The 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was held in New York City from February 10th to 11th, with approximately 2,500 top dogs from around the world strutting their stuff to compete for the prestigious title of “Best in Show.”
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, also known as WKC or Westminster Dog Show in Taiwan, is one of the longest-running and most prestigious dog shows in American history. This year’s competition took place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center and Madison Square Garden in downtown New York City, where over 2,500 dogs of more than 200 different breeds participated in this two-day canine extravaganza.
The event was divided into three stages: the first stage involved judging dogs within the same breed to determine the breed champions based on how closely they adhere to the ideal breed standards. The winners from each breed were then categorized into seven groups based on their specific functions, including the Terrier Group, Toy Group, Hound Group, Herding Group, Working Group, Sporting Group, and Non-Sporting Group. The winners of each group proceeded to the final stage for the ultimate showdown to compete for the prestigious title of Best in Show.
In this year’s competition, the giant Schnauzer named “Monty,” owned by Katie Bernardin, put on an outstanding performance, defeating six other finalists to emerge victorious and claim the championship. This marked the first time that this breed has won the top honor at this renowned American dog show. The second place was secured by a Beagle named “Bourbon.”
Here are some highlights from the 149th Westminster Dog Show:
(Please add details on some of the memorable moments and interactions that took place during the event here.)