Belgian Sheepdog Soleil Shines as 2025 National Dog Show Best in Show

Oaks, Pennsylvania — November 27, 2025 — The 24th annual National Dog Show Presented by Purina, an American Kennel Club–sanctioned all-breed conformation event organized by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, returned to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania earlier this month and was broadcast nationwide on NBC on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025, following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Hosted by longtime commentators John O’Hurley and David Frei, with analyst Mary Carillo and reporter Britney Eurton providing ringside and behind-the-scenes coverage, this year’s show brought more than 2,000 dogs representing roughly 205 AKC-recognized breeds and varieties into the spotlight. Inside the benched halls, grooming tables and crate rows stretched across the Expo Center as handlers worked against the clock to keep coats gleaming, nerves steady, and tails wagging. The competition also marked the National Dog Show debut of the Danish-Swedish Farmdog, underscoring how the event continues to evolve while honoring its deep roots.

Under the lights of the Best in Show ring, the final drama belonged to Soleil, a Belgian Sheepdog who first captured the Herding Group before returning to outpace six other group winners and claim the 2025 Best in Show title. Judge Charlie Olvis praised her as a dog that “didn’t put a foot down wrong” and appeared in “drop-dead gorgeous condition,” recognizing both her precision and presence in the ring. Reserve Best in Show went to George, an American Foxhound, capping a final lineup that included Neal the Bichon Frise (Non-Sporting), Dino the Giant Schnauzer (Working), Baby Joe the Miniature Schnauzer (Terrier), Comet the Shih Tzu (Toy), and Tyler the English Setter (Sporting).

Handled by Daniel Martin and owned by Connie Jasinski, Pat Snow, and Nancy Maye, Soleil — officially registered as GCHS Prairiewind’s Songs of Summer at La Neige — arrived in Oaks as America’s top-ranked Belgian Sheepdog and left with one of the sport’s most recognizable Thanksgiving titles. Her victory came against heavily favored rivals, including Dino, the country’s No. 1-ranked all-breed dog, and Comet, a Shih Tzu boasting more than 140 Best in Show wins, adding an extra jolt of suspense to the final moments of the broadcast.

Across the weekend, spectators wound through the benching aisles to meet breeds ranging from familiar family favorites to rare working and herding dogs. As one of the few remaining benched dog shows in the United States, the National Dog Show requires dogs to remain on site for most of the day, giving the public a chance to speak with breeders and handlers, learn about breed traits and temperament, and see first-hand what it takes to compete at this level.

In the ring, dogs are evaluated against detailed AKC breed standards for structure, movement, temperament, and overall type. Winners advance from their individual breed to one of seven groups — Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding — before the seven group champions return to the floor to vie for Best in Show. Alongside the pageantry, the show’s commentary and educational segments continued to spotlight responsible breeding, training, and everyday pet care, underscoring that success in the ring begins with health, welfare, and a lifetime bond at home.

As another Thanksgiving Day telecast drew millions of viewers across NBC and Peacock, the National Dog Show once again cemented its place between parade balloons and kickoff as a holiday ritual for families and dog lovers — celebrating canine athletes in the ring and the beloved companions curled up on couches around the country.

2025 National Dog Show – Group Winners

• Herding: Soleil (Belgian Sheepdog)

• Hound: George (American Foxhound)

• Non-Sporting: Neal (Bichon Frise)

• Sporting: Tyler (English Setter)

• Terrier: Baby Joe (Miniature Schnauzer)

• Toy: Comet (Shih Tzu)

• Working: Dino (Giant Schnauzer)

About the National Dog Show:

The National Dog Show is an annual, all-breed conformation event sanctioned by the American Kennel Club and hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. First held in 1879 and resumed in its modern form in 1933, the show is one of the country’s oldest and only remaining benched dog shows. Since 2002, the two-hour National Dog Show Presented by Purina telecast has aired nationally on NBC each Thanksgiving Day, following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and attracting an audience of nearly 20 million viewers as more than 2,000 dogs across over 200 breeds compete for group honors and the coveted Best in Show title.