NEW YORK — The “Super Bowl of Dog Shows” reached its historic sesquicentennial Tuesday night as Penny, a four-year-old Doberman Pinscher, commanded the ring at Madison Square Garden to be named Best in Show at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
In a field of 2,500 entries representing 212 breeds and varieties, Penny—officially known as GCHP CH Connquest Best Of Both Worlds—became the fifth Doberman Pinscher in history to claim the silver bowl. The victory was a crowning moment for both the breed and her veteran handler, Andy Linton.
The win was particularly emotional for Linton, who returned to the winner’s circle 37 years after he handled the last Doberman to win Westminster’s top prize: Indy (Ch. Royal Tudor’s Wild As The Wind) in 1989.
“She is as great a Doberman as I’ve ever seen,” Linton said, visible tears of gratitude in his eyes as he reflected on the milestone. “I had some goals, and this was one of them. To win the 150th… it’s extra special.”
The Final Seven
The tension in “The World’s Most Famous Arena” peaked as the seven group winners took their final laps. This year’s Best in Show judge, David Fitzpatrick—himself a two-time Westminster Best in Show-winning handler—praised the quality of the lineup before making his final selection.
“You know they often say ‘what a great lineup,’” Fitzpatrick told the crowd. “But this is one that will go down in history.”
Fitzpatrick awarded Reserve Best in Show to Cota, a five-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Cota’s win marked a significant achievement for the “made in America” breed, which has never won Best in Show but was a heavy crowd favorite on Tuesday.
Penny emerged from the Working Group earlier on Tuesday evening to join the elite group of finalists:
| Group | Winner | Breed |
| Working | Penny | Doberman Pinscher |
| Sporting | Cota | Chesapeake Bay Retriever |
| Herding | Graham | Old English Sheepdog |
| Hound | Zaida | Afghan Hound |
| Non-Sporting | JJ | Lhasa Apso |
| Terrier | Wager | Smooth Fox Terrier |
| Toy | Cookie | Maltese |
Legacy of the 150th
As America’s second-longest continuously held sporting event, the 150th anniversary was a celebration of canine history. While the early rounds were held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the finals returned to the Garden, where the Doberman “royalty” was ultimately crowned.
Penny’s owners—Francis and Diana Sparagna, and Theresa and Gregory Chan—noted that despite her regal ring presence, Penny is a “pleaser” at home who will do anything for food and loves to be petted.
