‘National Dog Show’s John O’Hurley Shares His Thanksgiving Traditions (Exclusive)

Thanksgiving in the O’Hurley household features good food, good company and, of course, dogs.

John O’Hurley has hosted The National Dog Show since 2002, broadcasting to millions every Thanksgiving Day.

While families across the country have incorporated the annual show into their holiday traditions, the Seinfeld actor tells PEOPLE that his family has a few traditions of their own aside from the competition, which is filmed before the big day.

“I have spent every single Thanksgiving in New York City, and I go to a specific Italian restaurant,” O’Hurley, 71, shares. “We have a wonderful — either traditional or Italian — Thanksgiving dinner.”

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs before the National Dog Show each year, and O’Hurley says his family always attends the float-filled parade.

“We’re always at the beginning of the Macy’s parade. It’s been historically in our family and a tradition ever since my son was born. He’s turning 19 this year,” he shares. “There were several years where we didn’t have him. He grew up on the show. He grew up at the beginning of the parade every year. It’s always been a wonderful tradition.”

During the National Dog Show itself, O’Hurley says his teenage son has started getting more involved, interviewing expert dog show analysts as well as handlers and their talented pooches.

Hosting and being such a crucial figure of the National Dog Show has been “an honor” for O’Hurley.

“The fact that this has become a national tradition. When we first started this, this was a leap into the abyss. No one knew that this would be anywhere near as successful as it’s been,” he tells PEOPLE. “We’re on the air now for our 24th year. We have an audience of between 20 and 30 million people watching every Thanksgiving, and during reruns that they show again during the years.” 

O’Hurley’s love for dogs is well documented, as the actor has written several books about the life lessons learned from furry friends, including It’s Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump (2006) and Before Your Dog Can Eat Your Homework, First You Have to Do It: Life Lessons from a Wise Old Dog to a Young Boy and The Perfect Dog (2008).

The show, he notes, is “a wonderful celebration of that rich history of dog breeds.”

“Dogs are lucky to be the companions that we have, but they had to have a form of a function for historical lives that, in order for us to survive as human beings, we needed dogs,” he says.
“We wouldn’t be here without them. They’ve become our lifesavers and continue to this day.”

“Not only are they used for the form and function that they have historically, but today, they’ve expanded their capacity to be wonderful service animals as well,” he continues. “They’ve been wonderful in the military. They’ve been wonderful in search and rescue. They round out the brittle edges of our lives.” 

The National Dog Show, presented by Purina, features up to 2,000 canines representing almost 200 different breeds in an American Kennel Club (AKC)-accredited competition for Best in Show. The show itself was inspired by the critically acclaimed movie, Best In Show, a satirical look into the world of purebred dog shows, which premiered in September 2000. 

The National Dog Show will be streaming from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET on NBC on Nov. 27.