Group

Wesley: It should be Jack Russell Terrier time again. I don’t think it will be, but they’re a great breed, so why not?

Kimberley: I’m going with the Welsh Terrier this time, especially since they won at the AKC National Championship.

Toy Group

Wesley: Papillon. Those ears are immediately distinctive, and they’re more than just laptops – their agility runs are spectacular.

Kimberley: I would love to see a Pug take this one.

Working Group

Wesley: Let’s go with the Rottweiler here. They’re a loyal family pet and a capable guard dog, so a very versatile breed.

Kimberley: I’m choosing the elegant Samoyed for this category. This is a personal preference more than anything else.

Next. What makes Westminster so special. dark

We’ll see how accurate (or not) our 2020 WKC Dog Show picks are, and in the meantime, we hope viewers enjoy seeing their favorite breeds out there in the ring, or get interested in learning more about a new one.

The group judging begins at 7:30 p.m. ET both Monday and Tuesday nights on Fox Sports 1.

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