The silver cup and a filet mignon as a reward went to Wasabi this year: The Pekingese was named the best dog in the traditional competition of the American Westminster Kennel Club.
“How could you not love this dog?
He presented himself like a lion, ”the judges praised the male, weighing almost four kilos and around 20 centimeters tall.
Wasabi from East Berlin in the state of Pennsylvania comes from a family of winners.
His grandfather Malachy won the trophy in 2012, while father Pickwick made it to first place in the miniature dog category in 2017.
For the first time in its 145 year history, the dog show did not take place in Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.
Because of the corona pandemic, it had to be moved to the Lyndhurst property in Tarrytown, about 40 kilometers away.
Audience was not allowed. Many dog trainers wore mouth and nose protection when they introduced the approximately 2500 participants. The three-year-old Wasabi turned several laps on Monday night to show himself from his best side. First he prevailed against the Miniature Spitz, Havanese and Greyhound in the “Toy Group” category, then he competed against the winners in categories such as hunting and herding dogs.