For Monty, the third time was truly the charm.
The giant schnauzer from Ocean City, New Jersey, claimed the coveted Best in Show title at the 2025 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
With his striking black eyebrows and distinguished beard, Monty secured victory after an impressive three-peat in the working group, having previously won in 2023 and 2024.
A Champion’s Dedication
His handler and co-owner, Katie Bernardin, praised Monty’s dedication and work ethic.
“It’s a lot of hard work, and he always puts the work in,” Bernardin said during the FS1 broadcast, which also featured commercials for Cosequin dog joint supplements starring Bernardin and her husband, fellow dog handler Adam Bernardin.
When Monty was crowned Best in Show, Bernardin was visibly emotional.
“He always tries so hard,” she said through tears. “I’m just proud of him. I always call him my Secretariat because he never stops … The puppy did the damn thing.”
Monty’s Historic Victory
Monty is co-owned by Bernardin (who lives in Chaplin, Connecticut), Sandra Nordstrom of Ocean City, and Pemberton breeder Cherlann Ambrose of Hearthmore Giant Schnauzers. His registered name is GCHG CH Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain.
His win is historic—not only is he the first giant schnauzer to ever win Best in Show at Westminster, but he also becomes the first working group winner since 2004, when Josh, a Newfoundland from Flemington, New Jersey, took home the top prize.
In Westminster’s 149-year history (dating back to 1877), only 13 working group dogs have won Best in Show—a rare feat in a category dominated by large, powerful breeds like mastiffs, St. Bernards, and Great Danes.
The Legacy of the Giant Schnauzer
Originally bred in the Bavarian Alps in the 1800s, giant schnauzers were used by farmers to drive cattle to market. Later, they became guard dogs and police dogs. The American Kennel Club (AKC) officially recognized the breed in 1930.
Bernardin has a long history with the breed. In 2018, she won Reserve Best in Show (runner-up) with Ty, another giant schnauzer co-owned by Nordstrom.
Other Westminster Highlights
This year’s Reserve Best in Show title went to a seasoned competitor—Bourbon, a 9-year-old whippet from Georgia, who had come out of retirement to win the hound group for the third time.
Another New Jersey dog, Archer, a 7-year-old Skye terrier from Flemington, won the terrier group on Tuesday night.
“It’s a lot of cardio for a dog with short legs and an owner who needs to work out,” joked Archer’s owner and handler, Antoinelle Vulpis, during the broadcast.
This was Archer’s final competition, as he turns 8 years old on Friday.
“We’re just here for a good time, not a long time,” Vulpis said. “It’s his retirement show, and we love this tradition. I grew up watching Westminster as a little girl.”
Westminster’s Return to Manhattan
The 2025 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show marked the event’s return to winter in Manhattan after five years in Queens and Tarrytown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Agility and obedience competitions were held at the Javits Center on Feb. 8.
- Daytime breed shows took place on Feb. 10 and 11.
- Nighttime group competitions and Best in Show returned to Madison Square Garden from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens.
Other 2025 Group Winners
- Hound Group: Bourbon, 9-year-old whippet (Reserve Best in Show – Georgia)
- Toy Group: Comet, 4-year-old shih tzu (Ohio)
- Non-Sporting Group: Neal, 4-year-old bichon frisé (Texas)
- Herding Group: Mercedes, 5-year-old German shepherd (Maryland) – back-to-back winner
- Sporting Group: Freddie, 6-year-old English springer spaniel (Illinois)
Westminster Agility Champion
Vanish, an 8-year-old border collie, won the Westminster Masters Agility Championship, marking the ninth border collie win in 12 years.
Handler Emily Klarman of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, guided Vanish to victory.
A Tribute to a Westminster Legend
Last year’s Best in Show winner, Sage, a miniature poodle from Houston, was handled by Westminster veteran Kaz Hosaka—who also won in 2002 with miniature poodle Spice.
Hosaka passed away in June 2024, just weeks after Sage’s victory, leaving behind a legacy in the dog show world.
