There isn't one single winner for "National Dog Day" as it's a celebration, but the most prominent winner is from the annual National Dog Show, where the 2025 Best in Show winner was Soleil, a Belgian Sheepdog, handled by Daniel Martin, winning in November 2025 after the Thanksgiving Day parade. For the prior year, 2024's winner was Vito, a Pug, as reported around Thanksgiving 2024.
Soleil, a black Belgian sheepdog and the winner of the herding group was named Best in Show at the 2025 National Dog Show. Soleil was described multiple times as "being on," NBC reports, with National Dog Show co-host David Frei saying, "She was looking around confidently.
What makes Vito so special? “He has a beautiful head and expression,” Mr. Scott said, adding that Vito is a compact dog who has “wonderful movement.” Vito, 2, is owned by Carolyn Koch of Chapel Hill, N.C., who won a cash prize and bragging rights on future dog walks.
After the Best in Breed selected the best in group from the seven groups, Soleil, the Belgian Sheepdog, won Best in Show at the 2025 National Dog Show, earning a $20,000 prize.
How much does a Dog Show Judge make? As of Jan 4, 2026, the average annual pay for a Dog Show Judge in the United States is $29,511 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $14.19 an hour. This is the equivalent of $567/week or $2,459/month.
At the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, some handlers will keep loose treats like hot dogs, cheese, or liver stashed in their mouths. This system allows them quick access to the treats without having to dig through their pockets and keeps their fine clothes from smelling like meat.
While there's no single "number one," the Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever consistently rank as top friendly dogs due to their gentle, outgoing, and loyal temperaments, making them excellent family pets good with kids and other animals, though they need plenty of exercise. Other top contenders for friendliness include Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and Pugs, known for their playful, affectionate, and people-loving natures.
Whippet: The Whippet originated in England in the late 18th to 19th centuries. They were bred by crossing Greyhounds with smaller terriers and, later, Italian Greyhounds, to create a smaller, more versatile hunting dog.
No treatment needed. We are officially in the clear. Teddy still has about a week left of recovery from his splenectomy, but after that, life will go back to normal and we can all finally exhale a little. Thank you so much for all the support, love, thoughts, and prayers you've sent our way.
The rarest colours are white and dun – a sort of chocolate – in twenty years I have never seen one!
Written by Pro Club Expert Team. The sun shone brightly for a 5½-year-old female Belgian Sheepdog named “Soleil,” who won Best in Show at the 24th annual National Dog Show Presented by Purina, and was handled by Daniel Martin of Princeton, North Carolina.
Riley died five years ago and Bailey died last Saturday at the age of 14. He had a great life and was really quite healthy over the years. Those two certainly brought me a ton of happiness and pride in their accomplishments.
For 30 consecutive years, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has named the Labrador Retriever the most popular dog breed in the United States.
The calmest dog breeds often include large, gentle giants like the Saint Bernard, Newfoundland, and Great Dane, along with smaller, easygoing companions such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Basset Hound, Pug, and English Bulldog, all known for their relaxed, affectionate, and laid-back temperaments, though individual dogs vary. Sighthounds like the Greyhound are also surprisingly calm indoors, needing short bursts of energy but otherwise content to lounge.
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There's no single "number 1" laziest dog, but the English Bulldog is consistently ranked at or near the top for its low energy, love of naps, and tendency to be a couch potato, followed closely by breeds like the Basset Hound, Great Dane, and Shih Tzu, all known for being relaxed companions. These breeds prefer lounging and short strolls over strenuous activity, making them ideal for laid-back owners.
The rarest pug colors are often considered Merle, Albino (Pink), and sometimes Brindle, though rarity can vary by region, with colors like Platinum, Silver, and Chocolate also being quite uncommon. These unusual colors usually result from recessive genes or mutations and aren't recognized by the AKC as standard, leading to them being dubbed "designer" or "exotic" by some breeders.
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The average life span of a Pug is between 12-15 years. However, this can vary depending on many factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and care. Some Pugs may live longer than 15 years, while others may have a shorter life span.
Dogs say "sorry" through submissive body language like tucking their tail, lowering their head, making "puppy eyes," licking, and rolling onto their backs to show they're not a threat, which are appeasement signals to diffuse tension after a conflict or misbehavior, often combined with whining or approaching and retreating. They recognize when their human (or another dog) is upset and use these signs to seek forgiveness, though it's more about reducing stress than human-like guilt.
The 3-3-3 rule for dogs is a guideline for new owners, especially for rescues, showing a dog's typical adjustment phases: 3 Days (overwhelmed, decompression), 3 Weeks (settling in, learning routine, showing personality), and 3 Months (feeling at home, building trust, fully integrated). It's a framework to set expectations, reminding owners to be patient and provide structure, as every dog's timeline varies.
To say "I love you" in dog language, use soft eye contact, raise your eyebrows, give gentle massages (especially ears), lean into them, and engage in play or shared activities like walks, which build trust and affection through shared experiences and physical connection, releasing oxytocin for both of you.