Stache, a Sealyham Terrier from Pennsylvania, has been crowned the winner at this year’s National Dog Show. The adorable long-haired pup beat nearly 2,000 dogs across 199 breeds to claim the coveted Best in Show title. NBC aired the event on Thanksgiving Day, with an estimated 20 million viewers tuning in to watch it, according to Purina.
Sealyham Terrier wins 49th Best in Show prize
Goodspice Kennel, founded by Stache’s owner Margery Good, mentioned in a Facebook post that this was the canine’s 49th Best in Show prize.
“Thank you to all of Stache’s fans, we and Stache very much appreciate your support on this ride,” the post reads. “Good Boy Stache!!”
In an interview with NBC, Good described her pet’s performance as “wonderful” after the show. “He stretched those little short legs of his and flew around this ring,” she said.
Previously, Stache was ranked second among Terriers and 12th among all-breed show dogs in the United States. He’d also won the Montgomery County Kennel Club Terrier Show in October.
As per The Philadelphia Inquirer, Judge Carrie Chase shared in a press release that Stache’s “condition, breed type and showmanship all come together to produce the epitome of an excellent dog.”
“At the end of the day, it is a dog show and you want them to show off all their great attributes,” Chase added.
Stache’s competitors included an Azawakh, a Great Dane, a Shih Tzu, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and a German Shepherd. Pumpkin — a Dalmatian from East Brunswick, New Jersey — won the Non-Sporting Group.
A brief history of the National Dog Show
The National Dog Show is an annual event that showcases the best dogs across various breeds. Since 2002, it has been airing on NBC every year on Thanksgiving at noon, following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Over the years, 20 different breeds have won the competition, as per the Bleacher Report. However, the Wire Fox Terrier and Scottish Deerhound remain the only breeds to have won twice. Last year, a French Bulldog named Winston created history by becoming the first of his breed to claim the Best in Show prize.
