Dog Show 101: What to know about the 150th Westminster show

NEW YORK (AP) — It's go time for thousands of America's most dogged competitors.

Big or small, sleek or shaggy, imposing or impish, they're all trying for the top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in its milestone 150th year.

Might Comet the shih tzu snag the trophy after coming close the last two years? What about Neal the bichon frisé, another 2025 finalist who’s competing again? Could this be the year for Zaida the Afghan hound, who has twice won the World Dog Show, a major international showcase, but has yet to make the finals at Westminster?

Or will the prize go to another well-known contender — or a dark horse?

Here's what to know about the United States' most prestigious canine competition.

The breed-by-breed judging — officially called “conformation” — happens Monday and Tuesday, at a combination of the Javits Center convention hall and Madison Square Garden. Best in show is awarded at the Garden around 11 p.m. EST Tuesday.

For fans who can’t be there in person, Fox Sports is showing the event’s various components on FS1 and FS2 and its various streaming platforms. Westminster is streaming some, as well.

Some 2,500 dogs from 212 breeds and varieties (subsets of breeds) are signed up to compete. (No doodles, though. These popular poodle mixes aren't recognized as distinct breeds by the American Kennel Club, the governing body for Westminster and many other U.S. dog shows.) There are contestants from every U.S. state and 18 other countries.

A few hundred more dogs, including mixed-breed ones, competed Saturday in Westminster's agility and flyball contests.

Besides Comet, Neal and Zaida, entrants include Soleil, a Belgian sheepdog who won the National Dog Show televised last Thanksgiving Day, and a Lhasa apso called JJ, who triumphed at the huge AKC National Championship that aired in late December. The runners-up from those shows — George, an American foxhound, and a Gordon setter named River — also are due at Westminster.

And keep an eye out for Baby Joe, a miniature schnauzer who topped national dog show standings for 2025. Don't forget Penny the Doberman pinscher, who's been climbing the rankings since her crowd-pleasing turn in last year's Westminster semifinals. There's also a high-ranking Chesapeake Bay retriever, a prominent papillon and many other buzzy contenders.

But anything can happen at Westminster, a champions-only show where every contestant is a proven winner. Cognoscenti often say victory goes to “the dog on the day,” meaning the one that has the performance of a lifetime.

Whichever dog the judge chooses, others sometimes run away with the audience’s heart.

A 2020 crowd fave, Daniel the golden retriever, is among eight past finalists or winners set to return for a special presentation Monday night. So are some other 2020 finalists, Bono the Havanese, Wilma the boxer — and Siba, the standard poodle who defeated them all to claim that year's best in show award. Do show dogs hold grudges? We shall see.

First, dogs are judged against others of their breed. Then each breed winner goes up against others in its “group,” such as terriers or herding dogs. In the final round, the seven group winners compete for best in show.

At each level, judges decide which dog best matches the ideal, or “standard,” for its own breed.

Wire fox terriers (15 wins), followed by poodles of various sizes (11).

Many breeds haven't won yet, including such favorites as Labrador and golden retrievers. But never say never: Last year's winner, Monty, was the first giant schnauzer chosen as best in show. He then retired from showing but is expected to join Monday's special tribute to Westminster “legends.”

Bragging rights, ribbons and trophies. There are no cash prizes, though the agility winner gets to direct a $5,000 Westminster donation to a training club or to the American Kennel Club Humane Fund.

Animal welfare activists routinely protest the Westminster show. They see it as an irresponsible canine beauty contest that overlooks shelter dogs’ predicament and some purebreds’ health problems.

For Westminster's milestone show this year, PETA plans to demonstrate outside the show and has erected billboards nearby with such messages as “flat-faced dogs struggle to breathe,” echoing aspects of the animal rights group's ongoing lawsuit against the American Kennel Club. The AKC has called the case frivolous and is trying to get it dismissed.

The Westminster club notes that it donates to rescue groups, veterinary scholarships and other endeavors that help dogs. Club President Donald Sturz says that “shows an overarching commitment to responsible dog ownership and responsible dog breeding.”

FILE — Wilma, the boxer, competes during 144th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, in this Feb. 11, 2020 file image, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

FILE - Amy Gilmer, left, and her Chinese crested, Surfer Dude, wait backstage at Arthur Ashe stadium before competing in the agility preliminaries during the 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

FILE - A handler and his dog compete in the agility preliminaries inside Arthur Ashe stadium during the 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

FILE - Verb, a border collie, competes during the finals of the agility competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in Tarrytown, N.Y., Friday, June 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

FILE — Handler Willy Santiago competes with Afghan Hound Zaida during breed group judging at the 148th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, in this May 13, 2024 file image, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Once considered an oddity in American homes, bidets are becoming increasingly common as more people seek a hygienic and sustainable alternative to toilet paper or a hand managing certain physical conditions.

Toilet paper shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic helped demystify the devices for U.S. consumers, although Italy, Japan and some other countries where bidets are standard bathroom features also saw runs on TP. Environmental awareness, less expensive bidet options and the development of smart toilets that perform multiple functions have given further momentum to the idea of rinsing instead of wiping.

Bidets even earned a moment in the national spotlight last month when Zorhan Mamdani, New York City's new mayor, said he hoped to have them installed in the bathrooms of Gracie Mansion, the 18th century Manhattan home that serves as the official residence of the city's chief executive.

