Genesis of The National Dog Show
By Gabrielle Pardocchi Some 30,000 beautiful dogs and 18 years later, The Kennel Club of Philadelphia's National Dog Show has become part of Americana, a popular television viewing experience for families across the country on Thanksgiving Day. The annual NBC two-hour special is a holiday tradition, attracting a total audience of over 20 million each November. Many think it's been around as long as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that precedes it on NBC. And few are aware of its unusual beginnings. In 2000, the movie Best in Show was releases a satirical look into the dog show world. The fictional "Mayflower" show in the movie was modeled after the famed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, but writer/director Christopher Guest placed it in Philadelphia, where The National Dog Show Presented by Purina now takes place each year. The inspiration for The National Dog Show was born out of a movie night with neighbors hosted by NBC'
