Elite Competition, Uno the Beagle and More in National Dog Show Presented by Purina Thanksgiving Day on NBC Following Macy’s Parade

Traditional Holiday TV Special Features John O’Hurley, David Frei and Over 150 Breeds

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The NBC Thanksgiving Day special “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina®” will crown one of America’s great show dogs as its 2008 champion while offering special coverage of famed Uno the Beagle and introducing the newest American Kennel Club-sanctioned breed, the Dogue de Bordeaux.

“The National Dog Show Presented by Purina®”

The holiday special (www.nationaldogshow.com) follows the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC and is watched annually by a total of almost 20 million viewers. Over 150 breeds vie for “Best in Show” honors at the tradition-rich Kennel Club of Philadelphia (www.philadogshow.com) competition.

The 7^th annual, two-hour NBC special will also feature:

• The celebrity appearance of Uno, the Beagle, who became an instant celebrity earlier this year when he won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Uno received congratulations from President George W. Bush in a White House visit and he threw out the first pitch at two major league baseball games this past summer. Uno will also appear on NBC during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, riding on the Peanuts float while fellow famous beagle Snoopy is elsewhere on the parade route in his annual role as a giant balloon.
• The newest breed to compete in dog shows, the Dogue de Bordeaux, a large-sized mastiff which originated in France. The Dogues de Bordeaux were used as guardians, hunters and fighters but over time, breeders have softened their temperament.

The Thursday TV special, set for noon-2 p.m. in all time zones, is hosted for the seventh straight year by John O’Hurley, the “Seinfeld” ensemble actor (catalogue king J. Peterman, Elaine’s boss) who emerged as the ultimate champion on ABC’s inaugural presentation of “Dancing With The Stars.” O’Hurley will be joined by expert analyst David Frei, who is the face and voice of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on USA Network and America’s foremost authority on the sport. Frei also serves as judge for the Afghan Hound breed in the competition. Frei will accompany Uno on the Peanuts float in the Macy’s Parade.

Unlike traditional dog show coverage, the two-hour special offers family-oriented features on dogs and pet care, facilitated by the open format of the event, one of only five remaining “benched” shows in which the dogs are on display all day for the visiting public.