Cushman will serve as the Non-Sporting Group judge, one of seven final judges whose picks will be the contestants for Westminster’s Best in Show.

“it’s just such an honor for them to to allow me to participate like this,” she said. “It is just amazing, and it’s the highest honor that I’ve had so far in my career.”

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the second-longest, continuously held sporting event in the country, according to the organization, and the longest nationally televised live dog show, having aired since 1948.

Cushman’s love of dogs began when she was 12 years old, breeding Siberian Huskies with her mother. She placed fourth at Westminster as a child, and later launched her career as an apprentice working with Dobermans. She won the Working Group at Westminster in 1990, and has amassed more than 200 Best in Show titles.

Cushman began her judging career in 2016, has judged several National Specialties and has officiated in Guatemala, Mexico, and Canada. 2025 marks her fourth assignment at Westminster.

Previously, she judged 10 breeds at Westminster in 2024, and was the Junior Showmanship finals judge in 2023, and seven breeds in 2020.

Given her own origins in Junior Showmanship, 2023 was a full-circle moment, Cushman said.

“These kids are so talented and so dedicated, and you can tell that they really practice. They have their dogs in the best condition and beautifully groomed, and they really put a lot of effort and love into it,” she said.

When judging, Cushman is examining the dogs from the moment they enter the ring, looking for the gait and the health of each animal. Later, she will do a hands-on examination, and watch as they move around the arena, and then as they stand for showmanship.

“Each breed has a description, sort of like a map of what they’re supposed to look like,” she said. “Everything from the eyes to the ears to the tails to the toes. And it’s my duty to memorize, understand and comprehend each of these breeds' details.”

Of the 201 dog breeds currently recognized, Cushman is certified to judge 100 of them.

“The most difficult part about judging these dogs is I just want to hug every single one,” she said. “I just love it when they wag their tails, I talk to them and they’re like, ‘Hi, I was waiting for you to get to me.’”

More than 3,000 dogs from around the world will compete in the multi-day show, including the new Flyball Tournament at Westminster, where teams of top-performing dogs will compete in successive relay races for the grand prize.

The evening events on February 10 and 11 include Group judging and the Junior Showmanship competition. The Westminster Kennel Club will close out the show on February 11, naming the 2025 Best in Show winner.

2025 also marks the 10th Anniversary of the Masters Obedience Championship and the 12th Annual Masters Agility Championship, which will be aired on Saturday and featuring top-ranked purpose-bred and All-American mixed breed dogs in races and competition.

HOW TO WATCH

The 2025 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will be aired on FOX, FS1, and FS2, and streamed on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App. The viewing schedule is available at westminsterkennelclub.org/viewing-schedule.