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The final was held at Madison Square Garden and judged by Paula Nykiel. Monty reached it after winning the Working Group for the third consecutive year, completing a historic run at Westminster.
Who is Monty?
Monty’s formal show name is GCHG CH Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB. He is a Giant Schnauzer, and he was five years old at the time of the 2025 show, according to the American Kennel Club.
Monty was handled by Katherine Bernadin and co-owned by Bernadin, Sandra Nordstrom, and Cherlann Ambrose. In Associated Press coverage, his handler and co-owner Katie Bernardin said: “He always tries so hard, and we’re just proud of him.”
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Why Monty’s win mattered
Monty became the first Giant Schnauzer to win Westminster Best in Show. He had won the Working Group for three consecutive years, according to the AKC, and advanced to the final as the 2025 Working Group winner.
Westminster’s Best in Show is a conformation title. Dogs are assessed against their breed standards; the breed winners then compete in groups, and the seven group winners advance to the Best in Show final. It is an event-specific award, not a universal ranking of dogs or a judgment of a breed’s suitability as a pet.
The 2025 Best in Show finalists
Monty competed in the final against the winners of the other six groups. The table summarizes the finalists and their group representation; Monty won Best in Show and Bourbon won Reserve Best in Show.
| Dog | Breed | Group represented | Final placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monty | Giant Schnauzer | Working | Best in Show |
| Bourbon | Whippet | Hound | Reserve Best in Show |
| Comet | Shih Tzu | Toy | Finalist |
| Neal | Bichon Frise | Non-Sporting | Finalist |
| Mercedes | German Shepherd Dog | Herding | Finalist |
| Freddie | English Springer Spaniel | Sporting | Finalist |
| Archer | Skye Terrier | Terrier | Finalist |
The judging path has three stages:
- Breed judging: Dogs compete against others of the same breed, with judges assessing them against their breed standard.
- Group judging: Breed winners compete in one of seven groups.
- Best in Show: The seven group winners compete for the overall title, with a Reserve Best in Show selection.
Where and when was the 2025 final?
The Best in Show final took place at Madison Square Garden in New York on the evening of February 11, 2025. Paula Nykiel judged the final, and Bourbon, a Whippet, was named Reserve Best in Show.
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Who won Westminster Best in Show in 2025?
Monty, a Giant Schnauzer formally named GCHG CH Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB, won the 2025 Westminster Best in Show title.
What breed is Monty, the Westminster winner?
Monty is a Giant Schnauzer. He was the first dog of that breed to win Westminster Best in Show.
Who handled Monty?
Katherine Bernadin handled Monty in the ring. The Associated Press quoted his handler and co-owner Katie Bernardin after the win.
Was Monty the first Giant Schnauzer to win Westminster?
Yes. He was the first Giant Schnauzer to win Westminster Best in Show. He reached the final after winning the Working Group for the third consecutive year.
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Who won Reserve Best in Show in 2025?
Bourbon, a Whippet, was named Reserve Best in Show.
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