--- description: Behind the scenes with the furry, fluffy array of dogs in New York for this year's competitive Westminster Dog Show. title: Behind the Scenes with the Stars of the Westminster Dog Show image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt995563a69fceca13/698a0a24656a3f0ea7bd9aa9/angelastro_westminster_diptych2.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 --- * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Let's Go Behind the Scenes With the Furry, Fluffy, Fabulous Stars of the Westminster Dog Show Feb 12, 2020 12:49 AM CUT  Left: A Bichon and handler Paul Flores at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City on Feb. 10\. Right: A man's tie. Left: A Bichon and handler Paul Flores at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City on Feb. 10\. Right: A man's tie.Evan Angelastro for TIME  by [Raisa Bruner](/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 12, 2020 12:49 AM CUT Step into the holding area of Madison Square Garden this week, and you might just get French kissed by a new friend. That’s because it’s the annual [Westminster Dog Show,](https://time.com/5527621/trump-westminster/ "undefined") and spectators are welcome to ogle the [superstar canines](http://time.com/longform/wkc-dog-show-2019/ "undefined") behind the scenes at New York City’s Pier 94 and the Garden as the dogs and their handlers awaited their big moment in the spotlight on the AstroTurf show ring. Out there, the dogs are all poise. But back here, it is a different kind of show, as spectators crowd past the lineup of kennels, with their resident canines in various states of preparation and repose behind the velvet ropes.  A poodle poses for a portrait Evan Angelastro for TIME  A dog groomer’s station Evan Angelastro for TIME  Siba, a standard poodle, won Best in Show Evan Angelastro for TIME You might run into a six-toed Norwegian lundehund named Fiona, lying docile and belly-up in her owner’s arms. You might be greeted by the low barks of Thor the bulldog — last year’s top show dog — hidden halfway in his kennel, his Lamb Chop plush toy at his side. The Pyrenean shepherd, Princess Silene, may deign to place her paws on your shoulders and bestow her royal blessing in the form of an enthusiastic lick to your face. Or maybe you’ll seek out the animal underneath the pile of white fluff that is the toy poodle Cami, as her handler teases her locks into perfection and her owner watches, stoic. Hair spray, combs, treats—for humans and animals alike—and toys litter every surface, and a distinctive small wafts through the crowd. Only seven of the over 2,600 contestants at the four-day [Westminster show](http://time.com/5527621/trump-westminster/ "undefined") advance to the elusive Best in Show category; the final winner was selected Tuesday night, the title going to Siba the standard poodle; the runner-up, or reserve, was Bourbon the whippet. Other contenders: Bono the Havanese, Wilma the boxer, Conrad the Shetland sheepdog, Vinny the wire fox terrier and Daniel the golden retriever, a crowd favorite.  An adoring crowd gathers to see the best in show Corgi at Madison Square Garden Evan Angelastro for TIME  A Japanese Chin, photographed using a star filter, is groomed Evan Angelastro for TIME  A Bichon Frise and handler Paul Flores Evan Angelastro for TIME  A man sports a Pitbull tie Evan Angelastro for TIME But at the end of the day, they’re all good dogs. Backstage after Siba was named winner of the non-sporting group late on Monday evening, her handler Chrystal Clas sang her charge’s praises. “She just has this confidence in herself, this attitude. She keeps me on her toes. She’s so elegant and full of herself and funny,” Clas said. And although Siba was happy to pose for photos, regal with her snout held high and groomed within an inch of her life, Clas says that’s not always how it goes. “She plays and runs in fields and comes in all muddy, and you would never know that she’s a show dog,” she said. Take a look at the behind-the-scenes controlled chaos of the Westminster Dog Show below.  The James Mortimer Memorial Cup, photographed using a star filter, is awarded to the Best in Show Evan Angelastro for TIME  Yorkies Pierre and Baux get a final touch up Evan Angelastro for TIME  A handler's outfit can help make a statement Evan Angelastro for TIME  A Pomeranian poses for a picture Evan Angelastro for TIME  A Samoyed gets powdered and primped for their big day Evan Angelastro for TIME  "Capo,” a Springer Spaniel who, according to their owner, is "The Boss of Nothing” Evan Angelastro for TIME  Collars for sale on display Evan Angelastro for TIME  Attendees, photographed using a star filter, pose with two Bichons Evan Angelastro for TIME  An American Staffordshire Terrier poses with their handler Evan Angelastro for TIME  Braeden Cooper poses with his Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Roxy Evan Angelastro for TIME  Journey, an Alaskan Malamute Evan Angelastro for TIME  People hang out in the dining area at Pier 94 during the Westminster Dog Show Evan Angelastro for TIME  A Pomeranian receives a final touch up Evan Angelastro for TIME  Cessi, a Vizsla, with owner Joe Diaz Evan Angelastro for TIME  A water spray Evan Angelastro for TIME  A Keeshond and their handler share a moment at Pier 94 Evan Angelastro for TIME  A sculpture for sale Evan Angelastro for TIME  Mike Medina poses with his daughter and Portuguese Water Dog Evan Angelastro for TIME  A Lhasa Apso is wheeled down the runway to the gate of stardom Evan Angelastro for TIME ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5782454/westminster-dog-show-photos-2/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5782454/westminster-dog-show-photos-2/"},"headline":"Let's Go Behind the Scenes With the Furry, Fluffy, Fabulous Stars of the Westminster Dog Show","datePublished":"2020-02-12T00:49:40.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:46:00.290Z","description":"Behind the scenes with the furry, fluffy array of dogs in New York for this year's competitive Westminster Dog Show.","url":"https://time.com/5782454/westminster-dog-show-photos-2/","keywords":["Newsfeed","photography","LightBox"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Raisa Bruner","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5782454/westminster-dog-show-photos-2/","name":"Let's Go Behind the Scenes With the Furry, Fluffy, Fabulous Stars of the Westminster Dog Show"}}]}] ```