- The 143rd Westminster Dog Show was held on February 11 and 12, 2019, in New York City.
- Many breeds have had a chance at the Best in Show award over the years, with the wire fox terrier a regular favorite – and in fact, a wire fox terrier won in 2019.
- In 1913, Strathtay Prince Albert, an English bulldog, was the winner. In 2001, it was bichon frise Special Times Just Right.
The Westminster Dog Show is one of the biggest dog shows in the world. It was established in 1877 by the Westminster Kennel Club, and is the “oldest organization dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs.”
In honor of the 2019 show, we’ve found photos of the Best in Show winners throughout history.
Keep scrolling to see the “best” dogs of the past century.
1913: Strathtay Prince Albert, an English bulldog
The New York Times called this pup “a solidly set, solemn-faced type of the breed.”
1915 and 1916: Matford Vic, a wire fox terrier
Matford Vic won the top honor back-to-back in both 1915 and 1916.
1917 and 1920: Conejo Wycollar Boy, a wire fox terrier
Conejo was described by The New York Times as an "aggressive terrier."
1922: Boxwood Barkentine, an Airedale terrier
The American Kennel Club calls the Airedale terrier a "friendly, clever, [and] courageous" breed.
1945: Shieling's Signature, a Scottish terrier
Three American presidents have had Scottish terriers: Roosevelt, Eisenhower and George W. Bush.
1955: Kippax Fearnought, an English bulldog
Even though they're adorable, bulldogs' smashed snouts make breathing difficult for them.
1956: Wilber White Swan, a toy poodle
Wilber won Best in Show just 14 years after the American Kennel Club recognized toy poodles as a breed.
1964: Courtenay Fleetfoot of Pennyworth, a whippet
Courtenay Fleetfoot took a portrait as fancy as his name.
1965: Carmichael's Fanfare, a Scottish terrier
She didn't actually respond to Carmichael's Fanfare - her "real" name was Mamie.
1968: Stingray of Derryabah, a Lakeland terrier
Stingray was one of only two dogs in history to win both the Westminster Dog Show and Crufts - the two biggest dog shows in the world.
1970: Arriba's Prima Donna, a boxer
"She is bringing elegance back to boxers," said Anna Katherine Nicholas, that year's judge.
1982: St. Aubrey Dragonora of Elsdon, a Pekingese
St. Aubrey, or Lee Lee as she was known, retired the year after she won Best in Show.
1988: Great Elms Prince Charming II, a Pomeranian
Prince Charming was small enough to fit inside the trophy. Pomeranians can weigh as little as three pounds.
1996: Clussexx Country Sunrise, a clumber spaniel
While the name comes from an estate in England, no one is sure where the clumber spaniel came from.
1997: Parsifal Di Casa Netzer, a standard schnauzer
Schnauzers come in three sizes: giant, standard, and miniature.
1998: Fairewood Frolic, a Norwich terrier
Fairewood Frolic, who went by Rocki, was two weeks pregnant at the time of her win.
1999: Loteki Supernatural Being, a Papillon
Why the long name? According to the American Kennel Club, there are specific rules for naming your dog, including choosing both a kennel name and a litter name. You also much register each competing dog's name, to ensure no overlap. So, Loteki Supernatural Being it is.
2000: Salilyn 'N Erin's Shameless, an English springer spaniel
What a mouthful - her call name, or actual name, was Samantha.
2001: Special Times Just Right, a bichon frise
Bichons frises, with their fluffy white coats, are among the most hypoallergenic dogs out there.
2002: Surrey Spice Girl, a miniature poodle
"She was gorgeous. Size, balance, coat, feet, movement, she had it all. She never took a wrong step," said that year's judge, W. Everett Dean Jr., about Surrey Spice Girl.
2003: Torums Scarf Michael, a Kerry blue terrier
Torums Scarf Michael, also known as Mike, won the Westminster Dog Show in 2003, solidifying his spot in history. He was, and still is, the only dog to have won the "Triple Crown" of dog shows: Westminster, Crofts, and the AKC/Eukanuba National Invitational.
2004: Darbydale's All Rise Pouch Cove, a Newfoundland
This gentle giant, better known as Josh, worked as a therapy dog after his big win.
2005: Kan-Point's VJK Autumn Roses, a German shorthaired pointer
Autumn Roses, better known as Carlee, was the second-ever German shorthaired pointer - and she was descended from the first winner.
2006: Rocky Top's Sundance Kid, a bull terrier
The American Kennel Club describes bull terriers as "playful, charming, and mischievous."
2007: Felicity's Diamond Jim, an English springer spaniel
"I had a lot of great dogs to choose from. But this one stood out. He had that look in his eye that said, 'It's my night.' He had great temperament. It was an honor to judge him," said judge Robert Indeglia.
2008: K-Run's Park Me In First, a beagle
K-Run's Park Me In First, aka Uno, was the first Westminster winner to visit the White House, when he met George W. Bush.
2009: Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee, a Sussex spaniel
Stump, the call name of Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee, was the oldest winner of Westminster ever at age 10.
2010: Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, a Scottish terrier
Roundtown Mercedes won over 100 top prizes.
2011: Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, a Scottish deerhound
Scottish deerhounds can reach over 100 pounds, making Foxcliffe one of the largest winners.
2012: Palacegarden Malachy, a Pekingese
According to the American Kennel Club, Chinese legend states that the Buddha created the Pekingese dog by shrinking down a lion to dog-size. We can see the resemblance.
2013: Banana Joe V Tani Kazari, an Affenpinscher
"This isn't a breed you train. He's like a human. You befriend him," said Banana Joe's handler, Ernesto Lara.
2014: Afterall Painting The Sky, a wire fox terrier
Wire fox terriers have won Best in Show 15 times, more than any other breed.
2015: Tashtins Lookin' For Trouble, a beagle
If you want to end up like this pup, affectionately called Miss P., it can cost an owner anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 to get their dog to Westminster.
2016: C.J., or Vjk-Myst Garbonita's California Journey, a German shorthaired pointer
Handler Valerie Nunes-Atkinson sits beside German shorthaired pointer C.J. after he won Best in Show on February 16, 2016.
2017: Rumor Has It, a German shepherd
Rumor welcomed a litter of eight puppies in August 2017.
2018: Belle Creek's All I Care About Is Love, a bichon frise
This good boy, who answers to Flynn, beat almost 3,000 dogs to win Best in Show.
2019: Kingarthur Van Foliny Home, a wire fox terrier.
And in 2019, the wire fox terriers continued their Best in Show dominance, with Kingarthur taking the crown.
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