2012 Westminster Dog Show: Why Unique Event Is Must-See TV

The 136th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is officially underway. It's the year's most anticipated event for dog lovers, as it features some of the world's coolest pooches. One thing's for sure, you won't see anything quite like it again in 2012.

Here are three reasons to watch this year's TV coverage of the event, which is split between the USA Network and CNBC.

New Breeds

There are six new breeds eligible to participate in this year's show, including the Cesky Terrier and American English Coonhound, among others. Any time there are different style dogs featured, it makes for better competition throughout the different divisions.

Hopefully, the new group in 2012 will live up to the hype. There are always high hopes when a new breed is given a chance to shine, but it's tough to stand out when there are so many different dogs trying to steal the show. It's a strong class of newbies, so we'll see what happens.

Awesome Dogs

This is why most casual viewers tune into the show. Since there are dog lovers in every corner of the country, people like looking at all the different types of dogs that are out there. These pooches are literally the best of the best, so they are a perfect example of their breeds.

From old favorites like the Beagle and English Springer Spaniel to last year's winner, which was a Scottish Deerhound, there is no shortage of cool dogs to watch strut their stuff on the Madison Square Garden stage.

Uniqueness

Simply put, the Westminster Dog Show is great because it's rare. Only once a year do dogs get extensive national television time, so it's like holiday specials on TV. People only watch because the show is not something that's on every day of the week, like certain sitcoms.

Once the Best in Show Award is given out on Tuesday night, it will be a long time before dogs get showcased in prime-time again, so now's the time to tune in. Plus, it's a chance to scout out some prospective breeds if you're looking for a new dog yourself.