What you need to know
Thanksgiving at the O’Hurley family features delicious food, fun company, and, of course, dogs.
John O’Hurley has hosted the National Dog Show since 2002, broadcasting it to millions of people every Thanksgiving.
While families across the country incorporate the annual show into their holiday traditions, the Seinfeld actor tells PEOPLE that his family has some traditions of their own aside from the contests that are filmed before the big day.
“I spend every Thanksgiving in New York City and go to a particular Italian restaurant,” said O’Hurley, 71. “We have a great traditional or Italian Thanksgiving dinner.”
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The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is televised every year before the National Dog Show, and O’Hurley said her family always attends the parade, which is filled with floats.
“We’re always at the front of the Macy’s parade. It’s a history in our family, a tradition that goes back to when my son was born. He turns 19 this year,” he says. “There were a few years without him. He grew up in the show. He grew up at the start of the parade every year. It’s always a great tradition.”
During the National Dog Show, O’Hurley said her teenage son has started to become more involved, interviewing expert dog show analysts, handlers and talented dogs.
Hosting the National Dog Show and being a key figure in it was an “honour” for O’Hurley.
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“The fact that this has become a national tradition. When we first started this, this was a leap into the abyss. No one expected this to be this successful,” he tells PEOPLE. “We’re now in our 24th year on the air. We have 20 to 30 million viewers every Thanksgiving and during reruns that air over the years.”
O’Hurley’s love for dogs is well-documented, and he has written several books about the life lessons he has learned from his furry friends, including It’s Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump (2006) and First Things to Do Before the Dog Eats Your Homework: Life Lessons from a Wise Old Dog to a Boy (2008).
The show is a “great celebration of the breed’s rich history,” he says.
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“Dogs are lucky to be our companions, but in historical life dogs had to function in some way, and we needed them to survive as humans,” he says.
“We wouldn’t be here without them. They were our lifesavers and continue to be to this day.”
“Not only are they utilized for their historical form and function, but today they are also expanding their capabilities as great service animals,” he continues. “They’ve done a great job in the military. They’ve done a great job in search and rescue. They fill in the fragile edges of our lives.”
The National Dog Show, presented by Purina, features up to 2,000 dogs representing nearly 200 breeds in an American Kennel Club (AKC)-sanctioned Best in Show competition. The show itself was inspired by the critically acclaimed film Best in Show, which was released in September 2000 and satirized the world of purebred dog shows.
The National Dog Show will be streamed on NBC from 12pm to 2pm ET on November 27th.
