In a triumphant final appearance, a miniature poodle named Sage won the top prize at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club dog show on Tuesday night. The victory was especially meaningful for Sage’s handler, Kaz Hosaka, who announced his retirement after 45 years of competing and two best in show wins.
A miniature poodle hadn’t won at Westminster in over 20 years.
Sage’s win marked the 11th time a poodle of various sizes has won the coveted title at Westminster, second only to wire fox terriers. The last miniature poodle to take the trophy was Spice, also handled by Hosaka, in 2002. Hosaka, visibly emotional in the ring, expressed his happiness and excitement at Sage’s outstanding performance.
The inky-black poodle bested six other finalists to claim the best in show title. The runner-up was Mercedes, a German shepherd whose handler, Kent Boyles, had also previously shepherded a best in show winner. The other finalists included Comet, a shih tzu; Monty, a giant schnauzer; Louis, an Afghan hound; Micah, a black cocker spaniel; and Frankie, a colored bull terrier.
During Sage’s victory lap, a protester carrying a sign urging people to “boycott breeders” attempted to enter the ring but was swiftly intercepted by security personnel. Police and the animal rights group PETA reported that three demonstrators were arrested, although charges have not yet been determined.
In an event where all competitors are champions in the dog showing point system, winning often comes down to subtle details and a standout performance at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the venue for the U.S. Open tennis tournament. Best in show judge Rosalind Kramer praised the final lineup as “excellent, glorious.”
Throughout the competition, several dogs captured the hearts of the audience, including a lagotto Romagnolo named Harry, who sat up and begged for a treat from his handler, and a vizsla named Fletcher, who charmed spectators by jumping up on his handler after completing a spin around the ring. Other crowd favorites included a playful great Pyrenees called Sebastian and a Doberman pinscher named Emilio.
While the best in show winner receives a trophy and a place in dog-world history, there is no cash prize. The Westminster show, which dates back to 1877, primarily focuses on traditional purebred judging but has expanded over the last decade to include agility and obedience events open to mixed-breed dogs.
This year, the agility competition saw its first non-purebred winner, a border collie-papillon mix named Nimble.
Judge Kramer concluded the event by thanking all dogs, whether they were house dogs or show dogs, acknowledging their importance in making our lives whole.