A Pekingese takes the Prize

Did you catch the 136^th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show?  This year was a great mix of rookies and veterans competing not for money but for prestige.

In New York, Malachy, a 4 year-old Pekingese, took home his 115^th overall best in show title on Valentine’s Day.  Malachy beat out Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici, a Doberman Pinscher, who won Best of Working Group; Shadagee Caught Red Handed, an Irish Setter, who won Best of Sporting Group; Cappy, a German Shepherd, who won Best of Herding Group; and Ian, a Dalmatian, who won Best of Non-Sporting Group.  Many other winners were declared that day for various dog groups and breeds; like Ace, a black cocker Spaniel, who won Best in Breed his first time running.  

There was exciting anticipation for this year’s dog show as six newly recognized (by the AKC) breeds would be making their debut. Those six breeds include: The Xoloitzcuintli (competing in the Non-Sporting Group), which is known to be the national dog of Mexico; The Norwegian Lundehund (competing in the Non-Sporting Group) which is primarily used for hunting Puffins; The Finnish Lapphund (competing in the Herding Group), which is primarily used for herding reindeer; The Entlebucher Mountain Dog (competing in the Herding Group) which is a native of Switzerland; The Cesky Terrier (competing in the Terrier Group) which is used mostly for hunting; and the American English Coonhound (competing in the Hound Group) which is primarily used for hunting.  Unfortunately, for these hopeful pups, none of these newly recognized breeds took home a silver bowl or a fancy title.

The veteran show dog, Malachy, was up against some stiff competition as the crowd cheered for the nation’s number one pick, a black Cocker Spaniel named Beckham, and another fan favorite,  a Wire Fox Terrier named Eira.  While Terriers usually rule at Westminster (Wire Fox Terriers winning most often), this will make the fourth time a Pekingese has been named Champion at Westminster since 1990.       

How the judges decide who is best of over 2,000 purebred dogs is beyond me, but Judge Cindy Vogels named Malachy this year’s champion.  As champion at Westminster, Malachy wins a coveted silver bowl and a new prestigious title that will last a lifetime.  While there is no prize money for the winners, such a title presents opportunities elsewhere (like breeding potential).

Congratulations to all the winners at Westminster Kennel Club this week and best of luck to all participants in the future.