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The Westminster Dog Show made a triumphant return to Madison Square Garden this year (roomier, airier venues were used during the pandemic), and by all accounts the 149th annual competition was a bark-raving success. We had a fun little teaser the weekend before with events showcasing “all-American” dogs (their term for mixed-breeds) in contests like obedience and agility. But it was down to business by the competition days on Monday and Tuesday, where judges commenced the herculean task of determining best in breed, before selecting the seven best in group who would vie for the ultimate best in show title late Tuesday night. And so it was at 11pm local time that we were waiting with wagging tongues and stiff-straight tails to see who would emerge victorious. And the winner was… Monty the Giant Schnauzer, who just picked up best in show less than two months ago at the American Kennel Club National Championship! This really is his year!
This time, the giant schnauzer went the full Monty.
After coming close in the last two years, Monty the giant schnauzer won the top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday night, leaving handler and co-owner Katie Bernadin almost too emotional to speak.
“He always tries so hard, and we’re just proud of him,” she told the crowd at Madison Square Garden.
The spirited schnauzer bested six other finalists to become the first of his breed tapped as Westminster’s best in show, the most prestigious prize in the U.S. dog show world. The spirited schnauzer won the huge American Kennel Club championship in December, and he’d been a Westminster twice before.
A standout because of “everything from his attitude to his structure,” Monty is bold, cocky and fun, according to co-owner Sandy Nordstrom.
“He’s just a really cool dog,” she said in an interview before his win, which will be his last. The 5-year-old is retiring from showing.
The runner-up was, for the third time, a whippet known as Bourbon. Other finalists included a bichon frisé called Neal, a Skye terrier named Archer, and a shih tzu called Comet who’s been a finalist before.
Also in the mix were a German shepherd named Mercedes, who came in second last year, and an English springer spaniel called Freddie.
Each dog at Westminster is judged according to how closely it matches the ideal for its breed. Winners get a trophy, ribbons and bragging rights, but no cash prize.
…Westminster says it celebrates all dogs. The show champions that compete also are household pets, and some do therapy work, search-and-rescue or other canine jobs.
There are few absolute truths in this world, but one of them is the fact that Monty is undeniably a dapper dude. The five-year-old trots with a regal carriage (and he actually knows how to trim his beard, ahem). Am I happy, thrilled, elated for Monty? My cup of joy overfloweth. But this is Westminster we’re talking about, the best of the best, so where there is triumph, there were also tears among the six other very good boy and girl finalists. So I’d like to take a moment to pay respects to Bourbon the Whippet, who was named reserve best in show for the third time (or as one NY Times reporter put it, “The 1990s Buffalo Bills of dogs.”). First off, the name “Bourbon” sings. Second, did you know that the second time Bourbon placed second (in 2021), she was only three months postpartum from delivering a litter of pups?! And third, the nine-and-a-half-year-old came out of retirement for this show! Only to be cast aside for a younger man! But by dog she gave it her all, and that’s what makes Bourbon a forever champion.
But I don’t mean to take away from Monty’s win, so once again, Mazel Tov to him. I’d also like to extend four paws up to the NY Times reporters who were updating us live from the scene. Special mention goes to Callie Holtermann for giving us gems like “I heard a rumor that every member of the crowd tonight gets to take home a terrier,” or noting that the best in show judge wearing all black was “fitting for her role as the executioner of six dogs’ dreams.”
PS — I love Shih Tzus, but best in group winner Comet looks like the feather duster from Beauty and the Beast. Comet: blink twice if you actually want to be groomed that way!!
Truly fascinating grooming choices are made on some of this dogs. Cuties all around.
I never knew Carmela Soprano had a Schnauzer!
He is a cutie pie! And very regal. I am happy to see a big black dog win – black dogs are less likely to be adopted and people tend to be more scared of them so this good for black dogs everywhere.
Captivating all around.
I didn’t know Giant Schnauzers were a thing that exists, I’ve never seen a Schnauzer that wasn’t one of these cute tiny dogs. Not that Monty isn’t cute, he just looks huge to me ahah.