A Belgian Sheepdog named Soleil was the big winner at the 2025 National Dog Show.
Soleil edged out the second-place finisher, an American Foxhound named George, to bring home the title on Nov. 27 at the prestigious competition.
The Belgian Sheepdog beat out the winners of the six other groups to claim the overall title against thousands of other dogs.
Soleil basked in her win in an appearance alongside handler Daniel Martin on TODAY on Nov. 28.
“It was amazing,” Martin said of the Best in Show win as Soleil stood by his side and calmly surveyed the crowd on the plaza. “The adrenaline — there’s nothing like it.”
The anchors remarked on how well behaved she was.
“I knew right away she was special,” added American Kennel Club-licensed judge David Frei. “It was fun to watch her.”
He called the dog with a shiny black coat “elegant,” “beautiful” and “presented to perfection.”
Soleil on the TODAY Plaza.
“A lot of focus. She’s the professional out of all of this,” Martin told host Mary Carillo on the broadcast after Soleil’s victory.
He was asked what set Soleil apart in the competition, which was judged by Charles Olvis.
“Her attitude,” Martin said. “She loves doing her movement. She loves the crowd, she loves this big arena, it’s fun.”
A giant schnauzer named Dino, an English setter named Tyler, a Bichon Frise named Neal, a miniature schnauzer named Baby Joe and a Shih Tzu named Comet were the other finalists.
The National Dog Show is hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and was held this year at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania.
Approximately 2,000 dogs covering more than 200 breeds took part, according to the show’s website. The pooches were broken down into seven groups: terrier, toy, working, sporting, hound, non-sporting and herding.
The winner of each group then competed for the title of best in show.
A pug named Vito won best in show in 2024.
The 2025 National Dog Show, which aired on NBC for the 24th year and streamed on Peacock, was hosted by Carillo, “Seinfeld” star John O’Hurley and Frei.
“It’s just amazing to walk up and down the aisles and see all the coiffing that goes on,” O’Hurley said about the show, when he and Frei appeared before this year’s event on TODAY on Nov. 26.
“It’s just a wonderful day and dogs always just round off the edges in our brittle lives,” he added about the event.
