Tyrese Maxey got COOKED by a Border Collie at the National Dog Show

Tyrese Maxey can embarrass just about anyone in the league with a crossover, but none of that mattered when he stepped into the spotlight at the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving. The Sixers guard learned very quickly that elite NBA handles do not translate to elite dog-handling skills.

Tyrese Maxey appeared on NBC’s broadcast of the show, which aired right after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and was taped earlier this month at the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. He owns three dogs of his own.

Apollo is his Cane Corso and Aries and Arrow are his Bernedoodles. So Maxey figured he was qualified enough to give the agility course a try. That confidence evaporated almost instantly.

Tyrese Maxey at the National Dog Show

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He was paired with Howie, an eight-year-old Border Collie, and Spike, a two-year-old Border Collie Papillon mix. Things fell apart on the first run when Howie decided he was not running the course at all.

He took a mid-run break and tried to play tug-of-war on national television while Maxey stood there helplessly watching his entire dog-handling career crumble.

Tyrese Maxey with Howie & Spike on the agility course

Sixers' Tyrese Maxey takes a shot at running pups Howie & Spike through the agility course at the National Dog Show, still some kinks to work out 😂 (r @GettingGophery) pic.twitter.com/IhDB7ZDg0V

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) November 27, 2025

Maxey admitted afterward that he was rattled. He told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he has played playoff games in both Madison Square Garden and Boston and still never felt nerves like the ones he felt out there on the dog course.

When a Border Collie breaks your game plan, it is apparently a different level of pressure.

Maxey said during the NBC broadcast that he felt like he played a full quarter and needed a towel. He joked that he is probably going to stick to basketball after this experience. Fair enough.

For the record, Soleil, a Belgian Sheepdog, won Best in Show out of nearly two thousand dogs. Maxey did not win any ribbons, but he absolutely delivered the funniest television moment of the entire event.

Soleil, a Belgian Sheepdog, won Best in Show at the 2025 National Dog Show. She was recognized for her stunning performance and poise during the competition. #nationaldogshow2025#dogshow#belgiansheepdog pic.twitter.com/wqqEQm7WJY

— EARTH NEWS (@earthdailynews) November 27, 2025

Meanwhile, on the court, Tyrese Maxey is in the middle of the best season of his career. He is averaging 30.2 points, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals while carrying a Sixers roster that has been missing half its rotation for weeks. The team is 9-8 and will play the Nets on Friday night.

Tyrese Maxey versus a Border Collie. Philadelphia did not have that on the Thanksgiving bingo card.

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