New York — It was Penny’s night. The Doberman pinscher captured the Best in Show title at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, cementing her place in dog show history.
Veteran handler Andy Linton, whose career spans nearly four decades, guided Penny to victory. Linton, who last won Best in Show in 1989 with another Doberman named Indy, called Penny “one of the finest Dobermans I’ve ever seen.” Despite minor health challenges, Penny delivered a flawless performance that impressed judges and spectators alike.
“This has been a goal for me, and achieving it at the milestone 150th Westminster makes it truly special,” Linton said, smiling as he accepted the applause.
The runner-up, Chesapeake Bay retriever Cota, also won hearts. While Dobermans have taken Westminster’s top prize five times, a retriever has yet to claim the title, making Cota’s second-place finish a moment of pride for his fans.
Other finalists included an Afghan hound named Zaida, a Lhasa apso called JJ, Maltese Cookie, Old English Sheepdog Graham, and smooth fox terrier Wager. Judge David Fitzpatrick, himself a two-time Westminster-winning handler, described the lineup as “one for the history books.”
Penny, four years old, has been a crowd favorite since her breakout at last year’s show. Ringside, she charmed visitors by politely nudging them for pets, proving her calm demeanor could turn playful when the situation called for it. Linton noted, “She’s usually very relaxed, but give her a squirrel or a challenge, and she lights up.”
Co-owner Greg Chan from Toronto described Penny as “smart, demanding, but eager to please—especially if there’s food involved.”
Over the course of the show, more than 2,500 dogs from over 200 breeds competed, providing countless entertaining and heartwarming moments. Highlights included a hairless Xoloitzcuintli named Calaco strutting confidently, a Vizsla hopping into a box mid-performance, and a Newfoundland named Storm playfully towering over her handler.
Newcomers made waves as well. Millie, a Danish-Swedish farmdog competing at Westminster for the first time, advanced to the evening round, marking a historic moment for the breed. Joseph Carrero’s Neapolitan mastiff, Dezi, captured attention with his size and charm, while Natalee Ridenhour’s Boerboel, Invictus, gave showgoers a memorable encounter despite not advancing past the first round.
At the end of the night, it was Penny who walked away with the trophy, ribbons, and admiration of dog lovers everywhere—a deserving champion for Westminster’s 150th celebration.