Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 2013: Start Time, Live Stream and TV Schedule

It’s that time again.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the second-oldest continuously running sporting event in American sports. The 2013 show marks the 137th consecutive event, leaving it just short of the Kentucky Derby, which will reach its 139th straight running in 2013.

This year is also exciting because the event has drawn the largest amount of entries in the past 15 years. There are 2,721 dogs set to be on display at New York City’s Madison Square Garden from Feb. 11 to 12.

Take a look at a complete schedule for the event, TV listing and live stream for the year’s most prestigious dog show event.

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City, N.Y.

When: Monday, Feb. 11 and Tuesday, Feb. 12

Watch: USA, CNBC

Live Stream: Westminsterkennelclub.org

TV Schedule

Date	Time (ET*)	TV	Event
Mon., Feb. 11	8-11 p.m.	CNBC	Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups
Tues., Feb. 12	8-11 p.m.	USA	Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups, Best In Show

*Event will be aired on tape delay for those in the Pacific Time Zone. If you'd like to avoid spoilers, avoid most types of media until the action begins at 8 p.m. PT.

New Breeds

Last year’s event saw the introduction of five new breeds into the competition. This time around, there are only two: Russell Terrier and Treeing Walker Coonhound breeds.

Russell Terriers originated as tunnel-digging fox hunters in 1800s England. The Treeing Walker Coonhounds are pretty self-explanatory; they're bred for hunting wild raccoons.

With these two additions, the total numbers of breeds and varieties eligible has been bumped to 187 for the 2013 competition.

Judging

For the first time, Michael Dougherty will judge the Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Dougherty has 50 years of experience in the sport, winning numerous Best of Breed awards throughout the years.

Doughtery is the head of a panel of 43 judges. Each judge will preside over different groupings and events but will ultimately answer to him.

What to Watch For

The Best in Show competition is the finale of the two-day event and the biggest draw for diehard and casual dog show fans around the world.

Dougherty, the judge of the event, described it as “the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby, and Miss America pageant rolled into one in the dog world” (h/t Ann Wycoff of SanDiegoMagazine.com).

He’s right, too. Everything else pales in comparison in the dog show world.