She can cook. She can craft. She makes leading an extremely profitable multi-platform business conglomerate look easy. And now, Jill-of-all-trades Martha Stewart can add Champion Dog Owner to her long list of successes. Stewart’s Chow Chow, 2-year-old male Genghis Khan, conquered his furry competition at the 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, earning the coveted title Best of Breed.
Stewart, who co-owns Genghis with breeder Karen Tracy, announced the victory Monday morning on Twitter, gushing like a proud mama about her champion Chow and his handler, Jan Kolnik. “She knew he was the best,” Stewart said of Jan, “and he proved it by winning.”
Though Genghis won’t be advancing to the Best in Show round of the competition (Dalmatian GCH Spotlights Ruffian was named top dog in the Non-Sporting Group), his Best of Breed win is nonetheless impressive; according to breeder-owner Tracy, Genghis has only been a show dog for six weeks.
Stewart has been a longtime Chow Chow owner and lover of the breed. Her first Chow and companion of many years, Paw Paw, passed away in early 2008 of renal failure. In March 2009, another tragedy made headlines when Stewart’s months-old Chow Chow puppy died in a boarding facility explosion. The now-champion Chow Genghis has been with Stewart since he was seven weeks old.
The 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will crown – or, rather, ribbon – its Best in Show tonight from New York’s Madison Square Garden. Catch the festivities from home on the USA Network.
