In less than a month, more than 3,200 dogs, including 90 golden retrievers, will descend on Manhattan during Westminster Week 2017. Among the 2,798 dogs and 87 junior handlers entered, competitors from Connecticut will be in full force at the 141st Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, on Monday and Tuesday, February 13-14. Dog lovers can come to the "benched" dog show at Piers 92/94 to enjoy 200 breeds and varieties up close, including 65 golden retrievers, 46 Labrador retrievers and French bulldogs each, 45 whippets, and 38 Yorkshire terriers and Australian shepherds, each. These breeds are joined by three debut breeds at Westminster - the Sloughi, Pumi and American Hairless terrier. Even my beloved Norwegian elkhounds will have an entry of four. For a complete list visit: infodog.comwestminsterkennelclub.orgTelevised since 1948, Westminster will once again be America's most-watched live broadcast of a dog show. New this year, the dog show moves to FS1 for live Group and Best in Show coverage Monday and Tuesday night from 8 to 11 pm at Madison Square Garden. During the day, Nat Geo WILD will have a live broadcast of selected breed and juniors coverage Monday and Tuesday from 2 to 4 pm from Piers 92/94. For information on tickets, broadcast schedule, and live streaming video visit Westminster Week ScheduleSaturday, February 11Monday, February 13Tuesday, February 14Lisa Peterson writes about horses, hounds and history at lisaunleashed.com; contact her at .lisa@lisaunleashed.com

The show features dogs and handlers from 49 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, with the most dogs from New York at 260, followed by California with 246, Pennsylvania at 232, New Jersey at 188, Florida with 148, and Connecticut at 121. They are joined by 87 Junior Showmanship qualifiers 87. Among them are 135 foreign entries from 16 countries, topped by 108 from Canada, Japan with 6, Mexico at 5. One competitor even hails from China. All this doggie love culminates on Tuesday night with Best in Show at Madison Square Garden, broadcast live on FS1 starting at 8 pm.

Joining the dog show will be the 4th Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster on Saturday, February 11, with 330 qualified dogs tackling the timed obstacle course in two preliminary rounds. A final championship round follows that night and will be broadcast on FS1 on Sunday, February 12, at 8 pm. The dogs entered represent 25 states, with the most coming from New Jersey with 94, followed by New York at 67, and Connecticut with 35. The top five entries are Border collies with 53, Shetland sheepdogs at 42, All American dogs (mixed breeds) with 26, Papillons at 21, and Golden retrievers with 17.

Also on Saturday, February 11, the 8th AKC Meet the Breeds will be held. This joint effort between The Westminster Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club provides an opportunity for people to interact with more than 100 breeds and learn about responsible dog ownership. New in 2017, AKC Meet the Breeds is bringing cats to Piers 92/94.

On Monday, February 13, the 2nd Annual Masters Obedience Championship at Westminster will feature 23 invited dogs entered from 14 states led by New Jersey with 4, New York at 3, and Connecticut at 2, joined by Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia with 2 each. Golden retrievers at 8 are the most entered breed followed by Border collies with 5.

. All Westminster Week events are presented by Purina Pro Plan.

"Meet and Compete," a combined event featuring:

The 4th Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster / Pier 94 Preliminaries 8 am to 4 pm / Finals Competition 7 to 9 pm

The 8th AKC Meet the Breeds / Piers 92 and 94 10 am to 5 pm

141st Annual Westminster Kennel Club All Breed Dog Show / Piers 92 and 94 Breed Judging and Junior Showmanship preliminaries from 8 am to 4 pm

(Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding breeds)

Group judging from 8 to 11 pm / Madison Square Garden (Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups) Doors open at 6 pm.

The 2nd Annual Masters Obedience Championship at Westminster / Pier 94 8 am to 4 pm

141st Annual Westminster Kennel Club All Breed Dog Show / Piers 92 and 94 Breed Judging and Junior Showmanship preliminaries from 8 am to 4 pm (Sporting, Working and Terrier breeds)

Junior Showmanship Finals at 7:30 pm / Madison Square Garden Doors open at 6 pm.

Group and Best in Show judging from 8 to 11 pm / Madison Square Garden (Sporting, Working andTerrier Groups) Doors open at 6 pm.