What It Takes to Become a Westminster Dog Show Champion

The elite athlete is capable of tremendous discipline. At the moment, though, he’s humping the competition.

Sonny, the star Portuguese water dog, went nosing around for a girlfriend when he was supposed to be attending to press obligations in the Long Island living room of his professional dog-show handler, Kimberly Calvacca.

But there is much work to be done: In just a few days, Calvacca will load the freshly fluffed Sonny and five other crème-de-la-crème canines into a van and head to Manhattan to compete at the country’s biggest dog-sporting event: the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

The pedigreed dogs are the epitome of their breeds, owned by enthusiasts who pay Calvacca $150 per show day for her more than 100 dog shows each year.

The circuit reaches divine heights Tuesday in Madison Square Garden with Westminster’s top award of best in show, a status symbol that has eluded Calvacca, a third-generation dog handler in her 50s who started showing dogs in high school.

Competing alongside Sonny are Valentina, a min pin and the only contender Calvacca partly owns; Tango, a pug; Estee, a canaan; Shindig, a vizsla; and Nala, a rambunctious toller who reacted to getting kicked out of this photo shoot by peeing on the floor.

When it’s showtime, the dogs perform. “It’s a lot of time, a lot of effort and making sure that this dog is raised right so it has the temperament to say, ‘Pick me!’” Calvacca says.

She trains them to stand stock-still when a judge inspects them nose to tail, or trot in a circle without getting distracted by the crowd.

At times, she recreates show conditions at home so her pageant queens and kings won’t be spooked by whatever the competition throws at them.

Most preshow work happens in her “dog room,” a basement utility space where pet scrubs and tinctures abound like makeup at Sephora.

She says the room is filled with the good juju of champions her grandfather groomed there when this was his house.

On her boombox, when Sade’s “Smooth Operator” switches to Britney Spears’s “Toxic,” the frantic synth reflects the chaos.

First, she must wash the dogs one by one in an elevated bathtub. Then she hoists each dog onto a work table, attaching the animal loosely to a loop she cheerfully calls a noose.

She trims their toenails with a repurposed woodworking tool, styles their fur with a $600 dog blow dryer and clips their coats with $1,000 scissors. She cleans their teeth with an electric toothbrush, a dental tool for plaque and a breath-freshener spray.

Each dog spends 15 to 30 minutes daily on treadmills, one of which costs $3,500 and is specifically for dogs.

Then come meals from 40-pound bags of dog food—she’s sponsored by Purina—and various biscuits and canned meats. In the ring, she gives them human treats such as salmon, steak and meatballs.

On a recent day, she heaved a 10-pound bag of frozen chicken from Costco onto her kitchen counter, then boiled breasts with onion powder and garlic powder.

She calls it her “winning chicken,” and during shows she’ll sometimes store a chunk of it between her teeth for quick access.

Calvacca doesn’t play favorites, she says, but she snuggles Valentina and calls Sonny Mister Handsome.

He is the exuberant frat boy, the alpha of the group. He licks, he yodels, he sleeps on a purple pillow. He plays it up in the ring. “Sonny always thinks he wins,” Calvacca says.

For years, Australian interiors have been ruled by restraint. Pale palettes, clean lines and an almost reverential devotion to minimalism dominated living rooms and bedrooms alike. In 2026, that aesthetic is finally softening.

Designers are responding to a cultural shift that favours comfort and emotional connection over perfection. Homes are becoming warmer, more layered and more expressive, reflecting a growing desire for spaces that feel restorative rather than simply impressive. The new look is not about excess, but about depth.

Colour plays a central role in this evolution. Cool whites and greys are giving way to warmer, earth-based tones such as sandstone, oatmeal and soft mushroom, often lifted with muted greens or gentle spice notes. The effect is grounding and quietly sophisticated, creating interiors that feel calm without tipping into blandness.

Texture matters just as much. Natural materials, tactile fabrics and layered finishes are being used to add softness and movement to rooms that once relied on sharp contrasts. Raw timbers, stone and linen sit alongside more refined details, striking a balance between polish and authenticity. This look feels considered without being clinical.

Diana Altiparmakova, Head of Product and Marketing for Luxaflex Window Fashions, recognises that this movement toward layered softness marks a distinct shift from 2025.

“Last year’s approach leaned into minimalism and simplicity, but 2026 expands into a more expressive and sensory direction as designers and homeowners are favouring depth, tactility and warmer tones to create environments that feel cocooning and emotionally supportive,” she said.

“No longer just a practical addition, window coverings are also helping shape this design evolution by enhancing comfort, mood and individuality within the home.

“Window coverings in 2026 aren’t just about blocking light or adding privacy, they’re about shaping atmosphere, improving comfort and supporting wellbeing.

“Often seen as the finishing touch to a home’s overall design, the right window coverings can elevate a room, creating depth and warmth, while providing functionality tailored to the homeowner’s individual needs.”

Light has become a defining feature of how homes are designed and lived in. Rather than flooding interiors indiscriminately, there is a growing emphasis on controlling and filtering natural light to suit different moments of the day. Window treatments are no longer treated as an afterthought but as part of a space’s architectural language, shaping mood as much as function.

Technology is quietly supporting this shift. Automation is being embraced not for novelty, but for ease. The ability to adjust light and privacy seamlessly throughout the day speaks to a broader desire for homes that work intuitively around daily life, rather than demanding attention.

In particular, across regional and coastal homes, softer interpretations of farmhouse and coastal styles are emerging. These interiors lean into relaxed elegance, using filtered daylight, natural textures and unfussy forms to create spaces that feel timeless rather than trend-led. Fabric-forward window dressings, in particular, are used to soften hard architectural elements and create a sense of ease.

What defines this new design direction is not a single look, but a mindset. In a world that feels increasingly loud and accelerated, the modern Australian home is being reshaped as a place of retreat. Beauty still matters, but so does comfort, warmth and emotional resonance.

Minimalism is not disappearing. It is simply growing up.

What It Takes to Become a Westminster Dog Show Champion

In the lead-up to the country’s biggest dog show, a third-generation handler prepares a gaggle of premier canines vying for the top prize.

From warmer neutrals to tactile finishes, Australian homes are moving away from stark minimalism and towards spaces that feel more human.