NEW YORK — The 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show crowned its champion Tuesday night: a Doberman pinscher named Penny. The win was a career milestone for veteran handler Andy Linton. He last took home best in show with another Doberman, Indy, in 1989.
“Penny is as great a Doberman as I have ever seen,” Linton said. The 4-year-old dog had health challenges. However, she delivered a flawless performance. She earned the top prize among 2,500 dogs representing over 200 breeds.
Runner-up honors went to Cota, a Chesapeake Bay retriever. Dobermans have won Westminster five times. However, no retriever has ever taken the top title. This fact made Cota’s performance a crowd favorite. The finalists included several other dogs. An Afghan hound named Zaida was one of them. A Lhasa apso called JJ was another. A Maltese named Cookie also competed. An Old English sheepdog dubbed Graham was among them. Finally, there was a smooth fox terrier named Wager.
Judges assess each dog based on how closely it embodies the ideal for its breed. The winner receives a trophy, ribbons, and the coveted bragging rights of best in show.
Spectators also enjoyed plenty of memorable moments outside the finals. These moments included a hairless Xoloitzcuintli named Calaco and a playful Vizsla named Beamer. Another highlight was a Newfoundland named Storm, who towered over his handler. This hilarious moment had the crowd cheering.
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