More than 2,000 purebred dogs entered the ring at the 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, but only one of them would earn the coveted Best in Show title. Dogs from a whopping 185 breeds competed, but it was a perfect little Pekingese named Malachy that claimed victory this year.
With his black-masked face, fluffy hair, and slow-but-sweet gait, 4-year-old Malachy charmed the crowd and impressed WKC Best in Show judge Cindy Vogels.
“Super dog,” Vogels said of Malachy. “There’s a lot of dog in a small package.”
The mighty Pekingese had some stiff competition out there in the ring. Just one of seven Best in Group-winning dogs, Malachy strutted his stuff alongside a Wirehaired Dachshund, a Dalmatian, a German Shepherd, an Irish Setter, a Doberman Pinscher, and a Kerry Blue Terrier.
This was not Malachy’s first trip to the WKC ring; Malachy earned a Best in Group title at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, making it all the way to the Best in Show round but ultimately coming up just shy of the big prize. Hickory, a Scottish Deerhound, took the silver cup and ribbon last year.
Last night’s Best in Show win marks Malachy’s 115th overall Best in Show title. What’s next for the world’s most decorated pompom Pekingese? Proud handler and co-owner Michael Fitzpatrick told the press, “he’ll probably chase squirrels and he’ll be pampered.”
