It is America's Dog Show, first held here in 1877, and as has been the case for so very many of those years since, The Westminster Kennel Club reached its entry limit quickly for its 132nd Annual All Breed Dog Show February 11-12 at Madison Square Garden.

Westminster's total entry of 2,627 for its show, America's second longest continuously held sporting event, comes from 48 states, the District of Columbia, and at least six foreign countries.

Leading the way with the most entries are California (287) and New York (244). Rounding out the top ten states are New Jersey (170), Pennsylvania (167), Texas (151), Florida (130), Connecticut (122), Massachusetts (103), Maryland (92) and Virginia (80). Foreign entries came from Canada (75), Germany, Brazil, Columbia, Spain, Thailand, and Uruguay. However, many foreign bred dogs are entered from U.S. addresses, and in the final compilation there will be a number of additional foreign countries represented.

As in recent years, the entry limit of 2,500 dogs was reached quickly after the general entry process began on December 7. The final total entry includes 127 dogs entered in Junior Showmanship.

Labrador Retrievers have the highest entry with 51; other large entries include German Shorthaired Pointers 40, Pugs 37, Golden Retrievers 36, Rhodesian Ridgebacks 35, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels 35, French Bulldogs 35, and Australian Shepherds 35.

All of the 169 breeds and varieties recognized by the American Kennel Club will be represented at the show. There are 36 entries in four newly-recognized breeds competing for the first time at Westminster in 2008: the Plott (7 entries, Hound Group), the Tibetan Mastiff (13 entries, Working Group), the Beauceron (7 entries, Herding Group) and the Swedish Vallhund (9 entries, Herding Group).

The evening competition will be televised live each night at 8 PM (ET) on USA Network. Westminster, televised since 1948, is and always has been America's most widely-watched live telecast of a dog show. It is the only dog show televised live in this country. In addition, streaming video of the individual breed judging highlights is posted on the Westminster Web site for viewing within two hours of the completion of judging.

There are changes in the judging schedule from previous years. Breeds and varieties in the Hound, Terrier, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups will be benched and judged during the day on Monday, with Group competition that evening. On Tuesday, breeds and varieties in the Sporting, Working and Toy Groups will be benched and judged, with judging of those Groups and Best In Show to be held Tuesday evening.

The breed judging schedule will be posted on www.westminsterkennelclub.org when finalized.

Dr. J. Donald Jones of Marietta, GA will judge Best In Show, heading a judging panel of 32 judges from 19 states and Australia.

ENTRIES FOR 2008 (subject to final audit):

Sporting breeds (478) : Brittanys 16, Pointers 14, Pointers (German Shorthaired) 40, Pointers (German Wirehaired) 9, Retrievers (Chesapeake Bay) 25, Retrievers (Curly-Coated) 15, Retrievers (Flat-Coated) 28, Retrievers (Golden) 36, Retrievers (Labrador) 51, Retrievers (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling) 12, Setters (English) 24, Setters (Gordon) 7, Setters (Irish) 30, Spaniels (American Water) 2, Spaniels (Clumber) 13, Spaniels (Cocker) Black 10, Spaniels (Cocker) ASCOB 7, Spaniels (Cocker) Parti-Color 8, Spaniels (English Cocker) 12, Spaniels (English Springer) 17, Spaniels (Field) 10, Spaniels (Irish Water) 6, Spaniels (Sussex) 9, Spaniels (Welsh Springer) 10, Spinone Italiano 21, Vizslas 27, Weimaraners 15, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons 4.

Hound breeds (364) : Afghan Hounds 20, Basenjis 12, Basset Hounds 8, Beagles (13") 15, Beagles (15") 16, Black and Tan Coonhounds 6, Bloodhounds 10, Borzoi 31, Dachshunds (Longhaired) 23, Dachshunds (Smooth) 26, Dachshunds (Wirehaired) 23, Foxhounds (American) 12, Foxhounds (English) 6, Greyhounds 9, Harriers 2, Ibizan Hounds 9, Irish Wolfhounds 15, Norwegian Elkhounds 12, Otterhounds 5, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen 10, Pharaoh Hounds 12, Plotts 7, Rhodesian Ridgebacks 35, Salukis 13, Scottish Deerhounds 7, Whippets 20.

