The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the second-longest continuously held sports event in the nation, predating the invention of the zipper and the light bulb. In fact, only the Kentucky Derby is older. According to American Kennel Club for the past twenty-one years, Hounds have won BIS more often than the terriers and sporting dogs at Westminster Dog Show.
westminster kennel club, dog shows
The latest winner of this world-famous canine competition was CH Surrey Sage “Sage” the Miniature Poodle, 2024’s Westminster Best in Show winner.
Here are 20 of the other past winners of New York City’s famous hometown dog show, which itself has beaten insurmountable odds. But Westminster is no ordinary show — and, as you’ll see from this gallery of past winners, its Best in Show winners are no ordinary dogs.
Best in Show 2023
GCHG CH Surrey Sage
Sage the Miniature Poodle
Sage is handled by Kaz Hosaka, who ended his 45-year handling career with this Westminster Best in Show win. Sage is owned by Cathy Gauche, and was bred by Kathleen Wallen and Hosaka. Extremely Intelligent and wonderful, poodles were bred to be hunting companions. She is the fourth Miniature Poodle to win Best in Show at Westminster, and the 11th Poodle variety to win.
Best in Show 2023
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen "Buddy Holly" won first place in the Hound Group, moving on to Best in Show. Last year's Best in Show Winner at Westminster was Bloodhound "Trumpet," also from the Hound Group.
CH Soletrader Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a curious rabbit hunter who has a natural wiry coat. Buddy Holly is handled by Janice Hayes, bred by Gavin and Sara Robertson, and co-owned by Janice Hayes, Lizzie Cadmore, Cathy Oneill, and Donna Moore. He is the first PBGV to win Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show.
Best in Show 2022
GCHB CH Flessner’s Toot My Own Horn
Trumpet the Bloodhound
Bloodhounds are tracking dogs with a keen sense of smell. Handled by Heather Buehner, owned and bred by Chris and Bryan Flessner, Heather Buehner, and Tina Kocar, Trumpet is the first Bloodhound ever to win Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show. Trumpet is the son of Nathan who won the National Dog Show in 2014.
Best in Show 2021
GCH CH Pequest Wasabi
Wasabi the Pekingese
Pekingese are charming lion dogs. In 2019, Wasabi the Pekingese — bred, owned, and handled by David Fitzpatrick — was the first-ever Toy Dog to win the AKC National Championship. In 2021, the Pekingese won Westminster. Fitzpatrick’s other Pekingese, Malachy, won at Westminster in 2012. His pal, Rummie won RBIS two year later, 2023.
“Like anything in life, things can change in a second,” Fitzpatrick says. “Wasabi went from an unknown dog to a history-making dog.”
Best in Show 2020
GCHP CH Stone Run Afternoon Tea
“Siba” the Standard Poodle
Poodles originated in Germany. They have different coats including the lion coat and retriever coat. Owned and bred by Connie S. Unger and William Lee, Siba the Standard Poodle was the fifth of her breed to win Best in Show at Westminster when Chrystal Murray handled her. The last time a Standard Poodle won was in 1991. The judge Robert Slay picked the dog who picked the beautiful black dog.
Best in Show 2019
"King" with handler Gabriel Rangel at the 2019 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Ch. Kingarthur Van Foliny Home
“King” the Wire Fox Terrier
King’s Best in Show win made him the 15th Wire Fox Terrier to earn the top title at Westminster. Wire Fox Terriers have wiry coat and very attractive. The breed is the winningest at Westminster, followed only by the Scottish Terrier, which has eight wins. King’s handler, Gabriel Rangel, won in 2014 with another Wire Fox Terrier, a female named Sky who, like King, was owned by Victor Malzoni Jr. of Brazil. But King’s win is a “very significant one,” Rangel noted, because of the expertise of the man who judged it. Peter Green of Bowmansville, Pennsylvania, is recognized the world over as an unassailable terrier expert.
Best in Show 2018
Belle Creek’s All I Care About Is Love
“Flynn” the Bichon Frise
This 5-year-old Bichon Frise is only the second of his breed to win Best in Show there. (The other, J.R., became a household name in 2001 after sitting in the silver-bowl trophy and pumping his paw at admirers.) Patrina Odette, Lorrie Carlton, Lindsey Van Keuren, and Bruce Odette owned Flynn. His handler, Bill McFadden, knows the thrill of reaching the pinnacle on Westminster’s signature green carpet: In 2003, he piloted Mick the Kerry Blue Terrier to victory there — a year after the fiery terrier turned in an out-of-control performance that likely cost him the big ribbon and two years after Mick was bested by that powder-puff of a Bichon, J.R. Flynn is great. Bichons have white powder puff coat.
