Skip to main content

Meet Penny, the Pup That Just Won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Could your fluffy friend wow the judges in America’s most prestigious dog contest? (We want to believe!) Competition is always fierce at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and this year, the bar was even higher for the four-legged participants and their two-legged owners and handlers. After all, 2026 marked the 150th anniversary of the popular dog event, and who wouldn’t want to make history in this milestone year?

If you missed it, this year’s Best in Show winner was crowned at Madison Square Garden in New York City just last night. And we now count ourselves among her biggest fans—yes, the winner’s a female pup!—not only because of her standout performance but also for her touching backstory with her handler.

So how did America’s best dog capture the hearts of the judges? Was she an unexpected champion or one of the breeds that always win Westminster? Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Best in Show.

Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more pets, cleaning, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.

Which dog took home Best in Show in 2026?

The title of Best in Show went to Penny, a 4-year-old female Doberman pinscher. Her win marks the fifth time in history that a Doberman took home the top prize.

Penny, whose official name is GCHP CH Connquest Best of Both Worlds, had never competed at the Westminster dog show, but her handler, Andy Linton, is a veteran of the scene—he also handled Indy, the last Doberman to take Best in Show, in 1989. Linton is a highly experienced dog handler, and despite having Parkinson’s disease, he continues to help his four-legged partners thrive in the ring.

“The dog was giving it back to Andy because Andy has his own struggles, and that’s what dogs do, that unconditional love,” said Fox Sports commentator Jason Hoke, who also called Penny’s performance in the finals a “perfect show.” Linton himself called Penny “as great a Doberman as I have ever seen” and said winning at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was “extra special.”

Before advancing to the finals, Penny had to win among her own breed as well as in the working dog group. And girl, do they work: Dobermans were first developed as protection dogs in the late 19th century by Karl Friedrich Louis Doberman, a German tax collector, and they’ve since been used in police and military service, including with the United States Marine Corps in World War II. They are known to be very intelligent, fast-learning and family-friendly dogs who aim to protect their loved ones at all times.

Penny’s victory didn’t go down without controversy, though. Dobermans are known for their cropped ears and docked tails, which has become a controversial practice among dog lovers. On social media, some fans of the dog show voiced their disappointment that the judges had rewarded a handler who had subjected his dog to these alterations.

Why is Penny’s win such a big deal?

For one thing, there was more competition! This year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show saw more than 3,000 dogs in the ring—roughly 500 more than in 2025. Participants hailed from all 50 states and 17 other countries, and there was a new addition to the eligible breeds: the Danish-Swedish farmdog. That inclusion brought the number of American Kennel Club–recognized breeds competing this year to 202.

Best in Show is a competition between the seven dogs who won within their respective groups. At the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, it’s all about coming closest to the breed’s ideal. Cuteness and popularity are less important. In fact, the most beloved dog breeds usually don’t win (sorry, golden retrievers!).

While competition is always high, breeders and handlers aren’t there for the prize money—because there isn’t any. Instead, the winning pup gets trophies, ribbons and big-time fame and glory, at least in the dog show world. That said, owners can earn some cash with the title afterward.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is regarded as the No. 1 dog show in the world: Established in 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club is America’s oldest organization dedicated to the sport of dogs, and its annual dog show is the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the U.S., after the Kentucky Derby (which started in 1875). It’s also the longest nationally televised live dog show, airing since 1948.

Who were some of the other winners of the Westminster dog show?

While Penny won the most important trophy, there were some other notable dogs in this year’s contest. Here are the seven group winners:

  • Working group: Penny (GCHP CH Connquest Best of Both Worlds), Doberman pinscher
  • Sporting group: Cota (GCHP CH Next Generation’s Accelerate), Chesapeake Bay retriever (Reserve Best in Show)
  • Hound group: Zaida (GCHG CH Zaida Bint Muti Von Haussman), Afghan hound
  • Toy group: Cookie (GCHB CH Ta-Jon’s Made From Scratch), Maltese
  • Non-sporting group: JJ (GCHP CH Ta Sen Westgate Jingle Juice), Lhasa apso
  • Herding group: Graham (GCHB CH Bugaboo’s Give Me Smore’), Old English sheepdog
  • Terrier group: Wager (GCHB CH Aimhi Side Bet), Smooth fox terrier

And let’s give a shoutout to Millie, the Danish-Swedish farmdog making her Westminster debut! Another highlight of the show: Cota the Chesapeake Bay retriever jumping and grabbing his ribbon after he won the Sporting group.

But perhaps the most poignant part of the evening came in a tribute to the late Catherine O’Hara, who received a video “honorable mention” for her iconic portrayal of dog handler Cookie Fleck in the 2000 mockumentary Best in Show.

