The 147th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show took place yesterday, and it was a historic one for the petit basset griffon Vendéen (PBGV) breed. Buddy Holly, a 6-year-old male from Palm Springs, California, made history by becoming the first PBGV to win Best in Show. PBGVs are friendly and happy hound dogs originally bred in the Vendéen region of France for rabbit hunting. Buddy Holly’s handler and co-owner Janice Hayes expressed her joy after the win, stating that she never thought a PBGV would win the top prize. She also added that Buddy Holly was the epitome of a show dog, embodying all the qualities that make PBGVs great.
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the best-known dog show globally, and it is one of the longest-running sporting events in the United States. It has been called the “Super Bowl” of the dog show world, with more than 3,000 dogs from 210 breeds competing in this year’s competition. Competitors are split into seven groups: Hound, Toy, Terrier, Herding, Working, Sporting, and Non-Sporting, and evaluated by judges based on how well they represent the ideal standard of their breed, from specific physical characteristics to their agility and temperament.
Buddy Holly had the ideal appearance and temperament of his breed, with a balanced and compact body, long eyebrows, mustache, and a nicely tapered tail. He was also agile and had a great temperament, making him the perfect candidate for the Best in Show prize. In addition to Buddy Holly, Rummie the Pekingese, who was the winner of the toy group, was the runner-up. The other finalists were Winston the French bulldog, Ribbon the Australian shepherd, Cider the English setter, Monty the giant schnauzer, and Trouble the American Staffordshire terrier.
Terriers have done well at the competition, with the Wire Fox Terrier winning a record 15 times, and the Scottish Terrier right behind with 8 wins. They also have the most wins by group. However, some of the most popular dog breeds have surprisingly never taken home Best in Show, including the Labrador retriever, the golden retriever, the dachshund, and the French Bulldog.
This year’s ceremony also saw Tim McGraw’s Bracco Italiano dog Lepshi winning Best of Breed. McGraw announced on Instagram that he was proud of Lepshi and that he had always been a winner in their eyes. It was the first time the Bracco Italiano breed was included at Westminster.
In conclusion, Buddy Holly’s historic win at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has been a joyous moment for PBGV enthusiasts worldwide. With this victory, Buddy Holly has cemented his place in history as the first PBGV to win Best in Show. The dog show’s popularity and significance are evident in the number of breeds and participants. As always, it was a beautiful display of some of the world’s most exquisite and best-loved dogs.
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