Feb 16, 2015

Every year over 2,500 dogs compete in one of the most prestigious dog shows in the world, The Westminster Dog Show. The show was first held in 1877 and is the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the U.S., second only to the Kentucky Derby.

This year’s contest runs February 16-17 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

: Nina Work of Lima, Ohio, grooms Bai-Lee’s Gold Quest, upon their arrival at New York’s Madison Square Garden Friday, Feb. 10, 1995, in preparation for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show which opens Monday, Feb. 13, 1995. Over 2,500 dogs are entered in the annual event, featuring 148 breeds and variety of dogs competing in the two-day show. (AP Photo/Ed Bailey)

: Edward Lipnickas Jr., “set up” his dog Tundra while waiting for judging during the Westminster Dog Show in New York. “Tundra” made the cut into the second round of judging but didn’t win any prize in 1996 contest. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: George Seibert, of Dundalk, Edward Lipnickas Jr’s uncle, keeps company with Tundra, in cage, at Madison Square Garden in New York, while waiting to compete in the Westminster Dog Show on February 12, 1996. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: John Grad, of Alexandria, Va., plays with “Mop” a Komondorok, at the Westminster Dog show on February 12, 1996. Grad is Mop’s owner. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: Ch Ale Kai Mikimoto On Fifth, a standard poodle raises a paw for owner Karen LeFrak after winning the non sporting group in the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Monday, Feb. 10, 2003, in New York. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

: A french bulldog seems to smile as he waits for competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, Feb. 10, 2003. (AP Photo/Teru Iwasaki)

: Handler Michelle Ostermiller runs with Josh, a Newfoundland, before he won best in show at the Westminster Dog Show February 10, 2004 in New York’s Madison Square Garden. At 155 pounds, Josh tied for the biggest dog ever to win at Westminster. Over 2600 dogs took part in the show. (Jeff Christensen/Reuters)

: A group of Brittanys are judged by Mrs. Ann F. Yuhasz, center, during competition at the 129th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005 in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

: Afghan Hound Karamoor Llacue’s Edelweiss is presented by his handler during competition at the 129th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005 in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

: Carlee, a German Shorthaired Pointer, celebrates with handler Michelle Ostermiller after winning the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’s Best In Show award at Madison Square Garden February 15, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

: Andy, a golden retriever, is judged by Michael H. Faulkner (R) as he is held by handler Ken Matthews (L) at the 130th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, 14 February, 2006, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Andy won best in the Sporting Group and advanced to the Best In Show round. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

: Rufus, a colored bull terrier, poses for photographs with handler Kathy Kirk after winning Best in Show at the 130th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

: Champion Systos George Bailee takes the ring at the Westminster Dog Show held at Madison Square Garden with handler Kevin Bednar. (Monica Lopossay/Baltimore Sun)

: Macey, at left, an akita, competes in the working group at the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. Macey won Best in Group. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

: Uno, a 15 inch Beagle, is sat next to a trophy at the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. Uno was named best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club contest in New York, the first time the breed took the top prize since the event was founded in 1877. (Photographer: Michael Gross/Bloomberg News)

: Cheerio, Pomeranian, attends the Westminster Dog Show pre-event press conference at the Hotel Pennsylvania’s Skytop Ballroom on February 5, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

: Dolly, a miniature poodle from Silver Lake, Or., yawns as she is groomed backstage during the 133rd annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

: Duncan the Maltese gets groomed backstage during the 2009 133rd Westminster Kennel Club dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York February 10, 2009. (Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

: Handler Scott Sommer and his Sussex spaniel Stump run in the ring during the Sporting Group competition, which Stump won, during the 133rd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)

: French Bulldogs line up in the judging ring during the 2009 Westminster Kennel Club dog at Madison Square Garden in New York on February 9, 2009. (Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

: Tally, a Brittany, looks to the handler at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010. Tally won the sporting dog group. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

: Anna Stromberg watches her Afghan hound react to a camera during the herding group competition at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, Feb. 15, 2010. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

: Walker, a toy poodle, wins the toy group at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, Feb. 15, 2010. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

: A Bichon Frise waits to get groomed backstage during the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York, February 14, 2011. (Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

: Two Samoyeds getting groomed in the benching area during the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York, February 15, 2011. (Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

: A standard poodle named Gem stands with his owner at a news conference for the 135th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on February 10, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: One-year-old Vienna Valazia of New York City plays with Guinness, an English Mastif as Guinness waits for his breed to be judged at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, February 15, 2011. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

: A Rhodesian Ridgeback is judged during competition at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, February 14, 2011. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

: Handler Chris Pesche and Nikki the English Sheepdog during the 136th Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show held at Madison Square Garden. February 13, 2012. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

: Nikkie Kinzigner performs a trick with Tibetan Terrier Reese, winner of an award of merit, backstage at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on February 13, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Getty Images)

: Bulldogs and handlers are seen in the ring during competition at the 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York’s Madison Square Garden, February 13, 2012. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

: A handler shows a Bouviers Des Flandres during the 136th Westminster kennel Club Dog Show in New York’s Madison Square Garden, February 13, 2012. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

: Treeing Walker Coonhounds line up during the breed’s first Best of Breed competition at the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, February 11, 2013. More than 2,700 prized dogs will be on display at the annual canine competition. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

: Banana Joe, an Affenpinscher, stands beside its trophy after winning the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York, February 12, 2013. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

: A dog exercises inside the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York, February 9, 2014. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

: Cydonia, a Neapolitan Mastiff, gets a massage from massage therapist Diane Cohen at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York, February 9, 2014. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

: An Irish Wolfhound named “Tynan” stands next to his owner, Donna Monahan, during the 138th annual Westminster Dog Show at the Piers 92/94 on February 10, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A woman interviews a dog during the 138th annual Westminster Dog Show at the Piers 92/94 on February 10, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A woman and children pet dogs during day one of judging of the 2014 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, February 10, 2014. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

: A Basset Hound waits in the benching area at Pier 92 and 94 in New York City for the first day of competition at the 138th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show February 10, 2014. (Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

: Handler Jaclyn Smith with her Pembroke Welsh Corgi waits in the benching area at Pier 92 and 94 in New York City for the first day of competition at the 138th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show February 10, 2014. (Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

: A Standard Poodle waits in the benching area for judging to start at Pier 92 and 94 in New York City for the first day of competition at the 138th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show February 10, 2014. (Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

: Amanda Mcallister and Laurel the French Bulldog play in the benching area at Pier 92 and 94 in New York City for the first day of competition at the 138th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show February 10, 2014. (Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

: Nathan, a bloodhound, competes in the hound group during day one of judging of the 2014 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, February 10, 2014. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

: Sky, a wire fox terrier with handler Gabriel Rangel wins “Best in Show” of the 138th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show February 11, 2014 at Madison Square Garden. (Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

Past winners and competitors at The Westminster Dog Show

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