Editorial: February 13, 2026

It didn’t take the Westminster Kennel Club to celebrate a 150th anniversary to make it the most prestigious and premier dog show in the United states. 

Once again, the members and the staff of Westminster headed by the multi-talented Donald Sturz  rose to the occasion and hosted a great weekend with all the glitz and glamour that Madison Square Garden can offer. The packed house was up for a great evening and they weren’t disappointed. The only uncooperative element was the weather. The cold spell that gripped the country caused the airlines to suspend animals traveling in the hold. So many owners and handlers had to drive cross country. We are a hardy bunch, especially when it means getting to a dog show… snow be damed. The weekend started later Friday afternoon with a cocktail party at the Dog Museum and some of those guests traveled uptown to join other invitees to attend the annual Poodle Cocktail Party hosted by Karen LeFrak, Patricia Hearst, Missy Galloway and Ellen Charles. That cocktail party held at Doubles, the private club in the Sherry Netherland hotel, has become the traditional start of the weekend. Saturday evening 450 guests gathered at Gotham Hall, the former Greenwich Savings Bank built in 1922. Under 70 stained glass ceiling, guests gathered to celebrate pure bred dogs, their breeders, owners and handlers and welcome the newest inductee of the Anne Rogers Clark Hall of Fame. Monday morning, braving the extreme cold, the first day of judging owners and handlers arrived at Javits Center. The spacious and bright venue can’t be equalled. There is room for wide benching isles and large breed rings for judging. Not to mention that the employees at Javits are polite and helpful. The breed judging at Javits went on without a hitch. The two evening group and best in show judging has no better venue in the country than the excitement and glamour that Madison Square Garden can provide. The light, the music, the vibe, the crowd, its electric. By the time Tuesday evening rolls around, around 10:30 P.M., the crowd is roaring with support for the seven finalists that are vying for that long, long purple and gold rosette that signifies best in show. This year’s line up was one of the best ever, each dog so worthy with the crowd confirming judge David Fitzgerald. David handled his ring with knowledge of the breeds before him with efficiency, giving each dog their moment to shine. His ultimate two choices for reserve best show, Coda, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever with Devon Kipp Levy handling and best in show winner, the Doberman Pinscher Penny with Andy Linton handling,  were the two crowd favorites. It made one proud to be a part of this pure bred dog community and the camaraderie, love and friendship exhibited this weekend. It was weekend with a story book start and a story book finish. Go Andy!