Thanksgiving Traditions: It's Dogs Until 2! #betterwithpets

One of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions is watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade followed by the National Dog Show Presented by Purina. I've done this for the past 11 years (since the show began in 2002) with my pup Cosmo Havanese at my side.

Sadly, we lost Cosmo last year just a month after Thanksgiving, but the tradition will continue this year as Rocco Havanese and I share our first Thanksgiving together.

This year is promising to be as fun as ever with a social media campaign that will use memes and gifs in an amusing reminder that after the Macy’s Parade and before football takes over the afternoon, “It’s Dogs Until 2” on Thanksgiving Day. The National Dog Show on NBC airs from noon – 2 p.m. in all time zones.

“I love football and I watch plenty of it,” said National Dog Show expert analyst David Frei.  “Just ask my wife.  But, on Thanksgiving Day, it’s dogs until 2 p.m.  Knowing the football culture as I do, I actually think the football fans will be happy to go along, as long as they can be left alone the rest of the afternoon and evening.”

Frei is the former NFL public relations executive with the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos and has his own Super Bowl Ring from the Broncos “Orange Crush” team that lost to the Dallas Cowboys in 1978.  He is also the son of longtime Oregon football coach Jerry Frei.

The viral spots, which feature winning slogans such as “Simple fact: Greyhounds are faster than wide receivers,” are expected to make the social media rounds in advance of the Thanksgiving Day broadcast.

Watch the show with us via Twitter using hashtag #BetterWithPets.  We'll be there rooting for our favorite breed... betcha can't guess what that is! I'll be there as @ToDogWithLove, and @RoccoHavanese will be there too. See you then!

Find more fun and footage from the National Dog Show here.

Thanksgiving Traditions: Parade and a Dog Show!

Cosmo camps out in front of the TV during the 2011 National Dog show presented by Purina

Aside from eating too much turkey and family visits, one of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions is settling in by the television on Thursday morning to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade followed by The National Dog Show presented by Purina. 

I grab a coffee and Cosmo grabs his big green bone and together we enjoy some of the best five hours of television all year!

Cosmo grabs a quick nap during the Macy's Parade last year to ensure he's fresh for the dog show!

This year marks the 11th year of the telecast of the National Dog Show presented by Purina, which means Cosmo and I have watched the show together every year since its broadcast debut.  (Cosmo was just 13 weeks old for the airing of the first show in 2002!)

Two new AKC-recognized breeds, the Russell Terrier and Treeing Walker Coonhound, will make their television and major-event debuts at this years event, where more than 170 breeds vie for “Best in Show” honors in the Kennel Club of Philadelphia competition.

The holiday special airs Thanksgiving Day at noon - 2 p.m. in all time zones and follows the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC. An encore presentation of the dog show will air on NBC in primetime on Friday from 8-10 p.m. ET.

Find more fun and footage from the National Dog Show at www.NBCSports.com and www.NationalDogShow.com.

You know where we'll be on Thanksgiving morning! Where will your Thanksgiving traditions take you?

Thanksgiving Traditions: Macy’s Parade and The National Dog Show with a side of Turkey!

One of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions starts with watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade followed by The National Dog Show presented by Purina. Cosmo and I camp out in front of the TV all morning, enjoying amazing parade floats, Broadway numbers and finally each breed group followed by Best in Show.

Ahhh, what could be better!

This year, to mark the 10^th anniversary of The National Dog Show on NBC, viewers can enjoy more dog show fun by downloading the free National Dog Show app from the Android Market or iTunes App Store. We just downloaded ours and are already hooked on reading up on all sorts of fun facts, taking polls and watching videos of our favorite breeds.

Fun Fact from The National Dog Show App

The hilarious Christopher Guest movie Best in Show inspired NBC’s Jon Miller to bring NBC, The Kennel Club of Philadelphia and Purina together to make The National Dog Show a reality. The Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s all-breed show dates back to the 1800s, and beginning in 2002, the prestigious show was transported to the living rooms of millions of Americans to enjoy on Thanksgiving day.

This year, host John O’Hurley and expert analyst David Frei will be back to share their colorful commentary as 2,000 dogs vie for Best in Show honors. The 10^th anniversary special is scheduled to air on NBC from noon to 2 p.m. in all time zones, right after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Now, does anyone know where we can get a Busy Bee?