THE NATIONAL DOG SHOW PRESENTED BY PURINA — Pictured: “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina” Logo — (Photo by: NBCUniversal)

NEW YORK — Nov. 2, 2017 — NBC will present the 16th anniversary edition of the beloved holiday special “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina®” on Thanksgiving Day (noon-2 p.m. in all time zones), Nov. 23, following the telecast of NBC’s “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.”

“The National Dog Show Presented by Purina®” celebrates man’s best friend and is hosted by award-winning actor, author and Broadway star John O’Hurley (“Seinfeld,” “Dancing with the Stars”). Expert analysis is offered by David Frei, an American Kennel Club-licensed judge and, along with O’Hurley, co-host of USA Network’s “Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina.” NBC’s Mary Carillo will report from the benching area and inside the show ring, while Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir offer a behind-the-scenes look at the show as reporters and digital contributors.

“For 16 years, the ‘National Dog Show Presented by Purina®’ has been at the forefront of the purebred dog world,” said O’Hurley. “I’m proud to be a part of a legacy that not only celebrates such a rich history of dog breeds, but also being part of a tradition that entertains everyone from 4 to 94.”

NBC will present an encore of this year’s “National Dog Show Presented by Purina®” on Saturday, Nov. 25 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT).

Last year, 4-year-old Greyhound Gia was named Best in Show from among the seven group winners. She won over the crowd with her impressively slim and athletic build, beautiful grey coat and outstanding showmanship.

Last year’s broadcast set new records for its 15-year run on NBC, reaching more than 22 million total viewers. An established family holiday tradition, the broadcast is part of a five-hour block of family programming and will showcase more than 2,000 purebred canines competing for the title of Best in Show. Unlike traditional dog show coverage, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s National Dog Show offers the country’s 65 million pet-owning households an afternoon of family-friendly activities, facilitated by the open format of the esteemed event. As one of the only remaining “benched” dog shows, all of the competing breeds are on display for the visiting public.

To continue the family fun, NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will present a Thanksgiving Day marathon (beginning 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT) of “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina®,” featuring all five Best in Show winners from 2012-16.

In celebration of Thanksgiving and the National Dog Show, Purina is inviting pet owners across the country to share what makes their pet the best, using #DogThaning and tag @Purina. From Nov. 16-26, for every unique post shared on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram that includes @purina and #dogthanking, Purina will donate $1 (up to $50,000) to GreaterGood.org, an organization which helps provide relief for people and pets in areas affecting by hurricanes, including Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico.

For more information on the “National Dog Show Presented by Purina®,” visit: http://www.nationaldogshow.com

Breed descriptions and more information can be found at http://nds.nationaldogshow.com/event-info-groups.php.

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