The 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show continues today at Pier 92 and 94—and tonight at Madison Square Garden for the big Best In Show finale—but we spent the better part of Monday there on your behalf, trolling for the most adorable dogs in the buildings. And as you can see from the gallery above, we think it was a tremendogs success. Not only are most of these dogs best of breeds—we're pretty sure they're scientifically manufactured to make your cute glands swell to awwwwwwwful proportions.

This was our second year embedding ourselves in the leash-and-collar wasteland of prize dogs, well-maintained cages, prissy groomers, no-nonsense handlers, absentee owners, besuited judges, and camera-wielding aficionados. We spoke to many of the owners as the day progressed, and were surprised by how many of the puppies were used to this attention—and how their owners (or handlers) were fine with strangers coming over and cramming their by turns mustachioed and perfume-drenched faces into the dogs' faces.

The lives of these well-behaved dogs are surprisingly busy—most are in dozens of competitions and showings a year, all en route to ribbons, trophies, and hard-earned treats they all deserve. Kathleen Adams, the groomer of 2-year-old Angel, a toy poodle originally from Houston, Texas, told us, "We're like gypsies—we go everywhere." They had competed in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Florida in recent months alone.

Even the promise or retirement can be a miasma: handler Mandy Carlson told us that her Shih Tzu, 2 1/2-year-old Looker, was the #1 shih tzu in 2012, and won best of shih tzu breed at Westminster. But this was to be her last showing...in America. Looker's owner plans on taking her to be shown in Taipei after Westminster.

Click through to check out 32 of our favorite pups—and don't forget to also check out the dog we kind of tried to buy, Swagger. If you recognize any of the breeds that we missed above, let us know. And we'll have more Westminster coverage, including a behind-the-scenes look at the (ridiculous) process of dogs being groomed, soon.