Best in Show 2017
Lockenhaus’ Rumor Has It V Kenlyn
“Rumor” the German Shepherd
Maybe it’s the pop-culture echoes of Rin Tin Tin, but German Shepherd Dogs are perennial crowd favourites at this show, though they’ve only captured top honors twice. The German Shepherd Dog is a police canine athlete. Those who remembered when the aptly named Manhattan won at the 1987 show rejoiced to see this female Shepherd retake the mantle three decades later. Rumor’s win was arguably all the sweeter because she had been thwarted the year before by CJ the German Shorthaired Pointer. Named after a hit song by Adele, Rumor came out of semiretirement to earn this 2017 victory, prompting a rash of inevitable “Rumor Has It” headlines. Kent Boyles is Rumor's owner handler.
Best in Show 2016
Ch. VJK-Myst Garbonita’s California Journey
“CJ” the German Shorthaired Pointer
In Germany, Shorthaired Pointers were bred as hunting companions. Some Westminster wins are dynastic, and this German Shorthaired Pointer is no exception: His grandmother Carlee won Best in Show at the Garden in 2005. The third GSP in the show’s history to earn that honor, CJ was shown by his breeder and owner Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, who is also a prominent West Coast-based professional handler. She has referred to him as an “old soul,” though a commanding one, too: She notes that his nickname at home is “the Prince.”
Best in Show 2015
Tashtins Lookin For Trouble
“Miss P” the 15-inch Beagle
Originated in England Beagles are adorable. As beloved as the Muppets may be, Miss P the Beagle was not named for Miss Piggy, but rather her name is a shorthand for “Peyton.” Born and bred in Canada, the 4-year-old hound was the second Beagle to win at the Garden; the first to break the ice was her great-uncle, the inimitable Uno, who won in 2008. The conventional wisdom was that the 2015 show would be won by a top-winning Bloodhound, but Westminster has a tendency to nurture upsets and upstarts, and Miss P was no exception. Miss P's owners, Lori Crandlemire and Eddie Dzuik, and her Canadian handler William Alexander, was proud of her.
Best in Show 2014
Ch. Afterall Painting the Sky
“Sky” the Wire Fox Terrier
Bred in England to run with Foxhound packs, the Wire Fox Terrier became a symbol of all that was debonair and dashing in the 1930s and ’40s. (See Asta, canine star of the popular “Thin Man” movies starring William Powell and Myrna Loy.) Today, these harsh-coated terriers have lost some of their cultural cache, but at Westminster they continue to reign supreme as the show’s winningest breed, taking Best in Show 15 times. “Sky” was “discovered” by her handler Gabriel Rangel, who spent almost a year convincing Sky’s owner Victor Malzoni and Tori Steele, to let him take her on the road. As it is with many show dogs who want to go out on top, Westminster was 5-year-old Sky’s final bow.
Best in Show 2013
GCh. Banana Joe V Tani Kazari
“Joey” the Affenpinscher
Banana Joe or Joey the Affenpinscher, owned by Zoila Truesdale and Mieke Cooymans, is among the most cosmopolitan of Westminster winners, born in the Netherlands and understanding commands in English, Dutch, Spanish and German. A continent-hopping show dog, Joey scored the sought-after Triple Crown — Best in Show at the world’s three iconic shows: Crufts, Westminster and the AKC National Championship. This win at Madison Square Garden was the first for his breed, which was developed in Germany in the 1600s and whose name means “monkey terrier.” And, like those supersmart simians, Joey had a mind of his own. “This isn’t a breed you train,” his handler, Ernesto Lara, told The New York Times. “He’s like a human. You befriend him.
Best in Show 2012
GCh. Palacegarden Malachy
“Malachy” the Pekingese
The second time was the charm for this pear-shaped Pekingese, who won the Toy Group at Westminster in 2011, but lost Best in Show to sprightly Hickory the Deerhound — a study in opposites. Iris Love and David Fitzpatrick owned and handled Malachy. While critics on Twitter compared 4-year-old Malachy to a Wookiee and even “Snooki” from “Jersey Shore,” they clearly didn’t appreciate this breed’s royal roots: Pekingese warmed the laps of Chinese emperors for centuries. Insider insight: Knowledgeable judges will gently lift a Pekingese during the examination on the table to ensure the dog has the desired density of bone and substance.
