How to Watch the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving Day 2025

A beloved holiday tradition returns on Thursday as millions of Americans prepare to tune in to the National Dog Show, the long-running competition that has become the feel-good centerpiece between the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and afternoon football. With more than 2,000 purebred dogs and decades of history behind it, the two-hour broadcast remains a cornerstone of the holiday for families across the country.

The National Dog Show has grown into one of the most-watched television events of the season, but its roots stretch back far earlier than its modern fame suggests. What began as a regional competition hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia has evolved into a Thanksgiving staple drawing an audience of around 25 million viewers each year.

How to Watch the National Dog Show 2025

The broadcast airs on Thursday, November 27, 2025, from 12 PM to 2 PM. local time on NBC. This “noon in every time zone” format is made possible by tape delays, ensuring all viewers can follow the parade with the dog show before the shift to football in the afternoon.

Broadcast Schedule

• Pacific Time: 12 PM –2 PM
• Central Time: 12 PM –2 PM
• Eastern Time: 12 PM –2 PM
• Mountain Time: 12 PM –2 PM

Streaming and Viewing Options

For viewers watching over-the-air, NBC remains free with a digital television antenna. Cable and satellite subscribers can tune in normally, while cord-cutters have several streaming platforms to choose from.

Hulu + Live TV includes NBC in most markets and remains one of the easiest ways to stream the show, though its Live TV free trial fluctuates around the holiday season. YouTube TV typically offers a 7–14 day free trial and provides reliable access to NBC for easy Thanksgiving viewing. Sports-focused Fubo also carries NBC and offers a seven-day trial with simple cancellation, making it a convenient short-term option.

Peacock, NBC’s dedicated streaming service, offers both live and on-demand viewing, although it does not currently provide a free trial. For those who want to rewatch the competition or catch up later in the week, Peacock’s replay option offers added flexibility.

A Thanksgiving Tradition With Deep Historical Roots

Long before it became a television phenomenon, the National Dog Show existed as part of America’s early dog-showing culture, which itself arrived from mid-19th century England. The first official U.S. dog show was held in Chicago in 1874 with just 21 pointers and setters, marking the beginning of a pastime that would rapidly expand in popularity. By 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club had established its now-famous show, making it one of the oldest continuously held sporting events in the country.

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia launched its own version in 1879, and although the early years drew a passionate but limited audience, the show endured. By 1933, it had become an annual fixture. Philadelphia’s connection to the dog world stretches even further back to 1876, when the city hosted an “Exposition of Dogs” during the U.S. Centennial Exposition. Today’s National Dog Show remains sanctioned by the American Kennel Club, meaning only AKC-registered purebreds can compete.

For decades, the National Dog Show attracted mostly enthusiast audiences — until NBC spotted an opportunity hiding in plain sight. In 2002, network executive Jon Miller watched the comedy film Best in Show and saw potential for the real thing to become must-see television. With the midday slot between the Macy’s parade and football historically filled by reruns of It’s a Wonderful Life, NBC needed a fresh idea.

Miller convinced Purina to sponsor the show and persuaded organizers to officially rebrand it as the “National Dog Show.” NBC agreed to try a single broadcast in 2002. Nearly nine million viewers tuned in, far surpassing expectations. Since then, the Thanksgiving broadcast has grown to attract more than 25 million viewers annually, becoming a hallmark of the holiday weekend and one of television’s most enduring November traditions.

The show is filmed each November at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania, where more than 2,000 dogs representing over 200 AKC-recognized breeds gather for two days of intense judging. It remains the country’s only major “benched” show, meaning every dog must stay on-site throughout the event. This format allows visitors to meet the competitors, chat with owners, and learn about lesser-known breeds, turning the venue into a living encyclopedia of canine history and character.

Competition begins within each breed, with winners advancing to their designated AKC group: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. The seven group winners then vie for the coveted Best in Show title, along with a $20,000 prize. Judges do not compare dogs to one another but evaluate each on how well it matches the breed standard — an exacting blueprint detailing expected structure, movement, temperament, and overall appearance.

Since NBC’s first broadcast, the show has kept its familiar and much-loved presenting duo: actor and dog enthusiast John O’Hurley, joined by veteran dog show analyst David Frei. Their mix of expert commentary, behind-the-scenes detail, and warm storytelling has become a signature part of the viewing experience, helping introduce millions of households to breeds they might never otherwise encounter.