Dog Show First

Beagle wins Best in Show at Westminster Kennel Club event

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Uno, a 15-inch beagle, poses with his trophy after winning Best in Show at the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. (Photo:©Jason DeCrow/AP Images)

He's número Uno! For the first time in the 131-year history of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, a beagle won Best in Show.

Uno, a 3-year-old, 15-inch beagle, bested the other 2,600 dogs that came to Madison Square Garden in New York City this year to be primped, pampered, and pranced before a crowd before a crowd of thousands. The annual Westminster dog show is the second oldest continuously held sporting competition in the United States. The Kentucky Derby horse race is the oldest.

But the competition for Best in Show wasn't the only game in the Garden this past weekend. The 157 breeds competed in seven groups in both an adult and junior category. (The seven groups are sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting, and herding.) Scholastic News Kid Reporter Siena Rafter talked to some of the young handlers at the show. This is her report.

Some kids are born into musical families, some are born into medical families, and some are born into families of actors. Recently, at the annual Westminster Dog Show, I met a group of kids who were born into families of dog handlers and breeders.

For these 9-to-18-year-old dog lovers, the Junior Competition at the dog show is the place to be.Chaz McDonnell, 11, showed his first dog when he was only 6 years old! His dog, a pointer, is named Tristan. At home, Chaz has 11 more dogs.

The North Carolina middle-schooler didn't seem nervous as he waited his turn to lead Tristan around the false grass floor of the huge arena. I watched him run, walk, and confidently get Tristan back into the line as the judges looked over the other competitors.

Behind the scenes, other young handlers prepared their animals for the limelight. Dylan Kipp, a 15-year-old, sprayed her dog's feet with a mixture of water and Coke. The sticky soda solution prevents a dog's paws from slipping as it struts its stuff.

Kid Reporter Siena Rafter interviews Lauren Hay-Lavitt as her German shorthair pointer, Truman, waits patiently. (Photo: ©Franck Fotos, Inc.)

"I do about 100 shows a year," said Dylan, a 10th grade student from Union Grove, Wisconsin. She has been showing dogs since she was 3 years old. She and her Doberman Pinscher won the World Dog Show in Mexico City last May.

Lauren Hay-Lavitt, 14, and her German shorthair pointer, Truman, won the Junior Showmanship Competition. Lauren is a high school freshman from Huntington Beach, California. Scholastic News caught up with her as she heard the announcement that she and Truman had won. So how did that feel?

"Awesome," she said. "I've worked really hard, and it was a great competition. I do a dog show every single weekend."

The annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York City is the culmination of all those weekend regional and state shows. For 132 times now, dogs from around the country have descended on the city.

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For a look behind the scenes and on the floor of the competition, check out this slide show from Scholastic News Online.

Best in Show
There's a new top dog in town. A 10-year-old Sussex spaniel named Stump became the oldest dog to win Best in Show at the 133rd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, on Tuesday.

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