The 2026 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was held in New York this week, celebrating its 150th anniversary the best way it knows how — with a plethora of perfect pups.
This year’s Westminster Dog Show featured over 2,500 entrants from across the world, all of whom were already American Kennel Club champions in their own right. These dogs were categorised into seven groups: Sporting, Herding, Working, Toy, Hound, Non-Sporting, and Terrier. The winner of each group then went on to compete for the coveted title of Best in Show, with dogs individually judged according to the ideal standard for their breed.
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This year, the Westminster Kennel Club’s award for Best in Show went to four-year-old Doberman Pinscher Penny, the champion of the Working Group. Penny’s handler Andy Linton described her as generally “chill,” though she can get worked up by a “bad guy” or squirrel, while her co-owner Gregory Chan called her demanding, smart, and “a pleaser — she’ll do anything for food.”
Penny the Doberman Pinscher, winner of Best in Show and the Working Group.
Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
Reserve Best in Show went to Cota the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, winner of the Sporting Group. Presumably Cota will assume Penny’s duties as Best in Show if for any reason she cannot fulfil them.
Cota the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, winner of Reserve Best in Show and the Sporting Group.
Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
Zaida the Afghan Hound, winner of the Hound Group.
Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
Cookie the Maltese, winner of the Toy Group.
Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
JJ the Lhasa Aspo, winner of the Non-Sporting Group.
Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
Graham the Old English Sheepdog, winner of the Hearding Group.
Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
Wager the Smooth Fox Terrier, winner of the Terrier Group.
Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
