Uno Becomes First Beagle To Capture Westminster
America has a new Snoop doggie.
Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty
Uno, a 15-inch beagle, won Westminster last night at Madison Square Garden.
Barking and baying up a storm, Uno lived up to his name last night by becoming the first beagle to win best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club.
The nation's new top dog was clearly the crowd favorite, and drew a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden when he was picked.
Uno got right into the act, jumping up on handler Aaron Wilkerson and confirming his other title: noisiest in show.
The only dog consistently listed among America's most popular breeds for nearly 100 years, a beagle had never won in the 100 times Westminster picked a winner. That changed when judge J. Donald Jones pointed to this nearly 3-year-old package of personality. Good ol' Snoopy, a champion at last. Uno beat out two perfect poodles, a top Sealyham terrier, a sleek Weimaraner, a lively Australian shepherd and a sprightly Akita.
More than 169 breeds and varieties were represented at the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club event, and the competition brought 2,627 entries.
Barks echoed around Madison Square Garden as a sold-out crowd cheered its favorites, among them a Neapolitan mastiff that lumbered around the ring, a Chihuahua that spun in circles and a miniature pinscher that plucked a piece of food off the green carpet without missing a beat.
