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Photos Show The Dogs That Won Westminster's Best In Show Title Through The Years
Monty was crowned Best in Show in 2025.
Andres Kudacki/Getty Images
- The Westminster Kennel Club dog show crowned its 149th winner on Tuesday.
- This year's winner was Monty, a giant schnauzer.
- In honor of Monty, we've found photos of some of the Best in Show winners throughout history.
The 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show wrapped up in New York on February 11, crowning a new winner: Hearthmore's Wintergreen Mountain, aka Monty.
Monty is the first giant schnauzer in Westminster's history to win the Best in Show title.
Westminster is one of the oldest and most famous dog shows in the world, with days of competition and lots of moving parts behind the scenes.
While it only costs $100 to enter a dog in the show, caring for a show dog involves many other expenses. In 2018, CNBC reported it can cost up to $250,000 a year to get a dog to a big show like Westminster, with expenses like grooming, veterinary services, and promotion. Trainers alone can cost hundreds of dollars per day.
Additionally, adopting a giant schnauzer— the breed of this year's winner — can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500.
Despite the high costs of preparing and ultimately winning the competition, the champion isn't awarded a money prize. Instead, they take home a series of trophies and ribbons for their efforts.
If you're more interested in dog shows from afar — and don't want to spend thousands of dollars — you can take a look at 45 Best in Show winners here, dating back to 1913.
1913: Strathtay Prince Albert, an English bulldogStrathtay Prince Albert.
Public Domain
After he won the title, The New York Times called this pup "a solidly set, solemn-faced type of the breed."
1915 and 1916: Matford Vic, a wire fox terrierMatford Vic.
Public Domain
Matford Vic won the top honor back-to-back in both 1915 and 1916, according to The New York Times.
1917 and 1920: Conejo Wycollar Boy, a wire fox terrierConejo Wycollar Boy.
Public Domain
Conejo was described by The New York Times as an "aggressive terrier."
1922: Boxwood Barkentine, an Airedale terrierBoxwood Barkentine.
Public Domain
The American Kennel Club calls the Airedale terrier a "friendly, clever, [and] courageous" breed.
1945: Shieling's Signature, a Scottish terrierShieling's Signature.
William C. Shrout/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Three American presidents have had Scottish terriers: Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and George W. Bush, according to Petful.
1955: Kippax Fearnought, an English bulldogKippax Fearnought.
Bettmann / Contributor
Even though they're adorable, bulldogs' smashed snouts make breathing difficult for them.
1956: Wilber White Swan, a toy poodleWilber White Swan.
Bill Quinn/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Wilber won Best in Show just 14 years after the American Kennel Club recognized toy poodles as a breed.
1957: Shirkhan of Grandeur, an Afghan houndCo-owner Sunny Shay and Shirkhan of Grandeur.
Los Angeles Examiner/USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images
Shirkhan of Grandeur was the first Afghan hound to win the competition. The champion is pictured with one of its owners, Sunny Shay.
1964: Courtenay Fleetfoot of Pennyworth, a whippetCourtenay Fleetfoot of Pennyworth.
Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Courtenay Fleetfoot took a portrait as fancy as his name.
1965: Carmichael's Fanfare, a Scottish terrierCarmichael's Fanfare.
Bob Gomel/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
She didn't actually respond to Carmichael's Fanfare — her "real" name was Mamie, according to The New York Times.
1968: Stingray of Derryabah, a Lakeland terrierStingray of Derryabah.
H. William Tetlow/Fox Photos/Getty Images
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 boxerArriba's Prima Donna.
Ron Frehm/AP Images
"She is bringing elegance back to boxers," Anna Katherine Nicholas, that year's judge, told The New York Times.
1975: Sir Lancelot of Barvan, old English sheepdogSir Lancelot of Barvan.
Dick Loek/Toronto Star via Getty Images
When he was at home in Canada with his owners, Ronald and Barbara Vanword, he was known simply as Dudley.
Before the win, the 3-year-old dog had been Best in Show in Canada 20 times, The New York Times reported in 1975.
1982: St. Aubrey Dragonora of Elsdon, a PekingeseSt. Aubrey Dragonora of Elsdon.
Bettmann / Contributor via Getty Images
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 PomeranianGreat Elms Prince Charming II.
Bettmann / Contributor via Getty Images
Prince Charming was small enough to fit inside the trophy. Pomeranians can weigh as little as three pounds.
1996: Clussexx Country Sunrise, a clumber spanielClussexx Country Sunrise.
JON LEVY/AFP/Getty Images
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 schnauzerParsifal Di Casa Netzer.
Adam Nadel/AP Images
Schnauzers come in three sizes: giant, standard, and miniature.
1998: Fairewood Frolic, a Norwich terrierFairewood Frolic.
Ron Frehm/AP Images
Fairewood Frolic, who went by Rocki, was two weeks pregnant at the time of her win.
1999: Loteki Supernatural Being, a PapillonLoteki Supernatural Being.
