bv. Doberman ‘PENNY’ Obliterates a 37-Year Westminster Curse — Stuns Madison Square Garden, Reunites With the Same Legendary Handler From 1989, and Delivers a History-Making Best in Show Moment That Sent the Crowd Into Absolute Chaos!
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Andy Linton and Penny the Doberman Pinscher and 2026 Westminster Best in Show.Credit : Michael M. Santiago/Getty
A new dog has clinched the Westminster crown.
On the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 3, Penny the Doberman Pinscher won Best in Show at the 2026 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Presented by Purina Pro Plan in front of an enthusiastic crowd of thousands at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The 4-year-old female dog won a milestone Westminster Dog Show. The 2026 show marked the event’s sesquicentennial. The Westminster Dog Show, now running for 150 years, is the second-longest continuous sporting event in the U.S.
For the 2026 Westminster Dog Show, Penny triumphed over 3,000 other dogs — representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 17 additional countries — from 202 breeds to take home the coveted Best in Show purple ribbon and trophy with the help of her handler, Andy Linton.
Linton is no stranger to winning with a Doberman; the last time the breed won Best in Show at Westminster, in 1989, it was Linton who handled the winning pooch, Indy.
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Penny the Doberman Pinscher.AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
In the Best in Show round, Penny, whose show name is GCHP CH Connquest Best Of Both Worlds, competed against six other talented canines who won Best in Group in their respective groups before arriving at the final round judged by David Fitzpatrick. The judge mentioned the 2026 line-up of Best Show finalists would “go down in history” as one of the most impressive.
Penny won Best in Group in the Working Group before winning Best in Show.
Penny’s competition in the Best in Show round included Zaida, the Afghan Hound winner of the Hound Group; Cookie, the Maltese winner of the Toy Group; JJ, the Lhasa Apso winner of the Non-Sporting Group; Graham, the Old English Sheep Dog winner of the Herding Group; Cota, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever winner of the Sporting Group, and Wager, the Smooth Fox Terrier winner of the Terrier Group.
Cota, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, won Reserve Best in Show, Westminster’s runner-up award.
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Cota the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.Sarah Stier/Getty
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Penny the Doberman takes the Best in Show Title from Monty the Giant Schnauzer, who made history in 2025 by becoming the first of his breed to win Best in Show at Westminster.
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Penny wasn’t Westminster’s only winner at the 2026 show. Prove-It, the Border Collie, went home with the Masters Agility Champion title by whipping through Westminster’s obstacle course in 29.81 seconds.
After a night of rest, Penny will enjoy a day of press and attention on Feb. 4, including a winner’s feast at Peak with Priceless at Edge NYC, located on the 101st floor of 30 Hudson Yards.
