Comet, winner of the Toy Group, prepares backstage during the 148th Annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
The 148th Westminster Kennel Club dog show concluded on Tuesday night.During the show, seven groups of various breeds each crowned a winner.Photos show the seven winners, including this year’s Best in Show.
The Westminster Kennel Club dog show, which wrapped up in New York on Tuesday, is the country’s most prestigious dog competition, and one of the world’s oldest.
More than 2,500 dogs competed for the coveted Best in Show crown. Each year, the competitors are divided into seven groups based on their breed’s traits and original purpose, such as sporting or herding. They are then judged on how well they meet their breed’s ideal standard, and a winner is selected for each group.
From those top seven dogs, a Best in Show is then chosen — the culmination of years of careful breeding, costly grooming, expert handling, and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
But whoever wins the titles, chances are they’re really, really adorable.
Photos show the pups that were deemed the best of the best at this year’s competition.
Best in Show: Surrey Sage, a miniature poodle
Sage, winner of the 2024 Westminster dog show.
Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Sage, as she’s known, won both Best in Show and the Non-Sporting Group. She’s the fourth miniature poodle to win Best in Show in Westminster’s history.
Herding Group: Kaleef’s Mercedes, a German shepherd
Mercedes, the reserve Best In Show winner and Herding Group winner.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
Mercedes was not only this year’s winner from the Herding Group, but was also named the Reserve Best in Show winner, essentially the runner-up.
Toy Group: Hallmark Jolei Out Of This World, a Shih Tzu
Comet, winner of the Toy Group.
Mike Stobe/Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
Hallmark Jolei Out Of This World, who also goes by Comet, is a 3-year-old Shih Tzu from Ohio. She won Best in Show at the American Kennel Club championship in December 2023.
Sporting Group: Rejoices To The Point, a black cocker spaniel
A handler walks a black cocker spaniel dog during the Best in Show portion.
Andres Kudacki/Getty Images
According to the American Kennel Club, Westminster recognizes cocker spaniels by their color. This year’s winner Micha (or Rejoices To The Point), is black, but there are also parti-color and ASCOB, which means “any standard color other than black.”
Working Group: Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain, a giant schnauzer
Monty, a giant schnauzer from Ocean City, New Jersey, wins the Working Group.
KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images
Monty, as he’s known, hails from Ocean City, New Jersey. He also won the Working Group in 2023.
Hound Group: Sunlit’s King of Queens, an Afghan hound
Louis, winner of the Hound Group.
Mike Stobe/Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club
Sunlit’s King of Queens, better known as Louis, was named the best of the Hound Group, which consists of 35 breeds, including the Basset hound, the beagle, the greyhound, and the dachshund.
Terrier Group: Grabo Frankie Goes To Magor, a colored bull terrier
Frankie jumps up after winning the Terrier Group.
KENA BETANCUR/Getty Images
And last but not least is Frankie, a bull terrier. As the American Kennel Club noted, there are two types of bull terriers: white and colored. Frankie is a colored bull terrier.
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