Westminster Dog Show: Miniature Poodle Sage wins Best in Show

A miniature poodle named Sage has become America’s Best Dog after winning the Best in Show category at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

More than 2,500 enthusiastic dogs from all 50 U.S. states and other countries competed for this prestigious title.

Sage’s manager Kaz Hosaka said he had “no words” to describe his reaction to his victory.

The competition is a long-standing tradition in the United States, with the first dating back 148 years.

Judges determine winners using a written description of the ideal breed, according to the Westminster Kennel Club, the oldest organization dedicated to dog showing in the United States. Winners are selected based on how well a dog meets the standards as well as their performance that day.

Mr Hosaka said he thought Sage gave “an excellent performance”.

Both men traveled from Houston, Texas, to compete in the competition, which took place in Flushing, New York.

This year’s Westminster Kennel Club dog show was Mr. Hosaka’s 45th. In 2002, he led another miniature poodle to first place.

Second place went to German Shepherd Mercedes, originally from Bethesda, Maryland.

Giant Schnauzer Monty, from Ocean City, New Jersey, was also in the semifinals of last year’s dog show. But he failed to win the top prize in New York on Tuesday evening.

The breeds with the highest number of registrations this year were chihuahuas, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, vizslas, dachshunds, French bulldogs, Australian shepherds and Rhodesian ridgebacks.

Although all U.S. states were represented in the competition, most dogs came from Florida, New York, California, Pennsylvania and Texas.

There is no cash prize, but the winner receives bragging rights and a trophy. For some categories, such as agility and obedience, winners can make a Westminster donation of $5,000 (£3,969) to a training club of their choice or to the American Kennel Club Humane Fund.