The 113th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will take place in NYC’s Madison Square Garden on February 10 and 11, and you can bet your kibble that owners and pups are setting into high gear as they approach the big day. The reality is that an enormous amount of time and money is spent by competitors all with the hope of walking away with that glorious Best in Show ribbon. But how much, exactly, does the winner take home? You’d be surprised.
How much does the Westminster Dog Show winner earn?
Drumroll please… the first-place champion of the Westminster Dog Show earns a whopping $0. Instead of a juicy cash prize, the esteemed pooch crowned Best in Show receives an array of glimmering trophies and ribbons that their owner can proudly display. According to the Westminster Kennel Club official site, those are as follows:
- Purple and Gold Rosette
- Polished Pewter Trophy
- The James Mortimer Memorial Cup, which is a Sterling Silver Trophy given if the dog is American-Bred. “For permanent possession to be won five times by the same ownership, an 8 x 10 Pewter Picture Frame will be given to commemorate each win of the permanent trophy,” the sit states.
- The Westminster Legend Trophy, which is a hand-engraved Steuben Crystal Bowl
- The Leash offers a Perpetual Sterling Silver Challenge Cup (if American-Bred). The site says, “A Polished Pewter Trophy will be given to commemorate this award.”
There’s still some money to be made, though
Andrew Burton/Getty ImagesSimply looking at the numbers, it’s pretty clear that many Westminster competitors are ultimately in this game for the sheer joy and satisfaction of it all. Kind of like the fulfillment a parent might have when their kids ace a test or score big at the game. Many competitors say that few things compare to the thrill of competing and the pride they feel seeing their pooch strutting after all that hard work. And you know what? We argue that feeling is probably better than any cash prize. Next, read on for 14 behind-the-scene secrets from the National Dog Show.
