Doberman pinscher named Penny wins best in show at Westminster

NEW YORK – The dog’s name was Penny. The victory was priceless.

A Doberman pinscher named Penny won best in show Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, winning America’s most coveted show dog award — and giving veteran Andy Linton another win after nearly four decades. Linton got best in show in 1989 with another Doberman, named Indy.

Penny “is the best Doberman I’ve ever seen,” Linton told a crowd of support. Despite ongoing health issues, he guided the 4-year-old dog through an impeccable performance.

“I had goals, and this was one of them,” Linton said.

Runner-up — and equally loud cheers — went to a Chesapeake Bay retriever named Cota. Although the Dobermans have won five times, including Tuesday, no retriever has ever won and their fans applaud every encouraging sign.

Cota also seemed to enjoy the moment, especially when his master let him play with the ribbon.

Other finalists included an Afghan hound named Zaida, a Lhasa apso called JJ, a Maltese named Cookie, an Old English sheepdog nicknamed Graham and a smooth fox terrier called Wager.

Each dog is judged according to its correspondence with the ideal of its breed. The winner receives a trophy, ribbons, bragging rights and the distinction of winning the 150th annual Westminster show.

A crowd favorite at the Westminster 2025 show, Penny has been rocking the rings ever since. A crowd of handlers and other dog lovers cheered her and the much-loved Linton during the first round on Tuesday afternoon.

Then, at ringside, Penny politely but pointedly nuzzled a visitor’s leg, looking for something – pets, as it turned out.

Co-owner Greg Chan of Toronto said Penny is “very demanding and very intelligent,” but she’s also “a people pleaser — she’ll do anything for food.” (Her favorite snack? “Everything.”)

Penny emerged victorious after two days, 2,500 dogs and more than 200 breeds strutted their stuff at Westminster Kennel Club.

Many others scored memorable moments or lightened the crowd, even if they didn’t reach the final.

During two nights of the semifinals, spectators cheered loudly for a Xoloitzcuintli named Calaco, a hairless dog who circled the ring as if he had nothing to prove. A vizsla named Beamer charmed the crowd by jumping into a box reserved for his handler’s tools, and Storm the Newfoundland drew laughs when he jumped on top of his handler, standing almost as tall as her. Spectators cheered so loudly for a golden retriever named Oliver that they drowned out the arena announcer and chants of “Lumpy! Lumpy!” rang out as Lumpy the Pekingese was paraded before a judge.

One dog that made history in the semi-finals was Millie, a Danish-Swedish farm dog. The lively little breed just became eligible for this year’s Westminster Show, and Millie beat out about 10 other farm dogs on Tuesday afternoon to make it to the evening round.

“It’s been a very exciting journey” to establish the breed in the United States, said Brita Lemmon, who got her first farm dog in 2000 and competed Tuesday with one named Coyote.

Westminster victories often go to dogs led by professional handlers or owners with decades or even generations of experience behind them. But just making it to the elite, a show only for champions, is a major achievement in the dog field, especially for newbies such as Joseph Carrero and his Neapolitan Mastiff, Dezi.

After dreaming of a Neo since he was a teenager, Carrero finally got one at the age of 35. A heavy equipment operator from Indian Springs, Nev., he started showing the dog only because the breeder wanted him to. Now, Carrero himself raises and cares for his Neos in the ring, while working a full-time job and more.

“It’s really hard for us to do this, but we appreciate it, and he appreciates it,” Carrero said as visitors gathered to greet the 190-pound cheeky dog.

Boerboels, fearsome guard dogs native to South Africa, played a major role in how Natalee Ridenhour met her late husband and why she ultimately left metropolitan life for a farm in Royse City, Texas.

On Tuesday, Ridenhour and a Boerboel named Invictus did something else she never imagined: take part in the Westminster show.

The dog did not make it past the first round. But as a visitor delightedly petted the 170-pound animal, Ridenhour said, “Honestly, the big win is this: You’re about the 50th person to face him and love him.”