Bichon Frise Wins 'Best In Show': Westminster Dog Show 2018 Results

The winner of this year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was announced Tuesday night, with a bichon frise named Flynn coming out triumphant and claiming the "Best in Show" award. Fynn was the second bichon to win Westminster. The previous one was in 2001.

Flynn defeated a pug, giant schnauzer, border collie, Norfolk terrier, borzoi and Sussex spaniel to win the competition in New York City. Flynn's registered name is apparently “Belle Creek’s All I Care About Is Love."

“It feels a little unreal,” Fynn's expert handler Bill McFadden said. “I came in expecting nothing except hoping for a good performance, and I think I got it.”

The handler added: “I think I’ll have to ask the owners, but I’m pretty sure I can drop the mic and say he’s retired.” Flynn is co-owned by Patrina and Bruce Odette, Lindsay Van Keuren, Lorrie Carlton and Larry Letsche.

Among those who were defeated by the fluffy white was the No. 2 “reserve best in show,” a giant schnauzer named Ty. His co-owner, Sandra Nordstrom, is from Ocean City and he is handled by Katie Bernardin of Chaplin, Connecticut. Ty won the working group after entering Westminster and was ranked No. 1 dog in the country.

More than 2,880 dogs from 201 breeds and varieties were set to compete for the title. The dogs participating in the competition were divided into seven groups — hound, toy, nonsporting, herding, working, sporting and terrier. Flynn was part of the nonsporting group.

"I love all dogs, both purebreds and crossbreds alike, but this is a special celebration of purebred dogs, the best of the best, purposely bred by responsible dog breeders," the Westminster "Best in Show" judge Betty-Anne Stenmark said.

Last year, Rumor the German Shepard took home the "Best in Show." In 2016, C.J., a German Shorthaired Pointer, won the top prize and the year before that, Miss P the Beagle was "Best In Show."

According to Westminster Kennel Club records, the oldest dog to ever win a "Best in Show" title was a Sussex spaniel, placed at little over 10 years old, in 2009. The youngest pup to win was back in 1929, when a Collie won the title at 9 months. The terrier group is consistently ranked the reigning group in the competition and has taken the most "Best in Show" awards.