MONTY THE GIANT SCHNAUZER WINS BEST IN SHOW
Source: BBC (Extract)
Posted: February 12, 2025
Monty, a giant schnauzer, was crowned Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday, the most prestigious dog competition in the United States. After three consecutive years of making it to the final rounds, Monty triumphed over more than 2,500 dogs to become the first giant schnauzer ever to claim the coveted title.
“The puppy did the damn thing,” said Monty’s owner, Katie Bernardin, during the televised event from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The Westminster Kennel Club, the oldest dog show club in the US, is now in its 149th year. Its annual event is the second-longest running sporting event in the country, only behind the Kentucky Derby.
The winners of each of the 200 competing breeds advance to vie for one of seven group titles, with each group winner then moving on to the finals. After two years of dominating the Working Group but falling short of the top prize, the five-year-old male giant schnauzer with an all-black coat finally claimed victory. His win marked the first time a Working Group breed has taken home the overall prize since 2004.
Judge Paula Nykiel, a dog breeder and owner-handler, selected Monty as Best in Show after he stood out in the preliminary rounds during the three-day competition. In choosing a winner, judges consider the breed’s ideal standard and evaluate its body structure and mouth.
It was noted by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) that Monty’s ears appear to have been cropped—a practice legal in the United States but banned in the UK and other European countries unless an import license is granted.
Among the more than 2,500 dogs Monty bested was nine-year-old Bourbon, a whippet who came out of retirement to claim Reserve Best in Show for the third time. Other finalists included Comet the shih tzu, Mercedes the German shepherd, and Neal the bichon frisé.
In 2024, a female miniature poodle won Best in Show.