How Much Money Do Dog Show Winners Get

The answer probably isn't what you lot're expecting.

The 113^th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will take place in NYC's Madison Square Garden on February 10 and 11, and y'all tin bet your kibble that owners and pups are setting into loftier gear as they approach the large day. The reality is that an enormous amount of time and coin is spent by competitors all with the hope of walking away with that glorious Best in Prove ribbon. But how much, exactly, does the winner take domicile? You lot'd be surprised. The National Dog Show hosts share their most interesting memories throughout the years.

How much does the Westminster Dog Show winner earn?

Drumroll please… the first-place champion of the Westminster Dog Prove earns a whopping $0. Instead of a juicy cash prize, the esteemed pooch crowned Best in Show receives an array of glimmering trophies and ribbons that their owner can proudly display. According to the Westminster Kennel Club official site, those are as follows:

Majestic and Aureate Rosette
Polished Pewter Trophy
The James Mortimer Memorial Loving cup, which is a Sterling Silver Trophy given if the dog is American-Bred. "For permanent possession to be won five times by the aforementioned ownership, an 8 x 10 Pewter Film Frame will exist given to commemorate each win of the permanent trophy," the sit states.
The Westminster Legend Bays, which is a hand-engraved Steuben Crystal Bowl
The Ternion offers a Perpetual Sterling Silverish Claiming Cup (if American-Bred). The site says, "A Polished Pewter Trophy will exist given to commemorate this honor."

At that place's still some money to be made, though

westminster dog show winner Andrew Burton/Getty Images A trophy is great and there's real pride in taking home the Best in Show title, but earning first place at the Westminster Dog Testify also ushers in ample bank-making opportunities. For instance, the winning pooch receives sponsorships and ambassadorships and can even earn coin for appearances, reports CNN Money. The winning pup also becomes highly valuable for convenance purposes since many want in on those award-winning genes.

Though it's difficult to judge each champion'due south money-making potential—many winners go on mum on the topic—a Salon.com article points to the example of Peter the Standard Poodle, who won Westminster's All-time in Show in 1991. His frozen semen was accidentally destroyed in 2010, and the owners were awarded roughly $200,000 in the legal battle. The owners ultimately sued for the value of the samples versus the value of the puppies, which Salon speculates could have been worth over $1 million.

Speaking of winning Westminster dog names, y'all'll get a kick out of the funniest names of dogs who've entered the competition over the years.

It's not cheap to heighten a Westminster Winner

Though there'south money to exist made, information technology's also of import to annotation how chop-chop costs add upwardly for dog show competitors. Commencement, there's the cost of actually purchasing the pup, which tin can be very expensive if you're sourcing from those award-winning genes we mentioned above. For example, a purebred wire fox terrier—which has won more than any other breed at Westminster—costs an average of $ane,000 to $1,500 co-ordinate to dogbreedslist.info. (At that place are technically dogs who price manner more, though.)

From there, you have to factor in other expenses, such as training, regular grooming, transportation, hotel and travel costs, competition entry fees, and fifty-fifty marketing and campaigning expenses. CNBC estimates that these costs tin reach more $250,000 over the cost of the competing canis familiaris's lifetime.

The bottom line

westminster dog show winner best in show prize Andrew Burton/Getty Images Simply looking at the numbers, information technology's pretty articulate that many Westminster competitors are ultimately in this game for the sheer joy and satisfaction of it all. Kind of like the fulfillment a parent might take when their kids ace a exam or score big at the game. Many competitors say that few things compare to the thrill of competing and the pride they experience seeing their pooch strutting afterward all that hard work. And y'all know what? We debate that feeling is probably better than any cash prize. Next, read on for 14 behind-the-scene secrets from the National Dog Show.