Penny, a 4-year-old Doberman pinscher, took top honors Tuesday night at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, earning Best in Show and giving veteran handler Andy Linton a career-defining victory late in his long run. Linton, who last won Best in Show in 1989 with another Doberman, called Penny one of the finest Dobermans he’s seen and said the milestone win was “extra-special” as he winds down his career.
Despite some earlier health issues, Penny delivered a sharp, composed performance that won over judges and a supportive crowd. Co-owner Greg Chan of Toronto described her as demanding, very smart and eager to please — especially for food.
Runner-up honors went to Cota, a Chesapeake Bay retriever, drawing enthusiastic applause from fans of retrievers, a group that has never claimed the top Westminster prize. The final seven also included Zaida the Afghan hound, JJ the Lhasa apso, Cookie the Maltese, Graham the old English sheepdog and Wager the smooth fox terrier. Judge and two-time Westminster-winning handler David Fitzpatrick called the lineup “one that will go down in history.” Winners are judged on how closely they match each breed’s ideal; the champion receives a trophy, ribbons and the prestige of Best in Show.
Penny had already become a fan favorite at last year’s show and again drew big cheers during early-round competition. Ringside after the finale, she nudged a visitor’s leg for pets, a reminder of her steady temperament — “very chill,” Linton said, though she can still get excited by a squirrel or an intruder.
The event featured roughly 2,500 dogs representing more than 200 breeds. Beyond the finalists, the semifinals produced plenty of crowd-pleasing moments: Calaco, a Xoloitzcuintli, captivated spectators with his hairless swagger; Beamer the vizsla hopped into a handler’s tool box; Storm the Newfoundland drew laughs by standing tall on his handler; Oliver the golden retriever earned deafening cheers; and Lumpy the Pekingese inspired chants as he paraded before a judge.
A historic moment in the semifinals came when Millie, a Danish-Swedish farmdog, advanced after the small breed became eligible for Westminster for the first time this year.
Westminster often rewards handlers and owners with long show pedigrees, but the field also included first-timers and unexpected stories. Joseph Carrero, a heavy equipment operator from Indian Springs, Nevada, showed Dezi, his Neapolitan mastiff. Carrero said he’d wanted a Neo since his teens and only began showing because his breeder encouraged him; he now breeds and handles Neapolitan mastiffs while working full time.
Natalee Ridenhour traveled to the show from Royse City, Texas, with Invictus, a 170-pound Boerboel. She said the breed helped shape major life changes — including how she met her late husband and why she moved from the city to a farm. Invictus didn’t advance past the opening round, but he won attention from passers-by who knelt to pet him. “Honestly, the big win is: You’re about the 50th person who’s gotten down in his face and loved on him,” Ridenhour said.
Between the top finishers, underdog stories and viral moments, the 150th Westminster show mixed high-stakes competition with plenty of warmth and spectacle — and crowned Penny the Doberman as its latest Best in Show.