Bigger Is Best This Year at Westminster Dog Show
America’s top dog is a big, slobbering champion named Josh.
The shiny, black Newfoundland won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, cheered on by a crowd that yelped its approval when he was picked Tuesday night.
Usually at this show, little dogs win and jump into the champion’s silver bowl. This time, the prize went to a dog more likely to drink out of it.
At 155 pounds, Josh tied for the biggest dog ever to win at Westminster. The other was the only other Newfoundland to win, in 1984.
Josh beat out several other popular show dogs, including a Norfolk terrier named Coco, a Pekingese called Les and a standard poodle named Miki, in winning his 46th career best-in-show title.
“He showed his heart out,” said handler Michelle Ostermiller. And the 4-year-old champion, officially called Darbydale’s All Rise Pouchcove, from Flemington, N.J., celebrated by barking -- his woofs echoing around Madison Square Garden.
Josh showed up the other 2,623 entries in America’s most prestigious dog show. The two-day competition featured 162 breeds and varieties.
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