Tarrytown, N.Y. – The Best in Show at the 145th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was awarded to GCHG CH Pequest Wasabi, a Pekingese. The reserve (runner-up) was Bourbon the whippet.
Patricia Craige Trotter known as a veteran judge as well as a trainer and handler oversaw the Best in Show 2021. Before presenting the trophy to the winner Trotter spoke “We love all dogs as dog lovers. Mixed breeds and purebreds. They’re all pets. Now, every pet may not be a show dog, but rest assure that every show dog is a pet.” The final competitors included Connor the Old English Sheepdog, Striker a white Samoyed, Mathew the French Bulldog, Jade the German Shorthaired Pointer.
David Fitzpatrick is Wasabi’s breeder. Wasabi won Best of Breed and group category; Toy Group. After winning Best of Breed and group Wasabi was able to compete Best in Show and won top honors. Wasabi comes from a line of champions; the son of a champion Pekingese and great-grandson of Malachy (2012) Best in Show.
Mitchell Walters journalist/photograph by Westminster