
Who doesn’t love New York City? I’ve been there more times than I can count, but never with my dog. If I can get my new girl leash walking better, I’ll take her along assuming I’m not flying – and not going to the Westminster Dog Show, which is usually why I’m going to NYC each year.
But have I been to NYC? Actually, it’s Manhattan I’ve been to – many times. I realized this when I found out some news, both good and kind of good. What is it?
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is back and open to the public, which it hasn’t been the past two years. Yes, the 147th annual iconic dog show will be held May 8 to 9, 2023, in NYC – just not at Madison Square Gardens as it has been since can remember.
The 147th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will be at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.
Queens. Not Manhattan. I guess I’ll be researching a dog-friendly guide to Queens next spring. And a hotel:
In the meantime, the AKC Museum of the Dog has November full of dog-friendly fun.
Every time I go to NYC – ok, Manhattan – I must stop a the AKC Museum of the Dog. In fact, I was at the inaugural weekend opening and couldn’t have been more excited. Although the museum isn’t dog-friendly every day (odd, actually), the AKC Museum of the Dog is dog-friendly select days.
In fact, the museum has so many interesting dog-friendly days this month and a bit beyond, I had to share them with you here. If you’re in NYC in November, or nearby, plan a visit.

Take your dog to a museum in NYC
ON November 18, 2022, the museum hosts the second Furry Friday of the month (the first was November 4), but you can still make this one. On select Fridays, the ACK Museum of the Dog is open in the evening, allowing people to visit after hours with their pups.
Members get in free but for others, admission is $20 per person and $5 per dog. Advanced ticket purchase required.
Take your dog to a comedy show in NYC
If you’ve ever gone to a comedy show and thought, ‘if only my dog where here,’ the AKC MOD has an event for you: Must Love Dogs and Comedy Show is Monday, November 21, 2022, 7 to 9 pm. Enjoy this comedy show with your dog.

And it’s not the only chance – Must Love Dogs and Comedy is a business that produces regular comedy shows people can bring their dogs to and raise money for animal causes. The beneficiary of this show is the Museum of the Dog’s own Paws to Read program for young readers.
Take your dog to see Santa in NYC
Finally, the AKC Museum of the Dog is hosting a Furry Friendly Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday, December 3, 9 to 10:30 am. Members get early access to meet with Santa and get photos of you and your pup with the jolly man in red. Total package is $60 for print images, a bagel breakfast and dog-friendly meet-and-greet with Santa.
PHILLY DOG STUFF THIS MONTH
The National Dog Show 2022 in-person and televised

If you don’t get to NYC this holiday season and can’t wait until next spring for the Westminster Dog Show, you can always check out the National Dog Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo in Oaks, Pennsylvania.
The Kennel Club of Philadelphia National Dog Show is an annual tradition each American Thanksgiving Weekend. Head to the city of brotherly love, or just outside of it in Valley Forge, to attend the show in person this year. Or tune in Thursday, November 24 – US Thanksgiving Day – at noon for the television replay on NBC
Near-by Elmwood Park Zoo has Dog-friendly Days
Side note: if you happen to be in the neighbourhood of The Kennel Club of Philadelphia with your dog, you might want to check out the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Yes, the zoo has select dog-friendly days throughout the year – advanced registration, for you and your pooch, is required. Note that several popular exhibits, such as the Trail of Jaguar, is still off limits to dogs.
However, November 20, 2022, is the opening night of the Elmwood Park Zoo’s ‘Wild Lights’ feature for the holidays. Pre-registered dogs (one per person) can attend 5 to 9 pm,
- Sunday, November 18;
- Sunday, December 18;
- Wednesday, December 28; and
- Friday, December 30, 2022.
This zoo is on my bucket list.
[…] has me thinking how interesting the role of dog museum curator must be creatively drawing from the permanent collection to create new themed exhibits sometimes. And other times, incorporating other museum’s artifacts […]
[…] life-sized version at the AKC Museum of the Dog in New York City near Grand Central Terminal. (The AKC dog museum was moved from St. Louis to NYC in 2019). Other replicas are installed at the University of […]