Revisit these Best-in-Show Winners just in time for the National Dog Show

(CNN) What's synonymous with Thanksgiving ? For some people, it's turkey, family reunions, travel tie-ups and pie-induced napping. But for others, Thanksgiving means something else: The National Dog Show.

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia's dog show airs everything Thanksgiving and stars the winningest canines in the country. Perhaps you know it as the program that follows the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade , the one you leave on TV and forget about until you plop back down on the couch and think, "Oh yeah, this is a thing."

But this pup pageant is more than background noise for prepping Thanksgiving dinner. These prestigious dogs, who for years are trained and groomed for their few minutes on the national stage, deserve your attention. So ahead of this year's competition, get to know the last decade of National Dog Show champs, who represent the cutest, furriest and best-behaved pups in the US.

Don't let Claire's scraggly coat and intimidating tallness fool you -- she's a sweetie at heart.

Claire is a winner -- not that you'd know it from her humble demeanor.

The dark horse of the National Dog Show, this tubby young gun has a superheroic spirit.

Favorite quote: From his handler, Eduardo Paris: "I love this dog. Thor gives his heart to me every single time."

Favorite superhero: Black Panther. (Okay, we don't actually know.)

Fun fact: Thor's a citizen of the world -- born in Peru, he first dazzled his co-owners after winning Best-in-Shows at a Brazilian dog show.

Dislikes: Losing, especially to his littermates.

This fancy little man has the face of a Wookie and the heart of a champion.

Favorite compliment: "He has one of the best heads I've ever seen," his handler, Susan DePew, told Purina ProClub.

Fun fact: Newton likes to be cradled like a wee baby and fall asleep in his handler's arms.

Gia's gentle demeanor and searching eyes are impossible to resist.

The petite and whimsically hairy Charlie has short legs and a long history on the show circuit.

So this is what the Hound of "The Fox and the Hound" grew up to look like!

Wrinkles: Too many to count.

Not to be confused with the folk singer of the same name, this Jewel is a real gem.

Pet peeve: When people mistake her for a beagle. Have you EVER seen a beagle with legs this long?!?!?

This perfect pooch is painfully cute -- and that smile!

Dislikes: When people do not accept her open-mouth kisses.

The ginger-haired terrier won hearts and many a national title.

Dislikes: Anything that will dirty her pristine white coat.

Fun fact: "Eira" is the Welsh word for "snow" -- fitting for this pup, who was born from the frozen sperm of top terriers from the mid-1980s, according to her breeder.

Clooney's silky ginger mane rivaled that of Julianne Moore, Carrot Top and Prince Harry.

Dislikes: Being perhaps the fourth best-known Clooney in the US, behind George, Amal and Rosemary.