Who judges the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show?

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is judged by a panel of hand-picked dog experts, each licensed and approved by the American Kennel Club. This organization is considered the most trustworthy of its kind when it comes to breed, health and training. There are different expert judges for breeds and skills, plus a special Best in Show judge.

This year, the Best in Show judge was David Fitzpatrick, a lifelong dog fan, professional handler, exhibitor and breeder. The judges are not only there to assess a dog’s confidence, temperament and appearance, but they can also disqualify dogs if they bite, have had any unsanctioned procedures done or don’t meet the contest’s strict height and weight standards.

Can any dog participate in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show?

No, the rules are exclusive and strict, and the contest is invitation-only. For starters, all participating dogs have to be of an approved breed, so your beloved mixed-breed mutt is out of luck. To qualify for a spot, the dogs (er, their owners) have to show proof that they’ve successfully participated in other AKC dog shows. Only the top five dogs in each breed are invited to enter, provided they are already AKC champions. So if you’re hoping to get your fury friend crowned at one of the next editions of the prestigious event, you’d better start planning right now!

RELATED:

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

  • American Kennel Club: “Doberman Pinscher”
  • American Kennel Club: “Meet the 2026 Westminster Group Winners”
  • Reuters: “Doberman named Penny wins Westminster dog show”
  • AP News: “Penny the Doberman pinscher wins the 150th Westminster dog show”
  • ABC News: “2026 Westminster Dog Show crowns winner tonight: What to know”
  • CBC News: “Doberman pinscher Penny wins the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show”
  • Kentucky Derby: “About”
  • Pure Dog Talk: “Legendary handler Andy Linton on quality, conditioning and presentation”
  • The New York Times: “Westminster Dog Show Highlights: Penny, a Statuesque Doberman Pinscher, Captures Best in Show”

Can You Bring Your Dog to Costco?

Popular Dog Names in Each State

What Do Dogs Really Like?

The post Meet Penny, the Pup That Just Won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show appeared first on Reader's Digest.



from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/ML1ekbN
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

41 of the Most Useful Mac Keyboard Shortcuts

Everyone wants everything they do on their computer to be fast. Their Internet connection, the speed they type, and how quickly they can save, open, and alter documents. These mac keyboard shortcuts can help you do just that. Try out these Mac hotkeys to make your browsing, typing, and viewing experiences a little more convenient. Here are some keyboard shortcuts that will make web browsing so much easier . Mac keyboard shortcuts allow you to do things on your computer that would typically require you to use a mouse, trackpad, or another device with a combination of the keys on your keyboard. To find the Mac shortcuts that are already set up on your device, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts. From there you can look through the different mac keyboard shortcuts that are set up for your keyboard, launchpad and dock, Mission Control, Spotlight, and so on. To change an existing shortcut you can select the one you want to change, click on the key combination, and then ty...
Post a Comment
Read more

30 Math Puzzles (with Answers) to Test Your Smarts

Math is not everyone’s favorite, understandably. Hours of math homework and difficult equations can make anyone sour on the subject. But when math problems are outside of a school setting, there’s no time limit to do them, and they’ve got a fun, more whimsical concept than just finding x, they can be great activities for kids. (And adults, of course!) They test your brain and critical thinking skills, provide some constructive, educational fun,  and  provide tangible examples of math lessons you’ll actually use in real life . Math puzzles come in plenty of different varieties, too. Some more straightforward number puzzles do require calculations to find the solution. Others are more like logic puzzles and challenge you to look for a pattern. Still others present the puzzle through pictures, making them great for visual learners. From  Reader’s Digest ‘s “Mind Stretchers” books, these math puzzles have a bit of everything! If you’re more of a riddles person, we’ve got reg...
Post a Comment
Read more

Will Cicadas Destroy Your Garden? 10 Things You Need to Know

It’s easy to wince thinking about the mass emergence of insects like cicadas. Their numbers can reach millions per acre, creating a near-deafening buzzing chorus. So it’s understandable that questions like, “Will cicadas eat my plants?” immediately spring to mind. But cicadas are also pretty fascinating and play important roles in the ecosystem. “Cicadas inspire wonder in our world!” says Jennifer Hopwood, senior pollinator conservation specialist at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “They spend most of their life underground next to the same plant roots. Somehow, these creatures are able to track the years that pass by and time their emergence with other periodical cicadas in the region to overwhelm predators. They are amazing little critters.” Here’s a rundown of what to know about cicadas, good and bad, including whether or not they eat plants and how to protect your trees during an emergence. Get Readers Digest s Read Up newsletter for more gardening, humor, cl...
Post a Comment
Read more