Best in Show 2011
GCh. Foxcliffe Hickory Wind
“Hickory” the Scottish Deerhound
“The most perfect creature of heaven” is how this ethereal Sighthound was described by Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott, one of the famous owners of the breed; another was General George Armstrong Custer, who hunted buffalo with them on the Great Plains. The Scottish Deerhound’s springy, floating gait helped it traverse the heather-covered Scottish moors, and its harsh coat protected against the cold and mist. She was owned by Sally Sweat from Minneapolis and handled by Angela Lloyd. Six-year-old Hickory’s win was the first ever for her breed at Westminster, and she retired after the show to go on to her next career — motherhood.
Best in Show 2010
Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot
“Sadie” the Scottish Terrier
No doubt about it: Westminster is terrier territory. Those scrappy earth dogs have won 46 of the show’s 112 Best in Shows — more than 40 percent of them. Focusing on individual terrier breeds, Scottish Terriers like Sadie have won Westminster eight times, second only to Wire Fox Terriers. Owned by Amelia Musser and Dan Musser from Michgan and handled by Gabriel Rangel, 4-year-old Sadie the Scottish Terrier started the show as the odds-on favourite and sailed right to the finish.
Best in Show 2009
Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee
“Stump” the Sussex Spaniel
The Sussex Spaniel is supposed to embody the three L’s — long, low and level and those proportions are what gave Stump his name: He evokes a furry brown log, or tree stump. At 10 years of age, Stump was the oldest dog to go Best in Show at the Garden, after surviving a near-fatal infection years before. His breeder, Doug Johnson, scored another first with this win, being the only person to breed two Westminster winners of different breeds. (The other winner, in 1996, was “Brady,” a Clussexx-bred Clumber Spaniel, which explains the kennel’s portmanteau: Clumber + Sussex = Clussexx.) Stump was handled and owned by Scott Sommer and owned by Cecelia Ruggles and Beth Dowd.
Best in Show 2008
Ch. K-Run’s Park Me In First
“Uno” the 15-inch Beagle
Beagles were bred to hunt rabbits and hare. Arguably, no other Westminster winner earned quite the celebrity of this 2 1/2 year old bugling Beagle, who traversed the country to visit the White House, ride on a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and visit veterans as a certified therapy dog. He was owned by Eddie Dzuik, Kathy Weichert and Caroline Dowell. The first of his breed to win Best in Show at Madison Square Garden — accompanied by the roar of the New York City crowd, who were delighted at his impromptu howls — Uno was a famous Beagle, prompting obituaries in some of the nation’s largest newspapers.
Best in Show 2007
Ch. Felicity’s Diamond Jim
“James” the English Springer Spaniel
In 2007, the crowd loved this calm and handsome therapy dog. James the English Springer Spaniel his best to win Best in Show. Springer Spaniels were bred to be a hunting dog and a companion house pet. He was owned by Teresa Patton and handled by Kellie Fitzgerald who showed the English Springer Spaniel named Samantha in 2000. The judge Dr. Indeglia gave him the honour of Best in Show.
Best in Show 2006
Ch. Rocky Top’s Sundance Kid
“Rufus” the Colored Bull Terrier
The audience were watching in Madison Square Garden. Bull Terriers are strongly built with an egg-shaped wedgy-head. Rufus the Colored Bull Terrier owned by Barbara Bishop and handled by Kathy Kirk, worked really hard. He was focused and very smart and won multiple best in shows including the 2005 Morris and Essex, 2005 National Dog Show and 2006 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show before he retired.
Best in Show 2005
Ch. Kan-Point’s VJK Autumn Roses
“Carlee” the German Shorthaired Pointer
German Shorthaired Pointers were developed in Germany and Austria, a cross between the old Spanish pointer, cousin the Weimaraner and the German Swiss Hound. Carlee the German Shorthaired Pointer earned her champion best in show in 2005. She stood perfectly. The audience were cheering out loud. Carlee is a great member in the hall of fame. She was owned by Linda Stark and Valerie Nunes-Atkinson. Her handler, Michelle Scott, handled the Newfoundland Best In Show last year. Carlee was outstanding. This is the second win for the shorthaired pointer in the 129 years of Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show history.
Best in Show 2004
Ch. Darbydales All Rise Pouch Cove ‘Josh’
“Josh” the Newfoundland
This gentle giant is fantastic. The Newfoundland is a large, strong heavy coated active dog, the official state dog of Newfoundland & Labrador. Josh the Newfie was a champion working dog. He was handled by Michelle Scott and owned by Carol Bergman. He made his popular entry and the audience loved the big black dog in Madison Square Garden.
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