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Entry 756Filed under Breeding

The Ultimate Guide to the 2025 Westminster Dog Show

The 149th Westminster Dog Show took place in New York City in February 2025, with daytime events at the Javits Center and evening competition at Madison Square Garden. Monty the Giant Schnauzer won Best in Show, becoming the first dog of his breed to take the title.
6-minute read By Animalso Team
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The 149th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina Pro Plan took place in New York City on February 8, 10, and 11, 2025. It combined traditional breed judging with agility, obedience, Junior Showmanship, and the return of evening competition to Madison Square Garden.

GCHG CH Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB—better known as Monty, a Giant Schnauzer handled by Katherine Bernardin—won Best in Show. He made history as the first Giant Schnauzer to win Westminster’s top prize.

What was the 2025 Westminster Dog Show?

Westminster is one of the most prominent dog shows in the United States. Its conformation competition evaluates eligible American Kennel Club-recognized breeds and varieties against their official breed standards. The 2025 event included all 201 eligible breeds and varieties, according to the Westminster entry release.

The show also included competitions open to a much broader range of dogs. Masters Agility and Masters Obedience allowed mixed-breed dogs and dogs from any background, unlike conformation, which is limited to eligible purpose-bred breeds and varieties.

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The Westminster entry release listed more than 2,500 champion dogs from all 50 states; the American Kennel Club later reported 2,652 entries in the AKC Gazette.

When and where was Westminster held in 2025?

The 2025 show was held over three days, with activities divided between two Manhattan venues. Daytime events took place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, while evening group judging and Best in Show returned to Madison Square Garden.

Date Venue Main events
Saturday, February 8 Jacob K. Javits Convention Center Masters Agility Championship, Masters Obedience Championship, Canine Celebration, and other dog-sport activities
Monday, February 10, daytime Javits Center Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding breed judging
Monday, February 10, evening Madison Square Garden Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding Group judging
Tuesday, February 11, daytime Javits Center Sporting, Working, and Terrier breed judging
Tuesday, February 11, evening Madison Square Garden Junior Showmanship Finals, Sporting, Working, and Terrier Group judging, and Best in Show

This was Westminster’s return to Madison Square Garden for evening competition after the show had been held elsewhere during the COVID-era period. It was not, however, an event held entirely at Madison Square Garden.

How Westminster judging works

Best in Show is not selected directly from every dog entered. The competition narrows in three stages:

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  1. Breed judging: Dogs compete against others of the same breed or variety. The judge selects Best of Breed.
  2. Group judging: Best-of-Breed winners advance to one of seven groups: Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, Herding, Sporting, Working, or Terrier.
  3. Best in Show: The seven group winners compete for the overall title.

Judges compare each dog with its breed standard, considering structure, movement, temperament, condition, and how well the dog represents the function for which its breed was developed. A dog does not win simply because it is the largest, flashiest, or most familiar breed in the ring.

The Best in Show judge announces Reserve Best in Show first, followed by the overall winner.

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Who won Best in Show?

Monty, officially GCHG CH Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB, won Best in Show at the 2025 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Breed Giant Schnauzer
Handler Katherine Bernardin
Owners Sandra Nordstrom, Katherine Bernardin, and Cherlann Ambrose
Breeder Cherlann Ambrose
Historic result First Giant Schnauzer to win Westminster Best in Show

Monty had already won the Working Group at Westminster in 2023 and 2024. His 2025 victory completed a notable three-year run at the event and gave the Giant Schnauzer its first Best in Show win.

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Reserve Best in Show went to Bourbon, officially GCHP CH Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon, a Whippet handled by Chelsie Pickett Smithey.

2025 Westminster group winners

Group Winner Breed
Hound Bourbon, GCHP CH Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon Whippet
Non-Sporting Neal, GCHS CH Top Speed Neal Bichon Frise
Toy Comet, GCHP CH Hallmark Jolei Out Of This World Shih Tzu
Herding Mercedes, GCHP CH Kaleef’s Mercedes German Shepherd Dog
Sporting Freddie, GCHP CH Telltale Bohemian Rhapsody English Springer Spaniel
Working Monty, GCHG CH Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain Giant Schnauzer
Terrier Archer, GCHS CH Gleanntan’s Sure Shot Greyjoy Skye Terrier

Other major 2025 winners

Masters Agility Championship

Vanish, a Border Collie handled by Emily Klarman, won the Masters Agility Championship with a time of 26.49 seconds, according to Westminster’s agility records. Agility tests a dog’s speed, accuracy, and ability to follow its handler through a course of jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and other obstacles.

