Doberman Pinscher “Penny” Triumphs as Best in Show at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

NEW YORK — A Doberman pinscher named Penny claimed the prestigious Best in Show title on Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, securing one of the most sought-after accolades in the U.S. dog show scene.

Competing at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden, Penny outshone six other top finalists to take home the prize.

Dogs in the competition are evaluated based on how closely they adhere to the ideal standards of their respective breeds.

After two intense days of competition featuring 2,500 dogs from over 200 breeds, the contest narrowed down to seven outstanding canines vying for the top honor at the Westminster Kennel Club.

Along with a trophy, ribbons, and the prestige of victory, Penny’s win this year is especially significant as it marks the milestone 150th Westminster Dog Show.

Finalists included an Afghan hound named Zaida, a Lhasa apso called JJ, a Maltese named Cookie and an old English sheepdog dubbed Graham. Also in the running were a Chesapeake Bay called Cota and a smooth fox terrier called Wager.

Lots of others scored meme-able moments or lightened up the crowd, even if they didn’t make the finals.

Over two nights of semifinals, spectators cheered extra-loud for a Xoloitzcuintli named Calaco, a hairless dog who went around the ring like he had nothing to prove. A vizsla named Beamer charmed the crowd by hopping into a box set out for his handler’s tools, and Storm the Newfoundland got laughs when he jumped up on his handler, standing almost as tall as she. Spectators cheered so loud for a golden retriever named Oliver that they drowned out the arena’s announcer, and chants of “Lumpy! Lumpy!” resounded as Lumpy the Pekingese strolled before a judge.

One dog that made history in the semifinals was Millie, a Danish-Swedish farmdog. The small, spry breed just became eligible for the Westminster show this year, and Millie bested about 10 other farmdogs Tuesday afternoon to get to the evening round.

“It’s been a very exciting journey” to establish the breed in the U.S., said Brita Lemmon, who got her first farmdog in 2000 and competed Tuesday with one named Coyote.

Westminster wins often go to pooches with professional handlers or owners with decades or even generations of experience behind them. But just reaching the elite, champions-only show is a major accomplishment in dogdom, especially for first-timers such as Joseph Carrero and his Neapolitan mastiff, Dezi.

After yearning for a Neo since his teenage years, Carrero finally got one when he was 35. A heavy equipment operator from Indian Springs, Nevada, he started showing the dog only because the breeder wanted him to. Now Carrero himself breeds and handles his Neos in the ring, while also working full-time and then some.

“It’s really hard for us to do this, but we enjoy it, and he enjoys it,” Carrero said as a visitors gathered around to greet the jowly, 190-pound dog.

Boerboels, which are formidable guard dogs originally from South Africa, played a major role in how Natalee Ridenhour met her late husband and why she eventually left metropolitan life for a farm in Royse City, Texas.

On Tuesday, Ridenhour and a Boerboel named Invictus did something else she once would never have pictured: compete at the Westminster show.

The dog didn’t advance past the first round. But as a visitor delightedly petted the 170-pound animal, Ridenhour said, “Honestly, the big win is: You’re about the 50th person who’s gotten down in his face and loved on him.”

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