Dogs compete for the lead in a show at the Westminster Kennel Club

0 3 2 minutes read

Dogs compete for the lead in a show at the Westminster Kennel Club

Listen to this article

Average 3 minutes

The audio version of this article was created by AI-based technology. It can be mispronounced. We are working with our partners to continuously review and improve the results.

After two days, 2,500 dogs and more than 200 breeds, the Westminster Kennel Club will have just seven dogs vying for the most coveted US dog award.

The winner gets a trophy, ribbons, bragging rights and, this year, the distinction of winning the milestone of Westminster’s 150th annual show.

There are seven groups: hound, toy, non-sporting, herding, sporting, working and terrier. The winner of each group goes on to compete for best in show.

Winners so far include an Afghan hound named Zaida, a Lhasa apso named JJ, a Maltese named Cookie and an Old England dog named Graham. Also featured are a Chesapeake Bay retriever named Cota and a Doberman pinscher named Penny.

Another competitor will be chosen Tuesday night before they all face off at Madison Square Garden for the best in show prize.

A dark brown retriever takes a blue ribbon from its handler — Chesapeake Bay retriever, Next Generation’s Accelerate, or Cota, grabs a blue ribbon from his handler after winning the sports team. (Yuki Iwamura/The Associated Press)

Whichever dog ends up receiving the award, many others have achieved memorable moments or lit up the crowd, even if they didn’t make it to the finals.

Over the two nights of the semi-finals, the spectators cheered for Xoloitzcuintli named Calaco, a hairless dog who walked around the ring as if he had no evidence.

A pure black dog — Calaco, a Xoloitzcuintli, is shown in the non-playing team. (Lucas Boland/Imag Images/Reuters)

A vizsla named Beamer wowed the crowd by jumping into his owner’s toolbox, then sitting there like he was at home.

a line of small red, short-haired dogs — Vizslas are always a crowd favorite at the show. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters)

Spectators cheered so loudly for a pet golden retriever named Oliver that they drowned out the stadium announcer.

A woman in green leads a golden dog around the ring — Hillcock’s Burl Oak, or Oliver, is guided through a ring in the middle of a group of sporting dogs. (Yuki Iwamura/The Associated Press)

And chants of “Lumpy! Lumpy!” shouted when Lumpy from Pekingese walked in front of the judge.

A small dog with very long hair — The audience sang Lumpy the Pekingese’s name. (Lucas Boland/Imag Images/Reuters)

One dog poised to make history in the semifinals is Millie, a Danish-Swedish farm dog. The small, spry breed recently qualified for the Westminster show this year, and Millie beat about 10 other farm dogs on Tuesday afternoon to make it to the evening round.

a small brown and white dog in a green coat with its handler — The Danish-Swedish Farmdog is ready for competition, the first year this breed is eligible for comte. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters)

“It’s been a very exciting journey” to establish the breed in the US, said Brita Lemmon, who competed with her farm dog, Coyote. The owner of a plant nursery in Seal Beach, California, got his first farm dog from a Danish breeder in 2000, after looking through a breed encyclopedia.

a large, happy, rusty-colored dog jumping with its handler — Bugga, a Dogue de Bordeaux, competed in the working group. (Lucas Boland/Imag Images/Reuters)

Westminster wins often go to pooches and professional handlers or owners with decades or generations of experience. But just getting to the top, champion-only show is a major breakthrough in dogdom.