A 5-year-old male Giant Schnauzer named “Monty” (MBIS/MBISS GCHG Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB) got down to business and captured his 65th Best in Show at the 149th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Presented by Purina Pro Plan. He is the first Giant Schnauzer in history to win Best in Show.
Winning was exhilarating and bittersweet for owner-handler Katie Bernardin, of Chaplin, Connecticut, as she took her last lap around the show ring with the Giant Schnauzer she and her family raised from a puppy and who is now retiring.
“It takes a lot of hard work to win,” Bernardin said. “Monty always knows when it’s important. He always tries so hard, and I am so proud of him.”
The No. 1 all-breed dog in the country in 2024, Monty won the AKC National Championship and the Giant Schnauzer Club of America National Specialty in 2024. From the beginning, he was a fast-achiever who placed fourth in the Working Group at Westminster in 2022 at 2 years of age. He is a three-time Westminster Working Group winner, having won the past three years.
The Westminster Dog Show, held Feb. 10 and 11 in New York City, marked a return to Madison Square Garden after five years and to the February time slot. More than 2,500 dogs representing 213 breeds and varieties competed for top honors. The show, which aired live on FS1, is the longest nationally televised live dog show.
Monty is the 18th of the past 19 Westminster Best in Show winners fed Purina Pro Plan dog food. Purina Pro Plan has been the exclusive pet food sponsor of the Westminster Dog Show since 2012.
Bernardin, who won Best Junior Handler at Westminster in 2004, said, “It feels incredible to win. This has been my dream ever since I was a junior handler.”
Monty’s show record is similar to that of his sire, “Ty” (MBIS/MBISS GCHG Ingebar’s Tynan Dances With Wildflowers), the No. 1 all-breed dog in the country in 2017. Ty, who is the top-winning sire in the breed, won Reserve Best in Show at Westminster in 2018 and the Working Group at the AKC National Championship in 2016 and 2019. He is a two-time winner of the Giant Schnauzer Club of America National Specialty.
Monty was bred by Cherlann Ambrose, of Pemberton Township, New Jersey. He is co-owned by Sandra Nordstrom, of Ocean City, New Jersey, Bernardin and Ambrose. Monty is fed Pro Plan All-Life Stages SPORT Performance 30/20 Salmon & Rice Formula dog food.
Along with Monty, the Westminster Group winners include:
Reserve Best in Show and Hound Group Winner
“Bourbon,” a 9 1/2-year-old female Whippet, handled by breeder-owner Cheslie Pickett Smithey, of Sugar Valley, Georgia.
MBIS/MBISS GCHP Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon returned to the Westminster ring, where she won Reserve Best in Show in 2020 and 2021. The top-winning Whippet in AKC history, Bourbon etched a place in history with 108 Bests in Show. The No. 1 Hound in 2019 and 2020, Bourbon was the No. 2 all-breed dog in 2020 and was No. 3 in 2019. She and her littermate brother, “Whiskey” (MBIS/MBISS GCHP Pinnacle Tennessee Whiskey), are the first and only littermates to both be the No. 1 Hound and to both win the AKC National Championship and the American Whippet Club National Specialty, which Bourbon won three times.
Bourbon was bred by Justin Smithey and Yvonne Sovereign and is owned by Dr. Kenneth Latimer, Judy Descutner, Nancy Shaw, Justin Smithey, and Cheslie Smithey. She is fed Pro Plan All-Life Stages SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula dog food.
Sporting Group Winner
“Freddie,” a 6-year-old male English Springer Spaniel, handled by Robin Novack, of Milan, Illinois.
MBIS/MBISS GCHP Telltale Bohemian Rhapsody has won 94 Bests in Show. In 2024, he was the No. 4 all-breed dog and the No. 1 Sporting dog for the second consecutive year. Freddie is a two-time winner of the Flushing Spaniel Show, having won in 2023 and 2024, and he won the English Springer Spaniel National Specialty in 2024. He is from the last litter bred under the Telltale prefix before it was retired in 2019. Telltale was established by the late Delores Streng in the 1960s and produced over 600 champions.
Freddie was bred by Celie Florence, Novack and Beth Fink and is owned by Fink, Liz Pike, Judy Vanderlip, Gina Paulucci and Susan Hatch. He is fed Pro Plan All-Life Stages SPORT Performance 30/20 Salmon & Rice Formula dog food.
Terrier Group Winner
“Archer,” an 8-year-old male Skye Terrier, handled by Antoinelle Vulpis, of Flemington, New Jersey.
MBIS/MBISS GCHS Gleanntan’s Sure Shot Greyjoy is the first show dog for Vulpis, who co-owns him with Frank Vulpis. Archer won Best in Show at the Montgomery County All-Terrier show in October 2024, as well as Best of Breed from the Veterans class at the Skye Terrier National Specialty held that weekend. He is two-time winner of the National Specialty and has won the roving specialty.
Archer was bred by Allen Smith and Gleanntan Kennels. He is fed Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula dog food.
Toy Group Winner
“Comet,” a 4-year-old gold-and-white male Shih Tzu, handled by breeder-owner Luke Ehricht, of Monclova, Ohio.
MBIS/MBISS GCHP Hallmark Jolei Out Of This World is a two-time Westminster Toy Group winner, having also won in 2024. He was the No. 1 all-breed dog in the country in 2023 and though shown sparingly in 2024 was the No. 3 all-breed dog. Comet is the winner of 116 Bests in Show, which includes winning the AKC National Championship in 2023. The No. 1 all-systems Shih Tzu since 2022, Comet has won four Shih Tzu National Specialties. He represents the sixth generation of No. 1 Shih Tzu bred by Hallmark Jolei that have earned a combined total of more than 353 Bests in Show.
Comet was bred by Ehricht and his wife, Diane Ehricht. He is owned by Bonnie J. Miller, DVM, and the Ehrichts. The dazzling Shih Tzu is fed Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Lamb & Oat Meal Formula dog food.
Non-Sporting Group Winner
“Neal,” a 4 1/2-year-old old male Bichon Frise, handled by Lisa Bettis, of Goshen, Indiana.
MBIS/MBISS GCHS Top Speed Neal was already a champion and a Best In Show winner in his native country of China and in Korea when he began his Specials career in the U.S. in January 2024. The winner of 20 Bests in Show, Neal won the Non-Sporting Group at the AKC National Championship in 2024. He also won the Bichon Frise National Specialty in 2024.
Neal was bred by Cuibin Xie of China and is owned by Ellen Charles, Fan Yang, Nancy Brown, and Glen Lajeski. Neal is fed Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula dog food.
Herding Group Winner
“Mercedes,” a 5-year-old female German Shepherd Dog, handled by Kent Boyles, of Edgerton, Wisconsin.
MBIS/MBISS GCHP Kaleef’s Mercedes, the No. 2 all-breed dog in the country been the No. 1 all-systems German Shepherd Dog for the past two years. In 2023, she won Reserve Best in Show at the AKC National Championship. She is a Grand Victrix winner in both the U.S. and Canada.
Mercedes was bred by Sheree Moses Combs along with Lauren Arbaugh, Madeline Llewelyn, and Jeanne Hamilton. She is co-owned by Moses Combs and Cynthian Wilhelmy.
Congratulations to these 2025 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show winners!
