Sketchbook: Drawing Dogs at the 2026 Westminster Dog Show
New York goes all out for the 150th Annual Westminster Dog Show - the second-oldest sporting event in America
3rd February, 2026
New York, NY
As I was trudging home through the Manhattan slush this evening, my right hand throbbing like a cartoon thumb that had been hit by a hammer, I looked up at the Empire State Building. It was glowing in regal Purple and Gold to celebrate the anniversary of one of the best events in New York. It was a majestic sight, primarily because it distracted me from the fact that my boots were slowly filling with ice water. But I was happy.
The day had started much less glamorously. Before I left for the Javits Center, I took my own prize pooch, Morris, out to pee on one of the gigantic, blackened lumps of snow that have taken up residence on our street. These icebergs arrive in February and stay until May, refusing to melt and absolutely refusing to pay rent. Morris, for the record, would not win Best in Show. He would win “Best in Farting on the Couch,” but he lacks the gait for the ring. He reminded me of one of the pages of our book:
But today, I wasn’t just a dog walker; I was a court artist for royalty.
I spent the day drawing at the 150th Westminster Dog Show. For the uninitiated, this is the Mecca of the canine world. It is the second-longest continuously held sporting event in America, predating the automobile, the light bulb, and the concept of “scrolling time.”
My friends at the AKC Museum of the Dog had a booth in prime position near the entrance. The museum’s president, Christopher -who owns a magnificent Newfoundland named Luca, a dog roughly the size of a Fiat 500- and the excellent Sarah Moshenberg, Manager of Learning and Engagement, set me up with a table and a stack of paper.
I thought I would do a few leisurely sketches as people had their official dog portraits taken next to the gigantic inflatable pup next to the booth. I was wrong. Within minutes, a line formed that didn’t break for hours. I drew Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Poodles, and things that looked like mops with pulses. I drew until I literally ran out of paper.
If you have seen the movie Best in Show, you probably think it’s a satire. I am here to tell you it is an honest-to-God documentary. Christopher Guest didn’t exaggerate; if anything, he toned it down.
