INDIANAPOLIS — There's never a shortage of special programming on Thanksgiving Day, including the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, pro football games and "The National Dog Show, presented by Purina."
Returning for its 23rd year on NBC, the annual competition will feature more than 2,000 dogs from 200 breeds vying for the title of "Best in Show."
"You'll get everything you want to see in a dog. It's better than going on a walk or to the dog park," co-host and judge David Frei said.
Co-hosting each year alongside Frei is John O'Hurley, best known for his role of J. Peterman in "Seinfeld" and hosting "Family Feud" for four years.
"It's a wonderfully and educational interactive experience," O'Hurley said. "It's a bench show, which means all of the owners and handlers have to remain there on campus – we have a live audience of about 15,000 people – and they get to walk up and down the aisles and talk to the owners, and maybe there's a dog or a breed that is particularly accommodating to their lifestyle."
Joining O'Hurley and Frei for the interview was Tristan, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
"They are love buckets, literally. They are bred to sit in your lap — although this one wants to be somewhere else right now," O'Hurley joked.
The reigning Best in Show winner is Stache, a Sealyham Terrier. Which dog and breed will win this year?
"It's a written standard that every dog is judged against, so it has to be the perfect example of the form and the function of that breed, and historically, what they were meant to do," O'Hurley said.
This marks Frei's 50th major dog show telecast, having previously hosted the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for 27 years.
"It's just another day at the office for me because my dogs are my life, and I get 23 years with John O'Hurley on television and talking about dogs and talking about life, and we have a great time sharing that with the world," Frei said.
"The National Dog Show, presented by Purina" airs Thursday, Nov. 28 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET on WTHR Channel 13.