Working breeds (405) : Akitas 11, Alaskan Malamutes 10, Anatolian Shepherd Dogs 5, Bernese Mountain Dogs 25, Black Russian Terriers 13, Boxers 20, Bullmastiffs 26, Doberman Pinschers 27, German Pinschers 10, Giant Schnauzers 12, Great Danes 23, Great Pyrenees 11, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs 21, Komondorok 3, Kuvaszok 4, Mastiffs 24, Neapolitan Mastiffs 7, Newfoundlands 14, Portuguese Water Dogs 22, Rottweilers 31, St. Bernards 9, Samoyeds 24, Siberian Huskies 28, Standard Schnauzers 12, Tibetan Mastiffs 13.

Terriers breeds (281) : Airedale Terriers 11, American Staffordshire Terriers 19, Australian Terriers 10, Bedlington Terriers 13, Border Terriers 20, Bull Terriers (Colored) 8, Bull Terriers (White) 5, Cairn Terriers 12, Dandie Dinmont Terriers 1, Fox Terriers (Smooth) 12, Fox Terriers (Wire) 11, Glen of Imaal Terriers 7, Irish Terriers 4, Kerry Blue Terriers 10, Lakeland Terriers 10, Manchester Terriers (Standard) 9, Miniature Bull Terriers 7, Miniature Schnauzers 14, Norfolk Terriers 12, Norwich Terriers 12, Parson Russell Terriers 18, Scottish Terriers 5, Sealyham Terriers 6, Skye Terriers 3, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers 15, Staffordshire Bull Terriers 9, Welsh Terriers 8, West Highland White Terriers 10.

Toy breeds (397) : Affenpinschers 7, Brussels Griffons 14, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels 35, Chihuahuas (Long Coat) 11, Chihuahuas (Smooth Coat) 18, Chinese Cresteds 31, English Toy Spaniels (Blenheim & Prince Charles) 4, English Toy Spaniels (King Charles & Ruby) 5, Havanese 30, Italian Greyhounds 19, Japanese Chins 17, Maltese 10, Manchester Terriers (Toy) 12, Miniature Pinschers 18, Papillons 23, Pekingese 11, Pomeranians 21, Poodles (Toy) 6 , Pugs 37, Shih Tzu 21, Silky Terriers 14, Toy Fox Terriers 10, Yorkshire Terriers 23.

Non-Sporting breeds (285) : American Eskimo Dogs 8, Bichon Frises 19, Boston Terriers 23, Bulldogs 19, Chinese Shar-Pei 13, Chow Chows 14, Dalmatians 16, Finnish Spitz 3, French Bulldogs 35, Keeshonden 11, Lhasa Apsos 18, Lowchen 10, Poodles (Miniature) 12, Poodles (Standard) 16, Schipperkes 12, Shiba Inu 14, Tibetan Spaniels 23, Tibetan Terriers 19.

Herding breeds (290) : Australian Cattle Dogs 13, Australian Shepherds 35, Bearded Collies 15, Beauceron 7, Belgian Malinois 18, Belgian Sheepdogs 17, Belgian Tervurens 13, Border Collies 17, Bouviers des Flandres 18, Briards 8, Canaan Dogs 7, Cardigan Welsh Corgis 15, Collies (Rough) 11, Collies (Smooth) 7, German Shepherd Dogs 12, Old English Sheepdogs 20, Pembroke Welsh Corgis 21, Polish Lowland Sheepdogs 8, Pulik 7, Shetland Sheepdogs 12, Swedish Vallhund 9.

