NEW YORK, New York – The Rhodesian Ridgeback, one of the most handsome and athletic dogs in the world, will be 50 strong at the 131st annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Monday and Tuesday, February 12 and 13, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The Ridgeback will be closely followed by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, with 43 entries, and the Havanese, French Bulldogs and Labrador Retrievers, with 38 entries each. Golden Retrievers and Chinese Cresteds boast 37 entries each.

There will more Dachshunds at the event than any other dog, but the 81 animals are entered in three varieties, which will compete separately.

The competitors will be coming from 48 different states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and five foreign countries. Of the more than 2,600 dogs entered – including 132 in the Junior Showmanship competition – more than 280 hail from California and more than 250 hail from New York.

The top seven states in entries are the same as a year ago, with Pennsylvania (198), New Jersey (179), Florida (135), Texas (132), Connecticut (120), Massachusetts (102), Virginia (84) and Ohio (78) following California and New York.

Canada will boast 69 entries with dogs from Japan (3), German (2), Argentina (1), Brazil (1) and Puerto Rico (1) also competing. All 165 breeds and varieties recognized by the American Kennel Club will be represented at the show.

Dr. Robert Indeglia of Providence, Rhode Island, will judge Best In Show, heading a judging panel of 34 judges from 14 states, Canada and England. USA Network will be broadcasting the competition each night at 8 pm.

The Westminster Kennel Club was established in 1877 and the Show is the second-longest, continuously-run sporting event in the country (the Kentucky Derby is the longest).

Entries –

SPORTING (460) – Brittanys 16, Pointers 23, Pointers (German Shorthaired) 27, Pointers (German Wirehaired) 9, Retrievers (Chesapeake Bay) 25, Retrievers (Curly-Coated) 11, Retrievers (Flat-Coated) 22, Retrievers (Golden) 37, Retrievers (Labrador) 38, Retrievers (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling) 10, Setters (English) 20, Setters (Gordon) 12, Setters (Irish) 22, Spaniels (American Water) 3, Spaniels (Clumber) 12, Spaniels (Cocker) Black 12, Spaniels (Cocker) ASCOB 12, Spaniels (Cocker) Parti-Color 9, Spaniels (English Cocker) 12, Spaniels (English Springer) 19, Spaniels (Field) 9, Spaniels (Irish Water) 7, Spaniels (Sussex) 10, Spaniels (Welsh Springer) 13, Spinone Italiano 16, Vizslas 33, Weimaraners 15, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons 6.

HOUND (401) – Afghan Hounds 29, Basenjis 12, Basset Hounds 13, Beagles (13 inch) 15, Beagles (15 inch) 21, Black and Tan Coonhounds 7, Bloodhounds 16, Borzoi 27, Dachshunds (Longhaired) 21, Dachshunds (Smooth) 32, Dachshunds (Wirehaired) 28, Foxhounds (American) 5, Foxhounds (English) 6, Greyhounds 12, Harriers 9, Ibizan Hounds 6, Irish Wolfhounds 14, Norwegian Elkhounds 10, Otterhounds 5, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen 15, Pharaoh Hounds 13, Rhodesian Ridgebacks 50, Salukis 14, Scottish Deerhounds 4, Whippets 17.

WORKING (413) – Akitas 11, Alaskan Malamutes 13, Anatolian Shepherd Dogs 6, Bernese Mountain Dogs 20, Black Russian Terriers 12, Boxers 19, Bullmastiffs 30, Doberman Pinschers 20, German Pinschers 11, Giant Schnauzers 23, Great Danes 21, Great Pyrenees 11, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs 18, Komondorok 5, Kuvaszok 8, Mastiffs 21, Neapolitan Mastiffs 5, Newfoundlands 11, Portuguese Water Dogs 30, Rottweilers 24, St. Bernards 10, Samoyeds 36, Siberian Huskies 28, Standard Schnauzers 20.

TERRIER (323) – Airedale Terriers 14, American Staffordshire Terriers 23, Australian Terriers 15, Bedlington Terriers 18, Border Terriers 22, Bull Terriers (Colored) 6, Bull Terriers (White) 5, Cairn Terriers 17, Dandie Dinmont Terriers 1, Fox Terriers (Smooth) 15, Fox Terriers (Wire) 12, Glen of Imaal Terriers 10, Irish Terriers 5, Kerry Blue Terriers 8, Lakeland Terriers 6, Manchester Terriers (Standard) 12, Miniature Bull Terriers 10, Miniature Schnauzers 7, Norfolk Terriers 9, Norwich Terriers 19, Parson Russell Terriers 24, Scottish Terriers 11, Sealyham Terriers 4, Skye Terriers 4, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers 11, Staffordshire Bull Terriers 12, Welsh Terriers 7, West Highland White Terriers 16.

TOY (404) – Affenpinschers 8, Brussels Griffons 12, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels 43, Chihuahuas (Long Coat) 16, Chihuahuas (Smooth Coat) 10, Chinese Cresteds 37, English Toy Spaniels (Blenheim and Prince Charles) 5, English Toy Spaniels (King Charles and Ruby) 6, Havanese 38, Italian Greyhounds 25, Japanese Chins 13, Maltese 6, Manchester Terriers (Toy) 16, Miniature Pinschers 15, Papillons 31, Pekingese 15, Pomeranians 21, Poodles (Toy) 6, Pugs 22, Shih Tzu 26, Silky Terriers 12, Toy Fox Terriers 9, Yorkshire Terriers 12.

NON-SPORTING (279) – American Eskimo Dogs 8, Bichon Frises 16, Boston Terriers 18, Bulldogs 15, Chinese Shar-Pei 18, Chow Chows 13, Dalmatians 18, Finnish Spitz 6, French Bulldogs 38, Keeshonden 19, Lhasa Apsos 8, Lowchen 9, Poodles (Miniature) 10, Poodles (Standard) 16, Schipperkes 19, Shiba Inu 10, Tibetan Spaniels 17, Tibetan Terriers 21.

HERDING (220) – Australian Cattle Dogs 8, Australian Shepherds 20, Bearded Collies 15, Belgian Malinois 13, Belgian Sheepdogs 10, Belgian Tervurens 10, Border Collies 13, Bouviers des Flandres 19, Briards 11, Canaan Dogs 4, Collies (Rough) 11, Collies (Smooth) 4, German Shepherd Dogs 9, Old English Sheepdogs 19, Polish Lowland Sheepdogs 11, Pulik 7, Shetland Sheepdogs 11, Welsh Corgis (Cardigan) 12, Welsh Corgis (Pembroke) 13.