Champion Palacegarden Malachy, a tiny, furry Pekingese, won the Best in Show title late Tuesday at the 136th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Malachy was ranked second at last year's Westminster and was the favored winner in the competition. He will retire this year at the age of four to live as a pet with co-owner and handler David Fitzpatrick.
The 4-year-old Lion Dog, a common nickname for the furry Pekingese, beat out six larger dogs in the Best in Show competition. Vogels chose the Toy dog over a Dalmatian, a Blue Kerry Terrier, a German Shepherd Dog, a Doberman Pinscher, a Wirehaired Dachshund and an Irish Setter.
He's a super dog who had a stupendous night, Judge Cindy Vogels told The New York Times of Malachy.
The Pekingese breed has only won the Best in Show title four times in the past. Moreover, the Toy group has only won Best in Show ten times in the history of the Westminster Dog Show. Vogels' choice to bestow Best in Show on Malachy is a shift away from the larger dogs that have won in the past few years.
Take a look at the most recent past winners of the Westminster Dog Show, including a Scottish Deerhound, a Scottish Terrier, a Sussex Spaniel, a 15-Inch Beagle, an English Springer Spaniel and a Colored Bull Terrier.
Owner David Fitzpatrick holds Malachy, a Pekingese, as co-owner Iris Love kisses Malachy after he won Best In Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York's Madison Square Garden on Feb. 14, 2012. REUTERS/Mike SegarHandler Angela Lloyd stands with her Scottish Deerhound Foxcliffe Hickory Wind after winning the best in show during the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York on Feb. 15, 2011. Hickory made history as the first-ever Scottish Deerhound to win "Best in Show."Five-year-old Hickory had her first litter of nine puppies on Oct. 9, 2011. The puppies were sired by Huntly (American and Canadian Champion Fernhill Huntly D'LUX) of Ontario, Canada.REUTERS/Joshua LottRoundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, or Sadie, a Scottish Terrier, stands next to a trophy after winning Best in Show during the final day of the Westminster Dog Show in New York on Feb. 16, 2010.Sadie has more than 100 Best in Show wins, including the triple crown of the Westminster, the National Dog Show and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. REUTERS/Lucas JacksonStump, a Sussex Spaniel, and his handler Scott Sommer pose after winning Best in Show at the 2009 Westminster Dog Show in New York on Feb. 10, 2009. Stump's full name is "Champion Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee." He was the oldest dog to win the "Best in Show" title. REUTERS/Lucas JacksonHandler Aaron Wilkerson runs into the ring with Uno, a 15-inch beagle, before being Uno was declared Best in Show at the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York on Feb. 12, 2008. Uno's full name is Ch K'Run's Park Me In First.Uno was the first 15-inch Beagle to win "Best in Show" at the Westminster Dog Show. Since winning the title, he has toured the United States, including a visit to the White House and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. REUTERS/Lucas JacksonJames, an English Springer Spaniel, and handler Kelly Fitzgerald compete on their way to winning Best in Show at the 131st Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York on Feb. 13, 2007. James' full name is "Champion Felicity's Diamond Jim" and he was nearly 7 years old when he won the top title.
REUTERS/Mike Segar REUTERS/MKathy Kirk kisses Ch. Rocky Top's Sundance Kid, a colored Bull Terrier, after it won the Best in Show award at the 130th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York on Feb.14, 2006. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
