REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
Six new breeds are welcomed to the crème de la crème of American dog shows this year.
Westminster Kennel Club welcomes Icelandic Sheepdogs, Redbone Coonhounds, Leonbergers, Boykin Spaniels, Cane Corsos and Bluetick Coonhounds to the two-day competition at Madison Square Gardens February 14 and 15. The six new breeds are among 179 total varieties competing. The 2600 contestants come from 49 states, and countries as far away as Thailand and Brazil.
The new breeds are eligible to compete based on three criteria: a parent club’s established standard, a significant population size and the geographic distribution of the dog. See TIME’s photos of this year’s newcomers.