At the 148th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, female miniature poodle Sage won the prestigious Best in Show title, chosen by judge Rosalind Kramer. Handled by Kaz Hosaka, who has been competing at Westminster for 45 years, this win was particularly special as he had planned for it to be his last show. Sage, with a formal continental cut, stood stoically in a pose as she was judged, eventually winning the top prize. The reserve Best in Show was awarded to a four-year-old female German shepherd named Mercedes.
The Westminster Kennel Club, founded in 1877, is one of the oldest and most prestigious dog shows in the United States. The competition includes various stages such as breed judging, group judging, and the ultimate Best in Show competition where seven group winners compete. Judges base their decisions on an ideal standard for each breed, evaluating the dogs against this perfection. Separate competitions for agility, obedience, and junior showmanship are also held in the days leading up to the main event.
For the first time in the Westminster agility competition’s history, a mixed-breed dog named Nimble took top honors. Nimble, a border collie-papillion mix, was designated as an “all-American dog” by the AKC, being among breeds developed in the United States. Last year’s Best in Show winner was “Buddy Holly,” a petit basset griffon vendéen that had also won titles in other countries before its Westminster victory. The event has a long history dating back to its founding at a New York City hotel called the Westminster, with only the Kentucky Derby having a longer continuous history among U.S. sporting events.
Competing at Westminster involves surviving various rounds of judging, starting with breed judging where each canine competes to represent its breed. The dogs are divided into seven groups, such as herding and non-sporting, with group winners moving on to compete for the top prize. Judges emphasize evaluating the dogs against the standard of perfection for their breed rather than comparing them to each other. Handlers, both seasoned professionals and junior showmanship participants, showcase their dogs’ abilities in disciplines like agility and obedience.
With a background in handling champion dogs under Anne Rogers Clark, Kaz Hosaka guided Sage to victory, culminating his long career at Westminster on a high note. The emotional moment of winning Best in Show was a fitting end to his tenure at the prestigious event. Mercedes, the German shepherd, put up a strong competition as the reserve Best in Show, showcasing the diversity of breeds and skill sets represented at Westminster. The event continues to attract top canine competitors and handlers from around the country, upholding its reputation as a premier showcase of canine excellence.
