This weekend, the National Dog Show marks its 24th year in Oaks, celebrating alongside the 25th anniversary of the popular mockumentary “Best in Show,” its original inspiration, writes Peter Crimmins for WHYY.
Christopher Guest’s 2000 film depicted the eccentric world of show dog owners at the fictional Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show in Philadelphia.
The movie had a significant impact on the real dog show community, with many owners embracing its humor, and it ultimately inspired the real-life National Dog Show held in Oaks the following year.
“That first year we had 9 million people watch our show,” said David Frei, an announcer on the National Dog Show. “Now we’ve grown over the years. We have 25 million people watching our show every Thanksgiving Day.”
He added that the show never strays far from its roots.
“‘Best in Show’ did not make fun of the dogs,” he said. “They made fun of the people. We’re a target-rich environment. I know all those people in that movie. I know those characters.”
This year, approximately 2,000 dogs will compete, showcasing more than 200 breeds.
Read more about the National Dog Show and how it got its inspiration from ‘Best in Show’ in WHYY.
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