Westminster Kennel Club is one of the few two-day dog shows in America, and the second night is even more exciting than the first because it culminates in Best in Show. But before then, the winners of the Sporting, Working, and Terrier groups had to be chosen. Get the Group winners and see how our predictions matched up.
The Sporting Group winner: Liz the English Springer Spaniel
While we did predict an English Springer Spaniel would be a top contender, the top Springer placed Best of Opposite Sex to Liz (GCH Wynmoor Sweetgrass White Diamonds), who went on to win first in the Sporting group. We also said to watch the black Cocker Spaniel, Time to Thrill, and the Irish Setter, Jenny. The Clumber Spaniel stole third, while our predicted winner, Beckett the Brittany, made the final cut but didn’t place. Also among the finalists were the Pointer and the Sussex Spaniel.
The Working Group winner: Matisse the Portuguese Water Dog
Matisse (GCH Claircreek Impression De Matisse), the top-winning male show dog in AKC history, won the Working group for the third year in a row, as predicted. Would the third try be the charm for Best in Show?
Second place was an exciting one: the Leonberger, Odin. He’s the first Leo to ever place in a Westminster group.
The Bernese Mountain Dog placed third, only it wasn’t the Berner we predicted. It was the National Specialty winner, Odin (CH Great Lakes Danish Treasure). And fourth went to the Siberian Husky, Reese, who is American bred but Chinese owned.
The Terrier Group Winner: Charlie the Skye Terrier
The Terrier group is historically the most successful when it comes to winning Best in Show here. Would it be the Skye Terrier, Charlie (GCH Cragsmoor Good Time Charlie the Skye Terrier), 2014’s top Terrier? He was this year’s Terrier group contender.
Second place in the Terrier group went to last year’s number two, Jenny the Welsh Terrier. Third went to the Norfolk Terrier, a dog who brought his famous retired professional handler, Peter Green, back into the ring as an exhibitor. Green has won Best in Show at Westminster four times in the past and is now a respected judge.
Fourth went to the Dandie Dinmont, who literally asked for it when the judge walked up to her and she barked. Although Vogue the Bedlington won the crowd with her limbering-up stretches before starting her strut down the ring, she didn’t make the final cut. (The Welsh Terrier also caught the crowd’s attention with her posing and attitude.) But the Scotty, Airedale, Lakeland, and Jack Russell Terriers did.
Best in Show came down to Matisse, the Portuguese Water Dog; Charlie, the Skye Terrier; Swagger, the Old English Sheepdog; Miss P, the 15-inch Beagle; Flame, the Standard Poodle; Liz, the English Springer; and Rocket, the Shih Tzu. It was one of the strongest lineups in recent memory.
The crowd roots for all, but Miss P is the obvious audience favorite, followed by Swagger. But this award is decided by one man.
Reserve Best in Show goes to the Skye Terrier.
And (drumroll) Best in Show: It’s Miss P the Beagle!
Miss P is the sixth Hound to win Best in Show. She’s related to Uno, undoubtedly the most popular Best in Show winner in recent history — and now she’s both the crowd favorite and judge favorite!
If you missed the action, check your local listings as there are plenty of opportunities to catch a rebroadcast. You also can follow the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. See you next year!
Read more about the 2015 Westminster Kennel Club dog show:
- Who Will Win Westminster? Our Predictions for the First Day of the Dog Show
- We Were Right! Miss P, Flame, and Swagger Win at Westminster
- Who Will Win Westminster? Our Predictions for the Final Day of the Dog Show
- Westminster Champions Unite to Save the Horse-Drawn Carriages in New York City