I’m getting Westminster fever. The big dog show is a month away but I’m already getting excited. I’ve booked my flight to New York City, and made my reservations at the Hotel Pennsylvania. The press office of the Westminster Kennel Club has approved my credentials and they’ll be waiting for me at Pier 92, one of the venues for the daily breed judging.

The weekend of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show is a busy time, with many other dog-related events. There are national specialties (shows for just one specific breed) both Saturday and Sunday in and around the city, as well as events featuring dog related art, merchandise and fashion. The Dog Writers Association of America holds its annual meeting and awards banquet the Sunday before the show.

While group judging is always held at Madison Square Garden, daytime events, including breed judging, are held at Piers 92 and 94.These are huge, open spaces, but by mid-morning, they are both absolutely packed with spectators, eager to see some of the finest dogs in the country.

Saturday, there’s an all day meet-the-breeds event where visitors can see over 100 breeds in person and talk to people about what each breed is like to live with and take care of. There will also be cats. The International Cat Association (TICA) will be presenting 35 to 40 different types of cats for people to meet and learn about.

I’m eager to see the three new breeds that were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2016. They are the Sloughi, a sight hound, the Pumi, new to the herding group, and the American Hairless Terrier. I’ve never seen any of these dogs in person, so I hope some will be at the Saturday event.

From what I can tell from the breed standard and photos, the smooth-coated Sloughi is built more like a Saluki than a Greyhound, but is slightly taller than a Saluki. Sloughis come in all shades of fawn, from cream to mahogany, and are originally from North Africa, where they were used to hunt game.

The Pumi stands between 16 and 18 inches high and has curly hair, and a tail that curls over the back. In photos, the large, semi upright ears remind me of Mickey Mouse ears. I can’t wait to see if the dogs are as cute in person as they are in their photos.

The American Hairless Terrier is between 12 and 16 inches tall and comes in a hairless variety and a coated variety. In the coated variety, the coat is short and close.

Saturday is also the Masters Agility Championship and it’s simply breath-taking to see these champions in agility fly through the obstacles of the agility course, so I’ll have to divide my time between seeing new breeds and watching the agility competition. There are six Pembroke Welsh Corgis entered in the agility, so I’ll have to try to see at least some of those dogs in action.

On Monday, there’ll be the Masters Obedience Championship, as well as the beginning of breed judging and junior handling. Tuesday finishes the breed judging and junior handling, and, in the evening both Monday and Tuesday, the group judging at Madison Square Garden.

Monday night, you can watch the Hound, Toy, Non-sporting, and Herding groups being judged. Tuesday night, it will be the Sporting, Working and Terrier groups, as well as the Best in Show.

I always cheer for the Pembroke Welsh Corgis, but this year, I’ll be rooting hard for a Lhasa Apso in the non-sporting group. The dog is GCHS (Grand champion silver) CH (champion) Sutra Gemk’s Sweet William and he is the number 5 ranked Lhasa in the country. As such, he was automatically invited to participate at Westminster this year. His owner-handler is my sister-in-law’s brother, but we’ve never met. I’m going to change that by catching up with Ed and Willie in the benching area on Monday, and will be cheering them on when they enter the breed ring. All my fingers and toes will be crossed that Willie is awarded Best of Breed and will make it to the group ring at Madison Square Garden.

Some people will say that the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is just another dog show, but when you’re there in person, you know that’s not true. There’s an excitement and a heightened sense of anticipation that just isn’t there at other dog shows. It’s also a thrill to see so many beautiful dogs, and I can hardly wait.