Winston, the cream-colored French bulldog, took top honors at this year’s National Dog Show. The three-year-old beat out six other contestants for Best in Show at the annual event, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and broadcast by NBC on Thanksgiving Day.
After the winner was announced, Winston was lifted into the air and rolled on the royal blue carpet by his trainer and co-owner Perry Payson. There was a huge cheer from the crowd. Winston smiled.
Winston runs with his handler Perry Payson at the National Dog Show in Philadelphia.
Later, Payson takes Winston out into the audience so people can pet him.
“He approached people and it was like touching a movie star. We’ve never seen anything like it. It was a blast of applause.” said Wayne Ferguson, president of the Philadelphia Kennel Club.
NBC’s Mary Carrillo (left) talks to Perry Payson, handler of Winston, the French bulldog, who won best of show at the 2022 National Dog Show.
“He is a show dog with personality and good looks and a perfect fit for the breed,” senior show judge Vicki Seller Cushman said in a statement. Shining has to say, ‘I’m here to win tonight.'”
According to the American Kennel Club, the French bulldog is the second most popular breed in the United States, second only to Labrador Retrievers. Golden retrievers are the third most popular.
Wire Fox Terrier, left, and Standard Poodle, right.
Winston has many owners, including NFL player Morgan Fox, a defensive end for the Los Angeles Chargers. Help raise Winston as a puppy. One of the show’s announcers joked that the short but muscular Winston “works like a little linebacker”.
Winston—and registered name for the program GCHP Fox Canyon’s I Won The War at Goldshield—has won a number of titles over the years. The win marked his 78th best for a show title, making Winston the #1 ranked All Dog in the U.S.
Cooper, an English Toy Spaniel, was the winner of the 2022 National Dog Show of the Year.
This year, the American Kennel Club approved three new breeds to compete at the National Dog Show: the Bracco Italiano, Russian Toy, and Muddy.
Winston had already won his non-sport group before heading into the final round. There he beat an American Staffordshire Terrier named Trouble from the Terrier group, Reus the Alaskan Malamute from the Working group, Nate the Treeing Walker Coonhound from the Hounds group, Sloane, the Irish Water Spaniel from the Sporting group, German River Shepherd from the Herding group and Cooper’s Toy English Spaniel from Sporting group.
Cooper won the second prize, known as Reserve Best in Show.
After the excitement of the day’s event had died down, Winston was seen enjoying festive treats served on a silver platter.
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