The Westminster Dog Show started Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches who take part, it’s the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States, one giant bark in the park.
Matisse the Portuguese water dog with White House connections is one step closer to the best in show title at the Westminster Kennel Club.
Matisse won Tuesday in the breed judging round for the third straight year. He advances to the working group competition Tuesday night, and the champion will be picked around 11 p.m.
The 3 1-2-year-old Matisse is among the top-winning show dogs of all-time and ranked No. 1 in America last year. He’s also a cousin of President Barack Obama’s family pet Sunny.
The working, terrier and sporting champs will be chosen Tuesday night. Already in the best-of-seven final ring are old English sheepdog Swagger, who finished second at Westminster in 2013, and a shih tzu owned by Patty Hearst, the heiress whose 1974 kidnaping became a political flash point.
A 15-inch beagle and a standard poodle also are in the last ring.
Below is a selection from this year’s Westminster Dog Show covered by photographers Mary Altaffer and Seth Wenig.
Click on any image to launch the Westminster Dog Show gallery.
A French Bulldog named Reba waits to enter the ring at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Papillons compete at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The show started Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches set to take part, it’s the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Sniper, a Keeshonden, waits in the benching area at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Vania Concolino holds her dog Lana, a standard poodle, while grooming her at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Matisse, a Portuguese water dog, competes at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Tools for a grooming lie next to a Maltese dog at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Rosie, a toy poodle, prepares to compete at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
A Komondor named Chauncey competes at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Foxy, a hairless breed called a Chinese Crested, wears a coat while waiting outdoors at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Lexi, a Pug, waits in the benching area at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Harry Bennett keeps an eye on a Havanese named Sierra before competing at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Armani, a xoloitzcuintli, is stands in the benching area of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Jim Grieco, a cameraman for the USA Network, films Bloodhound Nathan in the benching area of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Nancy Borga, of Point Pleasant, N.J. takes a break from competition in the Westminster Kennel Club Masters Agility Championship, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Sisi, a Norwegian Lundehund, won best in breed uncontested at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Rocket a shih tzu co-owned by famed and infamous heiress Patty Hearst is inspected by the judge in the ring during the toy group competition during the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Rocket won the toy group. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Bug, left, an Australian cattle dog and Highjack, an Australian shepherd watch the handler for a treat while waiting to compete in the Westminster Kennel Club Masters Agility Championship, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
A Yorkshire Terrier named Massimo relaxes on his grooming table at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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how do I get a copy of the picture of the bloodhound taken by Seth?…Awesome picture that makes me smile every time I see….would like to get a good copy of it
AP Images Blog 
how do I get a copy of the picture of the bloodhound taken by Seth?…Awesome picture that makes me smile every time I see….would like to get a good copy of it
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Hi Linda.
The bloodhound image is a classic shot! If you are interested in a print for purchase, please send your inquiry to Liz Harrington LHarrington@ap.org
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