This Buddy Holly no longer has to sigh: “That’ll be the day”.
A petit basset griffon Vendeen named for the late rock 'n' roll legend won the top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday night, a first for this rabbit-hunting breed.
Buddy Holly bested six other finalists to garner the most prestigious dog show award in the US. PBGVs, as they’re known for short, are the 154th most prevalent purebreds in the country, according to recent American Kennel Club rankings.
“I never thought a PBGV would do this,” handler and co-owner Janice Hayes said. “Buddy Holly is the epitome of a show dog.”
His competitors included Rummie, a Pekingese that aimed to bring home the third trophy in 11 years for his small-but-regal breed; and Winston the French bulldog, who was gunning for the title after coming oh-so-close last year.
An Australian shepherd named Ribbon, an English setter called Cider, a giant schnauzer named Monty and an American Staffordshire terrier called Trouble were also in the pack of contenders.
If Buddy Holly was feeling the pressure, he wasn't letting it show ahead of finals. Instead, he seemed more concerned with playing with his people and rejecting the notion of a nap in his crate.
“He just screams PBGV,” Hayes said. “They're very independent, but very charming and just silly. Their goal is to make you laugh every day.”
Originally from France, the small hounds were traditionally rabbit hunters.
Buddy Holly — so named because “he's a buddy”, breeder Gavin Robertson explained — has also lived and competed in his native UK and in Ireland and Australia.
Ribbon is “like the fun girl at the party”, handler Jessica Plourde said. Rummie is “true to Pekingese type, lots of carriage, presence — everything in one, here”, said owner and breeder David Fitzpatrick, who guided Pekes Malachy and Wasabi to Westminster wins in 2012 and 2021, respectively.
Winston came in second at Westminster last year and went on to win last autumn's National Dog Show, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. Now he's representing the most prevalent dog breed in the US, as of rankings released in March.
He “just steals your heart”, handler and co-owner Perry Payson said after Winston's spirited semi-final turn, which included an impromptu leap into a decorative box in the middle of the ring.
Each Westminster finalist first has bested other dogs of its breed, and then of its “group”, such as toy dogs or hounds. Among the breeds up for semi-final group judging on Tuesday night was the newly eligible Bracco Italiano, won by a dog co-owned by country music star Tim McGraw.
Besides the chosen finalists, there were other fan favourites, too.
There was the bloodhound that bowed deeply before a judge, the golden retriever cheered by the breed's many fans, and the spunky German short-haired pointer that did a few leaps before its lap around the ring. Spectators applauded 10-year-old handler Audra Maes and her Shiba Inu, and breeder/owner/handler Alexandria Mitchell and her Ibizan hound. They made the judge’s first cut, an accomplishment at a show where many exhibitors handle other people's dogs as a career.
The Westminster show, held this year at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, also includes obedience and agility competitions that are open to mixed-breed dogs.
About 2,500 dogs of 210 breeds and varieties vied for the trophy. Hundreds more competed in agility, obedience and other events.
