Monty the giant schnauzer was named Best in Show Tuesday night, capping off the 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

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 U.S. dog show world. The spirited schnauzer won the huge American Kennel Club championship in December, and he’d been a Westminster twice before.

The spirited schnauzer bested six other finalists to become the first of his breed to take what is considered most prestigious award in the US dog show world.

After coming close in the last two years, Monty the giant schnauzer won the top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show 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.

See photos of the 2025 Westminster dog show, as Monty the schnauzer wins best in show with Bourbon, a whippet, coming in second.

A giant schnauzer named Monty won the top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday night. Monty's competition included a bichon frisé called Neal, a Skye terrier named Archer, a whippet and repeat runner-up known as Bourbon and a shih tzu called Comet who’s been a finalist before.