Over 3,000 dogs competed in the 142nd Westminster Dog Show earlier this week, a contest in New York City.

The coveted Best in Show award is given to the dogs deemed to be best of the best by a panel of judges. Quality of these dogs is calculated based on appearance, if they are able to perform the task they were bred to, and whether they meet the standards of height, weight, tail length, etc. All measurements are based off of a breed standard, which is determined to be the average of each individual breed.

There are 7 different groupings of dogs, based off of general ancestral descent and intended use. Herding, Hound, Sporting, Non-Sporting, Terrier, Toy, and Working.

The Herding class of dogs includes breeds like the border collie, the australian shepherd, the icelandic sheepdog, and even the welsh corgi! This category is typically average in size, and are grouped together for their ability to herd animals much larger than themselves such as sheep and cattle. This year’s winner was a male border collie named Slick.

The Hound class of dogs includes breeds such as the beagle, the Scottish Deerhound, and the dachshund. These animals vary dramatically in size, but are grouped together due to their strong senses and ability to hunt separately from their owners. This year’s winner was a female borzoi named Lucy.

The Sporting class of dogs includes breeds like the labrador retriever, the welsh springer spaniel, and the cocker spaniel. These dogs are grouped together due to their ability to point, flush, and retrieve game. They are also commonly referred to as gun dogs due to their strong relationship with hunting. This year’s winner was a male sussex spaniel named Bean.

The Non-Sporting class is made up of every dog that doesn’t fit into another class, such as the shiba inu, the american eskimo, and the boston terrier. These dogs vary in size, but are typically on the smaller end of the spectrum. This year’s winner was a male bichon frise named Flynn.

The Toy class of dogs includes breeds like the cavalier king charles spaniel, the pomeranian, and the maltese. This dog breed has become more popular in the last two centuries due to their smaller size, and their ability to live in smaller environments, like cities. This year’s winner was a male pug named Biggie. 

The Working class of dogs includes breeds such as the samoyed, the siberian husky, and the saint bernard. These dogs are typically large and extremely intelligent. They do many jobs, such as guarding property, pulling sleds, and serving as police and rescue dogs. This year’s winner was a male giant schnauzer named Ty.

The Terrier class of dogs includes breeds like the russell terrier, the west highland white terrier, and the norwich terrier. These dogs are usually fairly small, as the word terrier comes from latin terra, for ground. Terriers are used to hunt and kill small animals like rats, foxes, and rabbits. This year’s winner was a male norfolk terrier named Winston.

The Best in Show is awarded to one of the winners of Best in Breed at the end of the Westminster Dog Show. This year’s winner was Flynn the Bichon Frise! The owner, Bill McFadden, has said that Flynn will retire after his win, just like last year’s champion, Rumor the German Shepherd.