Jon Gordon/Getty Images
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 must 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 spanielSalilyn 'N Erin's Shameless.
Mark Lennihan/AP Images
What a mouthful — her call name, or actual name, was Samantha.
2001: Special Times Just Right, a bichon friseSpecial Times Just Right.
Mark Lennihan/AP Images
Bichon frises, with their fluffy white coats, are among the most hypoallergenic dogs out there.
2002: Surrey Spice Girl, a miniature poodleSurrey Spice Girl.
Ron Frehm/AP Images
According to The New York Times, that year's judge, W. Everett Dean Jr., said of Surrey Spice Girl: "She was gorgeous. Size, balance, coat, feet, movement, she had it all. She never took a wrong step."
2003: Torums Scarf Michael, a Kerry blue terrierTorums Scarf Michael.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
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 NewfoundlandDarbydale's All Rise Pouch Cove.
Stephen Chernin/Getty Images
The Star-Ledger reported that 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 pointerKan-Point's VJK Autumn Roses.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Autumn Roses, better known as Carlee, was the second-ever German shorthaired pointer — and she was descended from the first winner, according to ESPN.
2006: Rocky Top's Sundance Kid, a bull terrierRocky Top's Sundance Kid.
STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images
The American Kennel Club describes bull terriers as "playful, charming, and mischievous."
2007: Felicity's Diamond Jim, an English springer spanielFelicity's Diamond Jim.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
"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, according to The New York Times.
2008: K-Run's Park Me In First, a beagleK-Run's Park Me In First.
Joe Kohen/WireImage)
K-Run's Park Me In First, aka Uno, was the first Westminster winner to visit the White House. He met President George W. Bush.
2009: Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee, a Sussex spanielClussexx Three D Grinchy Glee.
Janette Pellegrini/WireImage
Stump, the call name of Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee, was the oldest Westminster winner ever, at age 10.
2010: Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, a Scottish terrierRoundtown Mercedes of Maryscot.
Chris Hondros/Getty Images
Roundtown Mercedes won over 100 top prizes.
2011: Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, a Scottish deerhoundFoxcliffe Hickory Wind.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Scottish deerhounds can reach over 100 pounds, making Foxcliffe one of the largest winners.
2012: Palacegarden Malachy, a PekingesePalacegarden Malachy.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
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 AffenpinscherBanana Joe V Tani Kazari.
STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images
"This isn't a breed you train. He's like a human. You befriend him," Banana Joe's handler, Ernesto Lara, told The New York Times.
2014: Afterall Painting The Sky, a wire fox terrierAfterall Painting The Sky.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Wire fox terriers have won Best in Show 15 times, more than any other breed.
2015: Tashtins Lookin' For Trouble, a beagleTashtins Lookin' For Trouble.
Dave Kotinsky/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
If you want to end up like this pup, affectionately called Miss P., it can cost an owner up to $250,000 to get their dog to Westminster, reported CNBC in 2018. It's likely even more now.
2016: C.J., or Vjk-Myst Garbonita's California Journey, a German shorthaired pointerVjk-Myst Garbonita's California Journey.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
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 shepherdRumor Has It.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Rumor welcomed a litter of eight puppies in August 2017.
2018: Belle Creek's All I Care About Is Love, a bichon friseBelle Creek's All I Care About Is Love.
IMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
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 terrierKingarthur Van Foliny Home.
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
In 2019, the wire fox terriers continued their Best in Show dominance, with Kingarthur taking the crown.
2020: Stone Run Afternoon Tea, a standard poodleStone Run Afternoon Tea.
Carlo Allegri/Reuters
This immaculately groomed pooch, also known as Siba to her owners, was the fifth poodle to win Best in Show at Westminster and the first since 2002.
2021: Pequest Pickwick, a PekingeseWasabi.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
Wasabi, as he's also known, was the fifth Pekingese to win, and the first since 2012's champion Palacegarden Malachy.
2022: Flessner's Toot My Own Horn, a bloodhoundTrumpet.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Trumpet, as his owners call him, was the first bloodhound to ever win Best in Show at Westminster. We bet his very floppy ears helped him take the night's top prize.
2023: Soletrader Buddy Holly, a petit basset griffon VendéenBuddy Holly.
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
Buddy Holly was the first PBGV to win Best in Show at Westminster.
"I never thought a PBGV would do this," handler and co-owner Janice Hayes told AP News. "Buddy Holly is the epitome of a show dog. Nothing bothers him."
2024: Surrey Sage, a miniature poodleSurrey Sage.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
Sage, as she's known to her owners and handlers, is the fourth miniature poodle to win Best in Show — the breed previously won in 1943, 1959, and 2002.
2025: Hearthmore's Winter Green, a giant schnauzerHearthmore's Winter Green.
Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
This "giant" guy who goes by Monty made Westminster history as the first giant schnauzer to win Best in Show.
Read the original article on Business Insider
