Monty the giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York

This time, the giant schnauzer went the full Monty.

After coming close in the past two years, Monty the giant schnauzer won the top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show on Tuesday night, leaving handler and co-owner Katie Bernardin almost too emotional to speak.

“He always tries so hard, and we’re just proud of him,” she told the crowd at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The spirited schnauzer bested six other finalists to become the first of his breed tapped as Westminster’s best in show, the most prestigious prize in the US dog show world.

The dog won the huge American Kennel Club championship in December.

A standout because of “everything from his attitude to his structure”, Monty is bold, cocky and fun, according to co-owner Sandy Nordstrom.

“He’s just a really cool dog,” she said in an interview before his win, which will be his last. The five-year-old is retiring from showing.

The runner-up was, for the third time, a whippet known as Bourbon.

Other finalists included a bichon frisé called Neal, a Skye terrier named Archer, and a shih tzu called Comet who’s been a finalist before.

Also in the mix were a German shepherd named Mercedes, who came in second last year, and an English springer spaniel called Freddie.

Each dog at Westminster is judged according to how closely it matches the ideal for its breed. Winners get a trophy, ribbons and bragging rights, but no cash prize.

During a break between semifinal rounds, security personnel surrounded and ousted someone along the sidelines of the ring.

The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which has protested against the dog show for years, said on X that a supporter was removed after holding a sign.

Westminster says it celebrates all dogs. The show champions that compete also are household pets, and some do therapy work, search-and-rescue or other canine jobs.

“A good German shepherd is an all-purpose dog,” said Mercedes’ co-breeder and co-owner Sheree Moses Combs of Wardensville, West Virginia. Some of her pups have become service dogs for wounded veterans, she said.

“Dog shows are fun, but that is what our breed is all about,” she said.

Westminster also featured agility and obedience championships, held on Saturday.

The agility prize went to a border collie named Vanish and an Australian shepherd - a breed of herding dog - called Willie triumphed in obedience.