Westminster Dog Show 2012: Winners of Sporting, Working, Terrier Groups Announced Before ‘Best in Show’

This playful Doberman Pinscher shows off her skills before the Westminster Dog Show competition. IBTimes/Julia Greenberg

The winners of the Sporting, Working and Terrier groups were announced at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York late Monday. The dogs came from all across the United States to compete in the world's most famous dog show. The three winners will join the Group winners from Monday night to compete in Tuesday's Best in Show.

In Tuesday's competition, there were 88 Best of Breed winners competing for the top spot in their group. Each dog had already won the prize for Best of Breed.

An Irish Setter named GCH. Shadagee Caught Red Handed won Best of Sporting in the group competition. The six-year-old Irish Setter is owned by Debra Burke and Nancy Lee Conner. The runner-ups included a German Wirehaired Pointer, an English Springer Spaniel and an Irish Water Spaniel.

There were 30 breeds of Sporting dogs competing for the top spot in the group. Sporting dogs are naturally alert and make likable, well-rounded companions. Members of the Group include spaniels, settlers, retrievers and pointers.

A gorgeous Doberman Pincsher named GCH. Protocol's Veni Vidi Vici won Best of Working Dogs in the group competition. The nearly four-year-old Doberman Pinscher is owned by Suzy Lundy, Dick Lundy, Jocelyn Mullins and Kevin Mullins. The runner-ups in the Working Dogs competition included a Boxer, an Alaskan Malamute and a Standard Schnauzer.

There were 28 breeds of Working Dogs competing for the top spot in the group. The Working dogs are fast learners, intelligent, capable and good companions. Man has historically used these dogs to perform essential tasks like guarding property, pulling sleds or performing rescues.

A stunning Kerry Blue Terrier named GCH. Perrisblu Kennislain's Chelsey won Best of Terriers in the group competition. The four-year-old Kerry Blue Terrier is owned by Ed Yingling, Lynn Yingling, Phil Davies, Candace Yingling and Brock Yingling. The runner-ups included a Smooth Fox Terrier, a Skye Terrier and an American Staffordshire Terrier.

There were 29 Terriers competing for the top spot in the group. Terriers have a range of personalities and sizes, but all are feisty, energetic dogs. The dogs were used historically to hunt and kill vermin. Many terriers have wirey coats and require special grooming that will come under the scrutiny of the judges.

The Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups competed Monday in a fierce show of temperament, gait, coat and presence. Judges determined the winners of the groups late Monday. A three-year-old Wire-Haired Dachshund named Raydachs Playing With Fire V Gleishorbach won the Best of Hounds group. A four-year-old Pekingese named Palacegarden Malachy won the prize for Best of Toys. An almost five-year-old Dalmatian named Spotlights Ruffian won the award for Best of Non-Sportings. The nearly 5-year-old German Shepherd named Babheim's Captain Crunch won the award of Best of Herdings.

The seven Group winners will compete in the grand finale of the Westminster Dog Show, the Best in Show competition, which will be judged by Cindy Vogels of Greenwood Village, Colo late Tuesday.

The Westminster Dog Show featured 2,077 dogs and 105 Junior Showmanship entries across 185 breeds. Dogs come from 47 states across the United States, with the most entries coming from New York, California and Pennsylvania.

Six of the breeds featured in the Westminster Dog Show are newly recognized and competed for the first time in the show. The new breeds include: American English Coonhounds (three entries in Hound Group), Cesky Terries (three entries in Terrier Group), Norwegian Lundehunds (five entries in the non-sporting group), Xoloitzcunitlis (ten entries in the non-sporting group), Entlebucher Mountain dogs (four entries in the herding group) and Finnish Lapphunds (eight entries in the herding group).

None of the newly recognized breeds won their group and none will continue on to the Best in Show competition.