Inside Westminster with a renowned dog handler

Some of the top dogs in the world and their owners are preparing for the final day of competition on the biggest stage, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York. Come Tuesday night, just one canine will be crowned "Best in Show," and one former champion says it takes a special kind of handler to win the title, reports CBS News correspondent Don Dahler.

Before the main competition begins, dogs and their handlers find some time for toys, touch-ups, treats, and a quick nap.

"It is the event of the year, we have many good dog shows but Westminster is like, the cream of the crop," world-renowned dog handler Peter Green said.

Every year, America's best-bred, best-kept dogs come to New York City for the Westminster dog show. They enter the competition as one of nearly 3,000 and hope to exit with the top prize.

Green has been a part of the dog show circuit for more than 60 years as a handler, judge and now, an owner. He won "Best in Show" four times at Westminster.

He said the key to being a good handler is really loving the dogs.

"You have to really want to present a wonderful dog," Green said.

While they're simply pets to many of us, the dogs at Westminster are highly trained in the art of competition, said owner and handler Dave Press.

"It's discipline, it's structure and he gets a lot of treats," he said.

Inside the ring, it's how a dog conforms to the breed's standards that sets it apart from the pack.

"The handler's main job is to make sure the dog is posed to its best advantage," Green said.

Handler Bobbi Kinley Blewett of Cleveland likes the confidence she sees from Elay, her Afghan hound.

"He's a stallion. He owns the ring," Blewett said. "An Afghan hound should portray themselves as the king of dogs."

And like most competitions, this one often comes down to character.

"Expression on dogs makes a big difference, with whatever breed," Green said. "When a judge comes down to a final thing, you know, and he looks at one dog, and looks at the other, the one that is looking at him asking for it, the other dog is standing there more relaxed, the one that is asking is likely to get it."

After the Kentucky Derby, this is the second longest-running sporting event in America.

In the finals Tuesday night will be familiar breeds who have won in recent years: a Skye terrier, a Standard poodle and a cousin of "first dog" Sunny Obama, the Portuguese water dog, are expected to make the final round.