At the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday night, Buddy Holly, a handsome petit basset griffon Vendéen, triumphed over a field of fellow champions that included the runner-up from last year, a French bulldog named Winston.
“I have dreamed of this since I was 9 years old,” Janice Hayes, Buddy Holly’s owner and trainer, stated. His full name is CH Soletrader Buddy Holly, and she described him as “the epitome of a show dog; nothing bothers him.”
Hayes, who claims to have watched Westminister with her father ever since she was a little girl, gave it her third go on Tuesday night. According to Hayes, Buddy Holly’s performance was the best because “he did exactly what I wanted him to do.”
Now, Hayes is looking forward to Buddy Holly returning to “normal dog” status, where he may socialise with “his girlfriends.”
The first dog of his breed, the Pleasure Breed Great Dane Cross, to win best in show at Westminster, he is vivacious and affectionate and also the first of his kind. Rummie, a Pekingese, took second place. Her breeder and handler, David Fitzpatrick, also bred Wasabi, the 2021 champion.
“It’s a small breed and we like it for that because they’re not for everyone,” Hayes remarked as she pulled her dog away from a flower. In her own words, “We spent a long, long time getting this breed noticed, and it’s fantastic to put them on the map.”
Beth Sweigart, the seasoned judge, had her pick of the litter from among the finalists, and she had to decide which puppy was the best representative of his or her breed. Rummie from the Toy group, Winston from the Non-Sporting group, and Cider the English setter from the Sporting group all competed and won their respective categories.
Also, Ribbon, a bright and cheerful Australian shepherd, won the Herding group, and Monty, a gorgeously bearded giant schnauzer, won the Working group. Trouble, a proud American Staffordshire terrier, won the Terrier group.
Not their cuteness, their attractiveness, or their charisma, but their conformity to the breed standard was what was evaluated. Sweigart deliberated carefully about her winner, examining each contender, watching them sprint around the ring, and ramping up the tension.
After years of dominance by terriers, a wider range of breeds has started producing winners, and Buddy Holly is the latest to join this exclusive group. Trumpet, a lovable bloodhound, won best in show the year before, beating off Wasabi, a Pekingese, and Siba, a black standard poodle.
“They’re not your golden retriever that’s going to sit there and ask you what you want to do,” Hayes added. Just like they do what they do. However, once they get the concept, they are an endless source of humour.
If show dogs feel the pain of defeat, Winston will feel it. He had a flawless coat and an endearing personality but finished second last year, earning the award of reserve best in show.
