2024 National Dog Show: see photos and videos

Arts and Entertainment, Children and Pets

dog shows, dogs, National Dog Show, National Dog Show Presented by Purina, NBC, TV

November 28, 2024

Vito, Best In Show at the 2024 National Dog Show (Photo by Bill McCay/NBC)

The following is a press release from NBC:

Vito, a confident Pug, was crowned Best in Show on Thanksgiving Day at Philadelphia’s prestigious 23rd National Dog Show Presented by Purina.

Coverage of the show and Vito’s victorious moments were broadcast to a massive holiday audience on NBC following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Owned by Carolyn Koch of Chapel Hill, N.C., Vito represents the very best in the pug breed. Vito’s registered name is GCGG Andi In Cahoots.

“Compact, features, movement – everything a pug should be,” offered Best in Show judge George Milutinovich of Fresno, Calif., who selected the Pug over a top-rated lineup, including a Welsh Terrier, Giant Schnauzer, Clumber Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Berger Picard and Ibizan Hound. “I’d never seen him before. Wow. Just wow. Lots of dog in a small package.” Milutinovich continued, “To look at a pug is to put a smile on your face.”

“I was optimistic,” said Vito’s handler, Michael Scott, of Chesapeake City, Md., who is no stranger to the National Dog Show with a previous win in 2008, handling the Pointer, Holly. “I always hope to get a really good look [from the judge].” Scott concluded, “Vito has a beautiful head and expression. Great outline.”

Scott claimed Best of Breed at the AKC National Show in 2023 and won Best of Breed at Westminster with a Toy Group 4^thearlier this year. He’s a multi-specialty winner with now 25 Best in Shows at approximately 75 all-breed shows.

Reserve Best in Show (second place) went to a Welsh Terrier named Verde and handler Gabriel Rangel from Rialto, Calif. Winner of the Terrier Group, Verde’s registered name is GCH Ch Studio Be Curious JP Justice Hero.

The following are the other 2024 National Dog Show group winners:

Sporting – a Clumber Spaniel named “Houston” of Keyport, N.J.

Working – a Giant Schnauzer named “Monty” from Chaplin, Conn.

Hound – an Ibizan Hound named “The Zit” of Spring Hill, Fla.

Herding – a Berger Picard named “Rupert” of Shingle Springs, Calif.

Non-Sporting – a Lhasa Apso named “JJ” from Sabot, Va.

This year marks the 23rd edition of the holiday special, which has become a family viewing tradition since its inception in 2002. NBC will air an encore presentation of the two-hour special on Sunday, Dec. 1, from 4-6 p.m. ET/PT.