Medical professionals sometimes recommend bidets for patients with hemorrhoids, in recovery from surgery, or who have limited mobility due to age or disabilities. But experts say bidets are not best for everyone and need to be used properly to prevent other problems.

Here are some of the ins and outs to consider.

Bidets use a jet of water to clean the genitals and anal area after someone goes to the bathroom. They originally existed mainly as standalone fixtures separate from toilets.

These days, the options include toilet seat attachments and hand-held versions that resemble detachable shower heads. Many of the latest “smart” toilets come with integrated bidets and feature heated seats, adjustable water pressure and air dryers.

On YouTube and other social media platforms, there are videos demonstrations of how to make a portable bidet with a plastic soda bottle.

Bidet converts tend to rave about how much cleaner the appliances leave them feeling. Since all toileting activity involves delicate body parts and bacteria, experts stress that correct bidet use is required to make the activity as sanitary as possible.

When using standalone bidets and ones installed on toilets, it's best, especially for women, to turn on the faucet while facing the controls so the washing is done from front to back, according to Dr. David Rivadeneira, a colorectal surgeon in Huntington, New York.

That position prevents the transfer of bacteria from the anal area to the urethra, Rivadeneira said.

Most doctors recommend using warm water at low pressure for up to a few minutes, avoiding any extreme temperatures. You can also try a gentle soap if desired, but it's usually not necessary for regular bidet users.

Rivadeneira cautions patients against trying to inject water into the anus since the devices are not meant for internal use.

“You're not supposed to be substituting it for a colonic or an enema," he said.

After washing, pat dry with toilet paper or a dedicated cotton towel to remove any remaining stool and to prevent yeast infections, experts say.

Bidets can be used every day but are most appropriate after a bowel movement. Overuse may cause skin irritation, according to medical experts.

Proper bidet maintenance also matters, said Dr. Neal H. Patel, a family physician with the Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County, California. Make sure to wipe down the nozzle every week or two with disinfectant wipes to remove bacteria, he said.

Dr. Danielle Antosh, a urogynecologist in Houston, said some studies have showed that a bidet leaves less bacteria on a user's hand compared to toilet paper, but the research remains too limited to know for sure.

However, doctors who are in favor of bidets think the devices are less harsh on sensitive skin than toilet paper.

“The texture of toilet paper can cause irritation and itching, while the gentle water stream of a bidet is less abrasive and healthier for the skin,” Dr. George Ellis, a urologist in Orlando, Florida, said.

Bidets therefore may benefit people with chronic diarrhea or other conditions that necessitate a lot of wiping, as well as those who are prone to urinary tract infections, medical experts said. They also may help relieve discomfort from hemorrhoids, fistulas and anal fissures, they said.

Three dermatologists from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center wrote in a 2023 editorial in the International Journal of Women's Dermatology that their peers should be “aware of the commonality of bidet use outside of American culture” and comfortable recommending bidets because skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and contact dermatitis can occur in the perianal region.

They also argued that by helping people with physical limitations clean themselves independently after using the toilet, bidets can reduce the workload of caregivers, most of whom are women.

Bidets are another example where it's possible to get too much of a good thing. Some doctors in Japan have advised patients who reported rashes or difficulty controlling their bowels after frequent bottom cleansing to stop using bidets until the conditions cleared up.

Antosh recommends checking with a doctor before using a high-pressure bidet right after childbirth or if you have genital ulcers because powerful streams of water may be irritating.

Dr. Jenna Queller, a dermatologist and founder of Boca Raton, Florida-based DermWorks, said the same was true for people with genital eczema or psoriasis. She recommends moisturizing the areas after using a bidet to prevent irritation..

And while bidets may offer relief for an itchy bottom, always consult a doctor if there's persistent bleeding from fissures or hemorrhoids because you could have a more serious condition, Rivadeneira advises.

Bidets generally are recognized as a greener choice than toilet paper by most environmental groups and scientists. The non-profit National Resources Defense Council said in a recent report that the devices “significantly cut down on the use of toilet paper, helping to lessen the environmental impacts associated with tissue production.”

Gary Bull, a professor emeritus of forestry at the University of British Columbia told The Associated Press in a recent interview that while it makes sense and is agreed bidets are more sustainable, truly knowing the environmental impact of a product requires calculating all the carbon emitted and energy used in making the products and through the end of their life cycles.

Fancier bidets, for example, use electricity to heat the water and seat, he noted.

“I was working out in my own house last night putting in a Japanese bidet because I just came back from Japan, and I went, ‘OK, so this is good,’” Bull said. “But then if I look at that bidet, if I’m doing an honest assessment cradle to cradle, then I have to look at the water consumption, the energy consumption, a whole bunch of other things, to know whether or not that is a better choice for me as a consumer versus toilet tissue.”

Andrea Hicks, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin, suggested thinking about how dry or wet a climate you live in before making a decision.

In a “water-stressed” state like Arizona, toilet paper may be the more sustainable choice, while a bidet might more sense in a place where water is abundant, Hicks said.

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AP Writer Isabella O’Malley in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

FILE - A smart bidet sits in a bathroom at the McKechnie Family LIFE Home on the University Illinois campus in Champaign, Ill., Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. (Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette via AP, File)