“Just look at him,” a handler named Maura said of her “2-years-and-2-months”-old English setter, as she brushed out his coat Tuesday afternoon at the Javits Center.
Along with her co-owner Mary, Maura was one of thousands who traveled to New York this week for the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The breeds competed during the days Monday and Tuesday at the Javits Center, and at night the winner of each breed traveled to Madison Square Garden for the group competitions, which culminated in Best in Show on Tuesday night. A 4-year-old Doberman named Penny beat out over 3,000 dogs to take home the top prize, with Cota, the Chesapeake Bay retriever, winning Reserve Best in Show.
The most of any breed competing at Westminster this year was the golden retriever, with 52 shiny, happy goldens on site Tuesday afternoon for their ring time.
You May Also Like
“This is Addie. She’s 5. She came out of retirement to come here, and after this she’ll be officially retired,” said a handler named Emma of her two goldens. “And this is Greta. She’s 3 and she’s kind of just getting started.”
It was Emma’s first time showing her own dogs at Westminster, having assisted two years ago before the show had moved to MSG.
“I’m a first-generation dog show person. I did not do it growing up, so I got her and I was like, ‘oh, we’ll just give it a try.’ And then I ended up really liking it,” she said.
Most of the handlers prefer to drive when possible, and like to stay at Airbnbs or, when in New York, hotels like Marriott, which allow dogs with a fee. Those who live far away, like Raina Moss, prefer to fly with Alaska Airlines, though a cold weather embargo issued last week that prevented dogs from flying in the cargo space caused some last-minute panic. Raina and her clumber spaniel, Pancake, arrived in New York via indirect flights and had been enjoying taking in the city.
“It’s the iconic New York City dog show. It’s the most prestigious dog show in the U.S. There’s something about the green carpet, Madison Square Garden. It’s just the feeling of being in the city,” Moss said, as Pancake rested atop his crate. “We look forward to it every year,” she added, mentioning that Pancake had even gotten to ride in a taxi this year.
Later that evening, a packed Madison Square Garden cheered like at any sporting event — though with perhaps more “aw”s and “ooh”s than at a typical Rangers game — as the dogs were trotted out. The golden retriever and Labrador retrievers, popular pets who have never won Best in Show, were fan favorites, as were a Sussex spaniel named Goober and one of the Best in Show competitors, an Old English sheepdog named Graham.
But ultimately it was Penny’s night, who was crowned Best in Show to a thrilled audience. Her handler, Andy Linton, had won Best in Show nearly 40 years prior with a different Doberman.
“She is as great a Doberman as I’ve ever seen,” he told the stadium emotionally, as Penny, ever the champion, struck a pose.
