Westminster Dog Show 2017: Watch Live Stream, New Dog Breeds, Judging Criteria

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Whether you love dogs or not — and let's not kid around because anyone with half a soul loves dogs — the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is always one of the year's must-see TV spectacles.

UPDATE: It's showtime! Click here for Patch's live dispatches from the venue.

This year more than 3,200 of the world's most pampered pooches — including three new dog breeds — will descend on Madison Square Garden in New York City to partake in the dog show. This year's show will even feature an event with some cats, if you're into that sort of thing.

This year will be the 141st annual running of the Westminster Dog Show, which has been a televised event since 1948. The dogs will compete in agility challenges and for the coveted best in show award, where they are graded on a number of different factors.

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Watching the dog show on TV or going in person? Here's everything you need to know:

How can you watch the dog show?

The Westminster Dog Show has been televised since 1948, and that's not changing any time soon. This year viewers will be able to watch various dog show events on TV and online live streams. Most of the main events will be broadcast on both Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports GO and additional events will be broadcast on Nat Geo WILD.

Watch live streams of the Westminster Dog Show.

Here's the broadcast schedule for this year's Westminster Dog Show.

When is the dog show on?

The Westminster Dog show will feature three main events: an agility challenge, an obedience challenge and the best in show competition. The events will be spread out across three days, beginning on Saturday, Feb. 11 and ending Tuesday, Feb. 14.
Here's a schedule of events from of the Westminster Kennel Club (Eastern time):

• Saturday, Feb. 11
  • Daytime Session
    • 4th Masters Agility Championship (8 a.m.–4 p.m.)
    • 8th AKC Meet The Breeds (10 a.m.–5 p.m.)
  • Evening Session
    • Masters Agility Championship Finals (7– 9 p.m.)
• Monday, Feb. 13
  • Daytime Session (8 a.m.-4 p.m.)
    • 2nd Masters Obedience Championship
    • Breed Judging across Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups
    • Junior Showmanship preliminaries
  • Evening Session
    • Group Judging across Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups (8-11 p.m.)
• Tuesday, Feb. 14
  • Daytime Session (8 a.m.–4 p.m.)
    • Breed Judging across Sporting, Working and Terrier groups
    • Junior Showmanship preliminaries
  • Evening Session (6-11 p.m.)
    • Junior Showmanship Finals (begins at 7:30 pm)
    • Group Judging across Sporting, Working and Terrier groups (begins at 8:00 pm)
    • Best in show

What are the new dog breeds?

There will be three new dog breeds competing in the Westminster Dog Show this year, none of which are too easy on the eyes. First off there's the Sloughi, a thin hound-type breed originating from North Africa. The second new breed is the Pumi, a shaggy-looking herding dog from Hungary. The last is the American Hairless Terrier, a dog perfectly described by its name.

In addition to the three new breeds, cats will also have a role to play in this year's show. Felines will be featured during the 8th AKC Meet The Breeds event, according to the Westminster Kennel Club, but it's unknown as to what the cats will be doing.

Why watch the dog show?

The Westminster Dog Show is a showcase of the — literal — best dogs in the world. You don't need any other reason to watch.

Seriously.

These dogs have more expensive haircuts than you and eat better than middle class American families, and you think you need an extra reason to watch them strut their stuff?

If that doesn't convince you it should be noted that the Westminster Dog Show is also A-plus people watching. It takes serious time, effort and oddity to dedicate one's life to raising show dogs, leading to some great on-camera interactions.

If you haven't seen the masterpiece satire film "Best in Show" check it out. It can be ridiculous at times, but on occasions it's not too far removed from reality.

How do dogs get judged?

It's an age-old question that most casual dog show viewers probably don't know the answer to. Dogs are graded on a set of criteria decided by the Westminster Kennel Club.

The kennel club has defined guidelines for each breed based on how they should look, walk and behave. Yes, idealized beauty standards aren't a solely human phenomenon.

The dog that best matches what the kennel club defines as the ideal dog of its breed will be declared the winner.

Here are some traits graded by the judges:

• Overall body proportions and weight.
• Thickness, length and color of fur.
• The dog's tail.
• How a dog walks, also called its gait.
• Attitude (boy do these pups have some 'tude).

Photo by Petful via Flickr/Creative Commons