2011 National Dog Show: Canines Taking Their Place in Turkey Day Traditions

Thanksgiving Day really has something for everyone. Obviously, if you're a football fan, your eyes will be glued to the three games. This year, that's especially true, as five of the six teams playing are likely going to the playoffs.

But let's say you're not a football fan, or a game is a blowout. What do you do? Well, when the Macy's Parade is over, stay on NBC and watch the National Dog Show. 

In reality, the dog show in itself offers a little bit for everyone. 

Who doesn't like dogs?

Honestly, what is there to not like about dogs? They are such a diverse specie of animal. Some are smaller than your average house cat, while others require a few looks to be sure that they're not in fact a bear.

Seeing all of these animals under one roof in front of one camera is really quite a draw. 

Some fall into the "cute category," some are beautiful, while others are so ugly they're cute. 

But this contest actually goes well beyond what is and isn't aesthetically pleasing. 

This is a contest that breeders from all around work very hard to be a part of. It's not simply a "cutest dog wins" contest. It goes well beyond that. 

Owners train their dogs to do everything on command. Think of it like watching a judged sport in the Olympics. 

To the untrained eye, there may not be a lot that separates one dog from another. To someone who knows what they're watching, a slight deviation from one to the other makes a world of difference. 

But, you don't need to be that serious. If you chose to watch the show, you can just enjoy watching the dogs. It's certainly a relaxing time. 

If that's what you chose to do, listen to the announcers as they talk, you might pick something up. 

But if you're truly into these shows, then this is one of the elite events. There's plenty to watch if the day's other events don't grab you.