Soleil the Belgian Sheepdog claimed the title of Best in Show at the 2025 National Dog Show, an annual Thanksgiving Day staple.
This is the first time the breed was victorious in Philadelphia, and the result was deemed a surprise on the NBC broadcast.
Soleil cut a stoic figure during handler Daniel Martin’s interview after the triumph. Clearly she was leaving her celebrations for the kennel, away from the spotlight.
George the American Foxhound was runner-up as the reserve Best in Show.
Here are the individual group winners:
2025 National Dog Show Group Winners
“Today, that dog was on,” said judge Charlie Olvis of Soleil, per NBC Sports’ Nate Ryan. “Didn’t put its foot down wrong. Didn’t miss a beat. And it is in drop-dead gorgeous condition.”
Ryan noted the final field for Best in Show was loaded. Soleil and the other six dogs had all ranked No. 1 nationally at one point. Comet the Shih Tzu has totaled 143 Best in Show ribbons and won the Toy group at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show earlier this year.
That Soleil stood out from the rest is a testament to her beauty and Martin’s work in training.
This year’s National Dog Show included 1,994 across 201 breeds. The Danish-Swedish Farmdog made its debut after earning formal recognition from the American Kennel Club in January.
Like any rookie, the farmdog is still getting his bearings on the national circuit and was unable to come out on top in the Working group.
