New York – While football fans prepare for the Super Bowl, a different kind of competition took center stage at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, where agility dogs showcased their talents in a thrilling championship weekend. This year, the prestigious dog event coincided with the Super Bowl, drawing attention to the canine athletes who compete with the same intensity and precision seen on the football field.
The Westminster Kennel Club, often referred to as the “Super Bowl of dog shows,” kicked off its 149th edition on February 8, 2025, with agility contests that included over 300 top-performing dogs. Among them was Vanish, a border collie who triumphed in the agility competition, impressing both judges and spectators. Her handler, Emily Klarman, praised Vanish’s intuitive nature, saying, “She’s probably smarter than me,” as the dog joyfully barked her excitement after the win.
The event marked a milestone for mixed-breed competitors as well. Gable, a rescue dog, won the best mixed-breed agility award, highlighting the growing inclusion of non-purebred dogs in the competition. Since adding agility to the show in 2014, Westminster has welcomed a wider range of competitors, including rescue dogs like Soy Sauce, an Australian cattle dog mix, whose owner, Dr. Amy Ondeyka, balances a demanding medical career with training her energetic canine.
While agility is about speed and precision, it also helps dogs, like Tully, a Labradoodle mix, overcome their fears. Tully’s owner, Carla Rash, shared how agility has transformed the once-timid dog into an enthusiastic competitor.
Saturday’s agility trials featured a diverse range of breeds, from the towering Great Dane to the petite papillon, with dogs navigating jumps, tunnels, ramps, and more. Although there were clear winners, spectators cheered for every dog, including a bichon frise with a blue-dyed tail and a poodle who took a slow, deliberate stroll across an A-frame ramp.
Westminster’s more traditional breed-by-breed judging will take place on Monday and Tuesday, culminating in the coveted Best in Show award. While purebreds will compete for this title, mixed-breeds had their moment in the spotlight on Saturday, with Willie, an Australian shepherd, winning the obedience competition.
The Westminster event not only celebrates top dogs but also contributes to canine training initiatives. Winners of agility and obedience competitions receive a $5,000 donation for a training club or the American Kennel Club Humane Fund.
New for this year, Westminster introduced a flyball demonstration, where teams of dogs compete in a high-energy relay race. “It’s a lot of organized chaos,” said Hillary Brown, who participated with her Boston terrier, Paxil, and his teammates, which included a border collie, a standard poodle, and a whippet-border collie mix.
For many, Westminster is a true celebration of dog sports, and for those like Steve Wesler, who attended to cheer on his partner Jennifer Weinik and her Belgian Malinois, Cookie, it was a memorable event. “It’s more exciting than the Super Bowl,” he said, confident that the Eagles would take home the win.