Penny, a Doberman Pinscher, Wins Best in Show at Westminster
Nytimes reports Penny, a sleek Doberman pinscher, won the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, becoming the fifth member of her breed to win best in show. Her handler, Andy Linton, who won best in show in 1989 with another Doberman and has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, said, “I had some goals, and this was one of them.” Reserve best in show went to Cota, a Chesapeake Bay retriever who celebrated by grabbing his ribbon and parading before dropping it.
Penny beat a field that included Zaida, an Afghan hound; Graham, an Old English sheepdog; Cookie, a Maltese; JJ, a Lhasa apso; and a sprightly smooth fox terrier. Judge David Fitzpatrick said the lineup was unusually strong and called it “one that will go down in history.” The competition followed winners from seven groups after 2,500 dogs from more than 200 breeds competed; dogs are judged against the standards of their breeds rather than directly against one another.