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The winner of the Westminster Dog Show the year you were born

The winner of the Westminster Dog Show the year you were born
LifeThelife1 min read
Siba enjoys some chicken at Sardi's restaurant in New York after winning the Westminster Dog Show in 2020.AP Photo/Seth Wenig
  • The Westminster Dog Show is back - the 145th annual competition will be held on June 11, 12, and 13.
  • Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it will be held outside at Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, New York.
  • In honor of the show, we've found photos of some of the Best in Show winners throughout history.

1913: Strathtay Prince Albert, an English bulldog

1913: Strathtay Prince Albert, an English bulldog
Strathtay Prince Albert.      Public Domain

The New York Times called this pup "a solidly set, solemn-faced type of the breed."

1915 and 1916: Matford Vic, a wire fox terrier

1915 and 1916: Matford Vic, a wire fox terrier
Matford Vic.      Public Domain

Matford Vic won the top honor back-to-back in both 1915 and 1916.

1917 and 1920: Conejo Wycollar Boy, a wire fox terrier

1917 and 1920: Conejo Wycollar Boy, a wire fox terrier
Conejo Wycollar Boy.      Public Domain

Conejo was described by The New York Times as an "aggressive terrier."

1922: Boxwood Barkentine, an Airedale terrier

1922: Boxwood Barkentine, an Airedale terrier
Boxwood Barkentine.      Public Domain

The American Kennel Club calls the Airedale terrier a "friendly, clever, [and] courageous" breed.

1945: Shieling's Signature, a Scottish terrier

1945: Shieling
Shieling's Signature.      William C. Shrout/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

Three American presidents have had Scottish terriers: Roosevelt, Eisenhower and George W. Bush.

1955: Kippax Fearnought, an English bulldog

1955: Kippax Fearnought, an English bulldog
Kippax Fearnought.      Bettmann / Contributor

Even though they're adorable, bulldogs' smashed snouts make breathing difficult for them.

1956: Wilber White Swan, a toy poodle

1956: Wilber White Swan, a toy poodle
Wilber White Swan.      Bill Quinn/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Wilber won Best in Show just 14 years after the American Kennel Club recognized toy poodles as a breed.

1957: Shirkhan of Grandeur, an Afghan hound

1957: Shirkhan of Grandeur, an Afghan hound
Co-owner Sunny Shay and Shirkhan of Grandeur.      Los Angeles Examiner/USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images

Shirkhan of Grandeur was the first Afghan hound to win the competition. The champion is pictured with one of its owners, Sunny Shay.

1964: Courtenay Fleetfoot of Pennyworth, a whippet

1964: Courtenay Fleetfoot of Pennyworth, a whippet
Courtenay Fleetfoot of Pennyworth.      Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

Courtenay Fleetfoot took a portrait as fancy as his name.

1965: Carmichael's Fanfare, a Scottish terrier

1965: Carmichael
Carmichael's Fanfare.      Bob Gomel/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

She didn't actually respond to Carmichael's Fanfare — her "real" name was Mamie.

1968: Stingray of Derryabah, a Lakeland terrier

1968: Stingray of Derryabah, a Lakeland terrier
Stingray of Derryabah.      H. William Tetlow/Fox Photos/Getty Images

Stingray was one of only two dogs in history to win both the Westminster Dog Show and Crufts — the two biggest dog shows in the world.

1970: Arriba's Prima Donna, a boxer

1970: Arriba
Arriba's Prima Donna.      Ron Frehm/AP Images

"She is bringing elegance back to boxers," said Anna Katherine Nicholas, that year's judge.

1975: Sir Lancelot of Barvan, old English sheepdog

1975: Sir Lancelot of Barvan, old English sheepdog
Sir Lancelot of Barvan.      Dick Loek/Toronto Star via Getty Images

When he was at home in Canada with his owners, Ronald and Barbara Vanword, he was known simply as Dudley.

Before the win, the 3-year-old dog had been Best in Show in Canada 20 times, the New York Times reported in 1975.

1982: St. Aubrey Dragonora of Elsdon, a Pekingese

1982: St. Aubrey Dragonora of Elsdon, a Pekingese
St. Aubrey Dragonora of Elsdon.      Bettmann / Contributor via Getty Images

St. Aubrey, or Lee Lee as she was known, retired the year after she won Best in Show.

1988: Great Elms Prince Charming II, a Pomeranian

1988: Great Elms Prince Charming II, a Pomeranian
Great Elms Prince Charming II.      Bettmann / Contributor via Getty Images

Prince Charming was small enough to fit inside the trophy. Pomeranians can weigh as little as three pounds.

1996: Clussexx Country Sunrise, a clumber spaniel

1996: Clussexx Country Sunrise, a clumber spaniel
Clussexx Country Sunrise.      JON LEVY/AFP/Getty Images

While the name comes from an estate in England, no one is sure where the clumber spaniel came from.

1997: Parsifal Di Casa Netzer, a standard schnauzer

1997: Parsifal Di Casa Netzer, a standard schnauzer
Parsifal Di Casa Netzer.      Adam Nadel/AP Images

Schnauzers come in three sizes: giant, standard, and miniature.

1998: Fairewood Frolic, a Norwich terrier

1998: Fairewood Frolic, a Norwich terrier
Fairewood Frolic.      Ron Frehm/AP Images

Fairewood Frolic, who went by Rocki, was two weeks pregnant at the time of her win.

1999: Loteki Supernatural Being, a Papillon

1999: Loteki Supernatural Being, a Papillon
Loteki Supernatural Being.      Jon Gordon/Getty Images

Why the long name? According to the American Kennel Club, there are specific rules for naming your dog, including choosing both a kennel name and a litter name. You also much register each competing dog's name, to ensure no overlap. So, Loteki Supernatural Being it is.

