It’s Thanksgiving, which means it’s once again time to behold the best boys and girls from across the country. NBC has continued its annual tradition of broadcasting the National Dog Show after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, blessing dog lovers everywhere with this year’s batch of furry friends.

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s 2024 National Dog Show featured 1940 dogs across 205 breeds, all of whom gathered at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center on Nov. 16 and 17. These dogs were sorted into seven different divisions for judging, namely Herding, Hound, Non-Sporting, Sporting, Terrier, Toy, and Working.

Though all dogs are good dogs, the National Dog Show’s judges are required to narrow down the candidates to determine this year’s top dogs. Even so, it would be rather unbalanced to assess both a Chihuahua and a Great Dane by the same criteria. The judges therefore evaluate entrants according to their “mental image of the perfect dog as described in the breed’s official standard,” considering factors such as what tasks or characteristics they were bred for. One winner is announced for each of the seven divisions, before Best in Show is chosen from among them.

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

This year’s Best in Show winner was Vito the Pug, also known as GCHG Andi In Cahoots. Vito triumphed first in the Toy division before taking the grand prize, with runner up going to Welsh Terrier Verde, winner of the Terrier division.

“Compact, features, movement — [Vito is] everything a Pug should be,” said judge George Milutinovich. “Wow. Just wow. Lots of dog in a small package.” 

“He’s very smug,” Vito’s handler Michael Scott said when asked if the pug knew he’d been crowned Best in Show. “I think he knows.”

Though just two years old, Vito is already a highly decorated dog. The pug previously won Best of Breed at this year’s Westminster Dog Show, as well as at last year’s American Kennel Club National Championship. That isn’t even mentioning the pile of over 20 other Best in Show titles he’s already swept up.

“To look at a Pug is to put a smile on your face,” said Milutinovich.

He isn’t wrong. But to be fair, that’s true of pretty much any dog.

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

Credit: Bill McCay / NBC via Getty Images

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