Masters Obedience Championship

Willie, an Australian Shepherd handled by Kathleen Keller, won Masters Obedience.

Junior Showmanship

Hadrian Towell won Best Junior Handler while handling a Toy Manchester Terrier named GCHG CH Passport Sunkissed It’s A Yes From Me Bonchien. Junior Showmanship evaluates the handler’s skill rather than selecting the best dog in the conformation competition.

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Which breeds had the most entries?

The Westminster entry release listed these as the largest breed entries announced before the show:

  • Dachshunds
  • Poodles
  • French Bulldogs
  • Chihuahuas
  • Golden Retrievers
  • Rhodesian Ridgebacks
  • Labrador Retrievers
  • Pomeranians
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
  • Collies

A large entry does not automatically make a breed more likely to win. Dogs must first defeat their breed competitors, then compete against winners from breeds with very different structures and working histories.

How was the 2025 show broadcast?

Coverage was divided among FOX Sports channels and digital platforms:

Coverage Where it aired
Masters Agility Championship FOX, 4:30–7:00 p.m. ET
Selected daytime Best-of-Breed coverage FS2, including 1:00–4:00 p.m. ET Monday coverage
Evening Group judging and Best in Show FS1, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET
Digital coverage FOX Sports App, FOXSports.com, and WestminsterKennelClub.org

These broadcast times and platforms were listed in the FOX Sports coverage announcement. Because breed judging occurred during the day and across many rings, television coverage focused on selected classes and the major evening competitions. The official Westminster Results By Breed page was the better resource for checking a specific breed.

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How to find results for a particular breed

To look up a breed-by-breed result on the official Westminster site:

  1. Open the Results By Breed page.
  2. Use the Search by Breed field, or select a breed from the list.
  3. Choose View Results.

The page lists the Best-of-Breed result for each breed or variety. This is more reliable than trying to infer a breed’s result from the televised group coverage, since many breed classes were not shown in full.

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Did Westminster winners receive prize money?

No. Westminster’s principal awards consist of trophies, titles, ribbons, and recognition rather than cash prizes. The 2025 agility and obedience winners could direct a $5,000 Westminster donation to a qualifying training club or the AKC Humane Fund, as reported in the Associated Press explainer.

This distinction matters because Westminster is a prestigious championship event, but its Best in Show title is not a cash award competition.

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Common misconceptions about the 2025 Westminster show

Claim What was correct
“2025 was the 150th Westminster.” It was the 149th Annual Westminster. The 150th show took place in 2026.
“Every event was at Madison Square Garden.” Daytime breed judging and Saturday’s performance events were held at the Javits Center.
“The judge chose Best in Show from every entered dog.” Dogs advanced from breed judging to group judging, and only the seven group winners competed for Best in Show.
“Westminster is only for purebred dogs.” Conformation is restricted to eligible breeds and varieties, but Masters Agility and Masters Obedience allow dogs from all backgrounds.
“The winners received cash prizes.” The principal Westminster awards were trophies, titles, ribbons, and recognition; the performance winners could direct a $5,000 donation.

FAQ

Who won the 2025 Westminster Dog Show?

Monty, a Giant Schnauzer officially named GCHG CH Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB, won Best in Show. He was handled by Katherine Bernardin.

Where was the 2025 Westminster Dog Show held?

Daytime judging and Saturday’s agility and obedience events were held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Evening Group judging, the Junior Showmanship Finals, and Best in Show were held at Madison Square Garden.

How many breeds competed at Westminster in 2025?

The conformation competition included all 201 eligible American Kennel Club-recognized breeds and varieties, according to the Westminster entry release. The AKC Gazette reported 2,652 entries overall.

Can mixed-breed dogs compete at Westminster?

Yes, in Masters Agility and Masters Obedience. Westminster conformation competition is limited to eligible purpose-bred breeds and varieties, but the performance competitions allow dogs from all backgrounds, including mixed-breed dogs.

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The Bottom Line

The 2025 Westminster Dog Show was the 149th edition, held across the Javits Center and Madison Square Garden. Monty the Giant Schnauzer won Best in Show—the first dog of his breed ever to do so—while Vanish won agility, Willie won obedience, and Hadrian Towell took Best Junior Handler. For a specific breed’s result, use Westminster’s official Results By Breed page rather than relying only on televised highlights.

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