2000: Salilyn 'N Erin's Shameless, an English springer spaniel

2000: Salilyn
Salilyn 'N Erin's Shameless.      Mark Lennihan/AP Images

What a mouthful — her call name, or actual name, was Samantha.

2001: Special Times Just Right, a bichon frise

2001: Special Times Just Right, a bichon frise
Special Times Just Right.      Mark Lennihan/AP Images

Bichons frises, with their fluffy white coats, are among the most hypoallergenic dogs out there.

2002: Surrey Spice Girl, a miniature poodle

2002: Surrey Spice Girl, a miniature poodle
Surrey Spice Girl.      Ron Frehm/AP Images

"She was gorgeous. Size, balance, coat, feet, movement, she had it all. She never took a wrong step," said that year's judge, W. Everett Dean Jr., about Surrey Spice Girl.

2003: Torums Scarf Michael, a Kerry blue terrier

2003: Torums Scarf Michael, a Kerry blue terrier
Torums Scarf Michael.      Mario Tama/Getty Images

Torums Scarf Michael, also known as Mike, won the Westminster Dog Show in 2003, solidifying his spot in history. He was, and still is, the only dog to have won the "Triple Crown" of dog shows: Westminster, Crofts, and the AKC/Eukanuba National Invitational.

2004: Darbydale's All Rise Pouch Cove, a Newfoundland

2004: Darbydale
Darbydale's All Rise Pouch Cove.      Stephen Chernin/Getty Images

This gentle giant, better known as Josh, worked as a therapy dog after his big win.

2005: Kan-Point's VJK Autumn Roses, a German shorthaired pointer

2005: Kan-Point
Kan-Point's VJK Autumn Roses.      Mario Tama/Getty Images

Autumn Roses, better known as Carlee, was the second-ever German shorthaired pointer — and she was descended from the first winner.

2006: Rocky Top's Sundance Kid, a bull terrier

2006: Rocky Top
Rocky Top's Sundance Kid.      STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

The American Kennel Club describes bull terriers as "playful, charming, and mischievous."

2007: Felicity's Diamond Jim, an English springer spaniel

2007: Felicity
Felicity's Diamond Jim.      TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

"I had a lot of great dogs to choose from. But this one stood out. He had that look in his eye that said, 'It’s my night.' He had great temperament. It was an honor to judge him," said judge Robert Indeglia.

2008: K-Run's Park Me In First, a beagle

2008: K-Run
K-Run's Park Me In First.      Joe Kohen/WireImage)

K-Run's Park Me In First, aka Uno, was the first Westminster winner to visit the White House, when he met George W. Bush.

2009: Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee, a Sussex spaniel

2009: Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee, a Sussex spaniel
Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee.      Janette Pellegrini/WireImage

Stump, the call name of Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee, was the oldest winner of Westminster ever at age 10.

2010: Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, a Scottish terrier

2010: Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, a Scottish terrier
Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot.      Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Roundtown Mercedes won over 100 top prizes.

2011: Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, a Scottish deerhound

2011: Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, a Scottish deerhound
Foxcliffe Hickory Wind.      TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Scottish deerhounds can reach over 100 pounds, making Foxcliffe one of the largest winners.

2012: Palacegarden Malachy, a Pekingese

2012: Palacegarden Malachy, a Pekingese
Palacegarden Malachy.      TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

According to the American Kennel Club, Chinese legend states that the Buddha created the Pekingese dog by shrinking down a lion to dog-size. We can see the resemblance.

2013: Banana Joe V Tani Kazari, an Affenpinscher

2013: Banana Joe V Tani Kazari, an Affenpinscher
Banana Joe V Tani Kazari.      STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

"This isn’t a breed you train. He’s like a human. You befriend him," said Banana Joe's handler, Ernesto Lara.

2014: Afterall Painting The Sky, a wire fox terrier

2014: Afterall Painting The Sky, a wire fox terrier
Afterall Painting The Sky.      TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Wire fox terriers have won Best in Show 15 times, more than any other breed.

2015: Tashtins Lookin' For Trouble, a beagle

2015: Tashtins Lookin
Tashtins Lookin' For Trouble.      Dave Kotinsky/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

If you want to end up like this pup, affectionately called Miss P., it can cost an owner anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 to get their dog to Westminster.

2016: C.J., or Vjk-Myst Garbonita's California Journey, a German shorthaired pointer

2016: C.J., or Vjk-Myst Garbonita
Vjk-Myst Garbonita's California Journey.      TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Handler Valerie Nunes-Atkinson sits beside German shorthaired pointer C.J. after he won Best in Show on February 16, 2016.

2017: Rumor Has It, a German shepherd

2017: Rumor Has It, a German shepherd
Rumor Has It.      TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

2018: Belle Creek's All I Care About Is Love, a bichon frise

2018: Belle Creek
Belle Creek's All I Care About Is Love.      IMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

This good boy, who answers to Flynn, beat almost 3,000 dogs to win Best in Show.

2019: Kingarthur Van Foliny Home, a wire fox terrier

2019: Kingarthur Van Foliny Home, a wire fox terrier
Kingarthur Van Foliny Home.      Sarah Stier/Getty Images

In 2019, the wire fox terriers continued their Best in Show dominance, with Kingarthur taking the crown.

2020: Stone Run Afternoon Tea, a standard poodle

2020: Stone Run Afternoon Tea, a standard poodle
Stone Run Afternoon Tea.      Carlo Allegri/Reuters

This immaculately groomed pooch, also known as Siba to her owners, is the fifth poodle to take home Best in Show at Westminster, and the first since 2002.

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