ENTRIES BY STATE

Alabama 10

Alaska 2

Arizona 38

Arkansas 11

California 287

Colorado 41

Connecticut 122

Delaware 12

District of Columbia 5

Florida 130

Georgia 60

Hawaii 8

Idaho 4

Illinois 67

Indiana 22

Iowa 15

Kansas 4,

Kentucky 32

Louisiana 19

Maine 13

Maryland 92

Massachusetts 103

Michigan 71

Minnesota 25

Mississippi 6

Missouri 39

Montana 6

Nebraska 8

Nevada 8

New Hampshire 36

New Jersey 170

New Mexico 10

New York 244

North Carolina 62

Ohio 75

Oklahoma 18

Oregon 34

Pennsylvania 167

Rhode Island 25

South Carolina 22

South Dakota 2

Tennessee 30

Texas 151

Utah 9

Vermont 15

Virginia 80

Washington 75

West Virginia 6

Wisconsin 22

Others:

Canada 75

Germany 3

Brazil 1

Columbia 1

Spain 1

Thailand 1

Uruguay 1

The Show – MONDAY BREEDS:

Hounds: Afghan Hound, Basenji, Basset Hound, Beagle (13"), Beagle (15"), Black and Tan Coonhound, Bloodhound, Borzoi, Dachshund (Longhaired),
Dachshund (Smooth), Dachshund (Wirehaired), Foxhound (American), Foxhound (English), Greyhound, Harrier, Ibizan Hound, Irish Wolfhound, Norwegian Elkhound, Otterhound, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Pharaoh Hound, Plott, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Saluki, Scottish Deerhound, Whippet.

Terriers: Airedale Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Border Terrier, Bull Terrier (Colored), Bull Terrier (White), Cairn Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Fox Terrier (Smooth), Fox Terrier (Wire), Glen of Imaal Terrier, Irish Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Manchester Terrier (Standard), Miniature Bull Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Norfolk Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Skye Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Welsh Terrier, West Highland White Terrier.

Non-Sporting: American Eskimo Dog, Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Chinese Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, Dalmatian, Finnish Spitz, French Bulldog, Keeshond, Lhasa Apso, Lowchen, Poodle (Miniature), Poodle (Standard), Schipperke, Shiba Inu, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier.

Herding: Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Bearded Collie, Beauceron, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Border Collie, Bouvier des Flandres, Briard, Canaan Dog, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Collie (Rough), Collie (Smooth), German Shepherd Dog, Old English Sheepdog, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Puli, Shetland Sheepdog, Swedish Vallhund.

The Show -TUESDAY BREEDS:

Sporting breeds: Brittany, Pointer, Pointer (German Shorthaired), Pointer (German Wirehaired), Retriever (Chesapeake Bay), Retriever (Curly-Coated), Retriever (Flat-Coated), Retriever (Golden), Retriever (Labrador), Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling), Setter (English), Setter (Gordon), Setter (Irish), Spaniel (American Water), Spaniel (Clumber), Spaniel (Cocker) Black, Spaniel (Cocker) ASCOB, Spaniel (Cocker) Parti-Color, Spaniel (English Cocker), Spaniel (English Springer), Spaniel (Field), Spaniel (Irish Water), Spaniel (Sussex), Spaniel (Welsh Springer), Spinone Italiano, Vizsla, Weimaraner, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

Working breeds: Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Black Russian Terrier, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Doberman Pinscher, German Pinscher, Giant Schnauzer, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Komondor, Kuvasz, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Newfoundland, Portuguese Water Dog, Rottweiler, St. Bernard, Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Standard Schnauzer, Tibetan Mastiff.

Toy breeds: Affenpinscher, Brussels Griffon, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua (Long Coat), Chihuahua (Smooth Coat), Chinese Crested, English Toy Spaniel (Blenheim & Prince Charles), English Toy Spaniel (King Charles & Ruby), Havanese, Italian Greyhound, Japanese Chin, Maltese, Manchester Terrier (Toy), Miniature Pinscher, Papillon, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Poodle (Toy), Pug, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier.