The post This Doberman Beat 2,500 Dogs to Win Westminster’s Top Prize appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

• Penny the Doberman Pinscher defeated 2,500 rivals to secure a victory that only 5 other Dobermans have ever achieved.

• Judge David Fitzpatrick faced the critical challenge of selecting one winner from 7 distinct groups.

• Penny first had to dominate the Working group to qualify for the final Best in Show evaluation.

The prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show celebrated its 150^th annual event in February 2026, and one very lucky dog took home the competition’s top prize. Congratulations to Penny the Doberman Pinscher, who was named Best in Show with her handler Andy Linton!

Penny is a 4-year-old Dobie who competed against more than 2,500 other dogs in a conformation show. The Best of Breed judging took place over two days—February 2 and 3—at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Best in Show award was decided by a single judge, David Fitzpatrick, who selected from among the winners of the seven different groups.

A Win for the Girls

Penny is a striking dog with sleek black-and-brown fur and a formidable attitude. Her win wasn’t just a milestone for her — it also marked the 42nd time a female dog has won the Best in Show award, and only the sixth time a Doberman has earned the top prize, according to CNN.

“She is as great a Doberman as I’ve ever seen,” Linton told the outlet about Penny. And he would know — he was also the handler of the last Doberman Pinscher to win Best in Show at Westminster in 1989.

More About Doberman Pinschers

Doberman Pinschers (Canis lupus familiaris) are one of the most intelligent dog breeds, with intelligence comparable to that of a two-year-old human toddler. This gentle and loyal breed has a lifespan of about 12 years and grows to 27–28 inches tall, weighing around 70 pounds.

Originating in Germany, Dobies are a fearless breed known for being protective. They are easy to train and require a lot of activity because they are an energetic breed. Despite being playful and affectionate with their owners, Pinschers are not particularly social and may be suspicious of strangers.

Additional Winners

The Westminster Kennel Club was established in 1877 and is the oldest organization dedicated to the sport of dogs in the United States. The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the U.S., followed only by the Kentucky Derby. All dog breeds are invited to compete in this televised event, which promotes responsible dog ownership, breed preservation, and the human–canine bond.

The dogs compete in seven groups: Herding, Hound, Non-Sporting, Sporting, Terrier, Toy, and Working.

• Penny the Doberman Pinscher won the Working group.

• Cota, a five-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever, won the Sporting group and was also awarded Reserve Best in Show.

• Wager, a two-year-old Smooth Fox Terrier, won the Terrier group.

• Graham, an Old English Sheepdog, won the Herding group.

• Zaida, an Afghan Hound, won the Hound group.

• Jingle Juice “JJ,” a Lhasa Apso, won the Non-Sporting group.

• Cookie, a Maltese, won the Toy group.

Additionally, Hadrian Towell won the Best Junior Handler award (for kids ages 9–18) with his Manchester Terrier named Simon. This award included a $10,000 Junior Showmanship Finalists Scholarship for the college or technical school of his choice.

What’s Next for Penny?

Now that she has scored this big win, Penny is retiring! Her co-owner Theresa Connors-Chan told Entertainment Tonight, “Penny’s going to retire from showing and become a certified therapy dog, because she loves to be pet so much. And hopefully she’ll be a mama.”⁠

Gregory Chan, another co-owner of Penny, along with Francis Sparagna and Diana Sparagna, told local Canadian outlet CTV Your Morning on Friday, “This win is a breeder’s dream. This is the Super Bowl of dog shows. We’re very fortunate that we’re able to win it.”

“She’d always demanded attention, so it was all about her,” Chan added. “Every breed has a standard, and she just fit that standard, and we just saw a lot of potential in her as she matured.”

Connors-Chan reiterated that Penny’s life of competition is over as she moves on to the next chapter. “She enjoys meeting strangers, and then being pet by strangers, so I think she’ll really enjoy that,” she told the outlet. “And hopefully later this year she’ll have some babies.”

“She’s just a sweet kid,” Chan added. “She just wants love.”

It sounds like the perfect way to celebrate this hard-won victory! We are so happy for Penny as she eases into a laid-back, retired dog life.

The post This Doberman Beat 2,500 Dogs to Win Westminster’s Top Prize appeared first on A-Z Animals.