It might be the day for Vendéen, the small basset griffon named after Buddy Holly. The Pekingese might also win the Westminster Kennel Club dog show for the third time in a little over ten years.
What about the French bulldog that came very close to winning last year? Or will Ribbon receive the purple and gold best in show ribbon?
Along with three other yet-to-be-determined finalists, Buddy Holly the PBGV, Rummie the Peke, Winston the Frenchie, and Ribbon the Australian shepherd will compete in the Westminster Kennel Club dog show finals on Tuesday.
After successfully passing the first two rounds of judging on Monday, the top four were given the opportunity to compete for the best in show prize. Each dog first defeated canines of the same breed, then canines in the same “group” (such as hounds or toy dogs).
Australian dog Ribbon is “like the fun girl at the party,” according to trainer Jessica Plourde. Buddy Holly is “just a PBGV through-and-through,” according to handler and co-owner Janice Hayes. (The jovial, low-slung French rabbit-hunting breed is officially known by the pronunciation peh-TEE’ bah-SAY’ grihf-FAHN’ vahn-DAY’-ahn.)
David Fitzpatrick, who has led two previous Pekes to Westminster victories—Malachy in 2012 and Wasabi in 2021—is Rummie’s handler, owner, and breeder. He added that Rummie has what it takes as well.
Fitzpatrick remarked, “He moves so well, according to the Pekingese type, with tonnes of carriage and presence — everything in one, here.
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Winston, a Frenchie, finished second at Westminster the previous year and went on to win the Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s National Dog Show last autumn. As of rankings published in March, he is now representing the dog breed that is most common in the country.
After Winston’s exuberant appearance, which featured an unexpected leap into a decorative box in the middle of the ring, handler and co-owner Perry Payson commented, “Just steals your heart.”
But even though those four were the chosen finalists, there were still some more contenders.
There was the bloodhound that displayed a profound bow in front of the judge, the shiba inu handled by a 10-year-old, and the Ibizan hound that Alexandria Mitchell, the breeder, owner, and handler, guided to a superb performance.
Hugo, an Ibizan hound, survived the judge’s initial selection. That is an accomplishment for a breeder-owner-handler at a show where many exhibitors work as professional dog handlers.
Mitchell, from Benton Harbour, Michigan, remarked, “I’m speechless right now.
Although it is not unheard of in dog exhibiting, Audra Maes, at the age of 10, was decades younger than many other handlers in the televised semifinals. However, the Denver girl succinctly summed up the experience: “It was pretty cool.”
