A giant schnauzer named Monty has been chosen as America’s top canine after earning the title of best in show on Tuesday at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show.
Judge Paula Nykiel tapped the five-year-old male with the jet-black coat from Ocean City, New Jersey, over a stacked field of six other group winners, among them a whippet named Bourbon (awarded reserve best in show for a third time), a German shepherd named Mercedes, an English springer spaniel named Freddie, a bichon frisé named Neal, a Skye terrier named Archer, and Comet, a sassy, crowd-pleasing shih tzu who won the toy group for a second consecutive year only to again be pipped at the final hurdle.