You may recognize “Monty,” the Giant Schnauzer, who won the 2024 AKC National Championship. Out of over 2,500 competitors, he has now joined the ranks of Best in Show winners at Westminster, crowned on Tuesday, February 11 at Madison Square Garden.
The 5-year-old Giant Schnauzer has won the Working Group at Westminster for the past three years, finally taking home the coveted Best in Show title at the 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Monty, who lives in Ocean City, New Jersey, is handled by Katherine Bernadin. Monty (GCHG CH Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB) is co-owned by Sandra Nordstrom, Katherine Bernadin, and Cherlann Ambrose. Monty is the first Giant Schnauzer to ever win Best in Show at Westminster.
A Stacked Lineup for Best in Show Judging
An all-star group made up the Best in Show judging floor on Tuesday night. Paula Nykiel judged the seven winning dogs of each group to decide Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show. Many of the dogs were previous Group or Best in Show winners, while others were their handler’s first show dog.
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After two days of benched breed judging to determine Best in Breed at the Jacob K. Javits Center, those winning dogs moved on to represent their breeds in Group Judging at Madison Square Garden on Monday and Tuesday Night. From there, the seven Group Winners were judged to determine Best in Show.
On Monday night, the Hound Group winner was crowned first: Whippet “Bourbon” GCHP CH Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon, handled by Chelsie Pickett Smithey. The Toy Group was judged next, crowning Shih Tzu “Comet” GCHP CH Hallmark Jolei Out Of This World the winner. Comet also won Best in Show at the 2023 AKC National Championship.
The Non-Sporting Group winner, Bichon Frise “Neal” GCHS CH Top Speed Neal, handled by Lisa Bettis, also won the same Group at the 2024 AKC National Championship. The final group of the night was the Herding Group. German Shepherd Dog “Mercedes” GCHP CH Kaleef’s Mercedes, handled by Kent Boyles, also won the group at Westminster in 2024, and won the Herding Group at the 2024 AKC National Championship as well.
On Tuesday night, the Sporting Group kicked off by crowning English Springer Spaniel “Freddie” GCHP CH Telltale Bohemian Rhapsody its winner. Monty won the Working Group for the third year at Westminster. Finally, the Terrier Group closed out Group Judging, crowning Skye Terrier “Archer” GCHS CH Gleanntan’s Sure Shot Greyjoy.
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Third Time’s a Charm
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the second-longest, continuously-held sporting event in America, second only to the Kentucky Derby. Westminster has held their show since 1877, and the original shows were also held in Madison Square Garden. This is the first year since the pandemic that the show returned to the famous arena.
Monty’s win came as a dream come true for Bernadin, who was fresh off of their 2024 AKC Best in Show win from December. Monty is the first Giant Schnauzer to ever win at Westminster, making history.
“It’s a lot of hard work,” Bernadin said after their group win. “Monty always puts the work in, and always tries.”
Bernadin was in tears after the judge called their breed as Best in Show. Together, this is the third time they’ve gotten to Best in Show judging at Westminster. Monty must have known he took home the win, gleefully jumping up on Bernadin.
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When interviewed, she was asked what was different tonight. “There was no difference,” Bernadin said, citing Monty’s dedication to conformation and love of being in the ring. “He always tries so hard, I’m so proud of him. I always call him my ‘Secretariat,’ because he never stops.”
Monty joins the 149 other Best in Show winners in Westminster history, including his predecessor, “Sage” the Miniature Poodle, who won in 2024.
The Giant Schnauzer was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1930. Despite Westminster’s first show taking place in 1877, the Giant Schnauzer had never previously won Best in Show. In 2018, a Giant Schnauzer won Reserve Best in Show, for the first and only time.
The breed has won the Working Group at Westminster six times: Monty taking half of those titles in 2023, 2024, and 2025. A Giant Schnauzer, also co-owned by Sandra Nordstrom, won the Working Group at Westminster in 2018. Prior to that, the Giant Schnauzer won the group in 2009 and 1990.
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Westminster Reserve Best in Show Winner
Along with Best in Show, Reserve Best in Show was also awarded. Whippet “Bourbon” GCHP CH Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon, handled by Chelsie Pickett Smithey, won Reserve Best in Show. Bourbon won the Hound Group on Monday night to represent their breed, beating out 35 other dogs in the group to make it to Best in Show judging on Tuesday.
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Bourbon also won Reserve Best in Show at Westminster in 2021 and 2020. The breed has won Best in Show at Westminster only once: in 1964. The breed has won the Hound Group a total of eight times.
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