Images: Beagle Miss P pulls an upset at Westminster
NEW YORK — A beagle wagging her tail a mile a minute has become America's top dog.
Miss P pulled an upset, winning best in show Tuesday night at the 139th Westminster Kennel Club at Madison Square Garden.
The 4-year-old is related to Uno, who in 2008 became the only other beagle to win at the nation's most prominent dog show.
Miss P beat out Matisse, a Portguese water dog that was the top-winning male in show dog history. Judge David Merriam also picked her in the best-of-seven final ring over an old English sheepdog that clearly was the crowd favorite, a standard poodle, a shih tzu and English springer spaniel and a Skye terrier.
The Skye finished second.
The Westminster Kennel Club show started Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches that took part, it's the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States, one giant bark in the park.
Plenty of pugs, poodles and pointers, all popular pets. A total of 192 breeds and varieties, including a few not so familiar. Yep, that's a xoloitzcuintli.
The reward for the big honor Best in Show? Zero prize money. But there's rich breeding potential, plus a lifetime of prestige — Uno the baying beagle left his paw prints forever in Westminster lore and Miss P is set to join him.
A bloodhound named Flessner's International S'cess, or Nathan, runs around the ring at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The show starts Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches set to take part, it's the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States, one giant bark in the park.
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A French bulldog competes at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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This Feb. 11, 2014, file photo shows Matisse, a Portuguese water dog, competing in the working group during the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York. The Westminster Kennel Club show starts next week in New York and dog lovers all over the world can step right into the judging ring, thanks to the newest tech piece at America's top pooch pageant.
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A bloodhound named Flessner's International S'cess, or Nathan, kisses handler Heather Helmer after winning best of breed at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The show starts Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches set to take part, it's the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States, one giant bark in the park.
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A miniature Pinscher is judged at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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A Whippet named Bruno Mars gets "chalked" by Emma Sunderman before competing at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The show started Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches set to take part, it's the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States.
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A French bulldog named Reba waits to enter the ring at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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A Maltese named Franz has his hair rubber banded so he can go to the bathroom at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The show starts Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches set to take part, it's the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States, one giant bark in the park.
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A Yorkshire terrier named Massimo relaxes on his grooming table at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The show starts Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches set to take part, it's the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States, one giant bark in the park.
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Foxy, a hairless breed called a Chinese crested, wears a coat while waiting outdoors at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The show starts Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches set to take part, it's the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States, one giant bark in the park.
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Harry Bennett keeps an eye on a Havanese named Sierra before competing at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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Vania Concolino holds her dog Lana, a standard poodle, while grooming her at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The show started Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches set to take part, it's the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States.
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Sniper, a Keeshonden, waits in the benching area at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The show started Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches set to take part, it's the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States.
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A French bulldog competes at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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Papillons compete at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The show started Monday morning.
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A French bulldog named Reba waits to enter the ring at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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A Papillon named Wingssong Singular Sensation, or Uno, is groomed before entering the ring at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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A Yorkshire terrier named Cali is groomed by Heather Sanzari at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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Gabby, a Cavalier King Charles, is groomed at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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Foxy, a hairless breed called a Chinese crested, wears a coat while waiting outdoors at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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Tools for a grooming lie next to a Maltese dog at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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Rosie, a toy poodle, prepares to compete at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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A Maltese named Smarty waits to compete at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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A Chinese Shar-Pei named Deniro sits with his owner, Maria Johnson, right, before competing at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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Justine Romano grooms her two Cotons de Tulear, Chanel, right, and Burberry, before they compete at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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A Bichons Frisé named Nurple gives Laura Warman a kiss at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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Sisi, a Norwegian Lundehund, won best in breed uncontested at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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Sadie, a cocker spaniel, competes in the Westminster Kennel Club Masters Agility Championship, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in New York.
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Wendy Lu, of San Jose, hugs her Pomeranian Daisy while competing in the Westminster Kennel Club Masters Agility Championship, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in New York.
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Bug, left, an Australian cattle dog and Highjack, an Australian shepherd watch the handler for a treat while waiting to compete in the Westminster Kennel Club Masters Agility Championship, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in New York.
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Victor Helu, of Bohemia, N.Y., grooms Panda, a Lowchen, in the benching area of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Yang Ling, of Beijing, China, grooms her Chow Chow named Kun Lung in the benching area of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Lori Logli plays with her toy poodle, Manny, in the benching area at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Jean Gauvhat-Hargis, of Sacramento, Calif., grooms Cubit, a keeshond, in the bunching area at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Flame, a standard poodle, runs with it's handler in the ring after wining the nonsporting group competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Miss P, a beagle, is shown in the ring during the hound competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Miss P won the hound group.
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Swagger, an old English sheepdog, is shown in the ring during the herding group competition the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Swagger who finished second at Westminster in 2013, won the herding group.
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Armani, a xoloitzcuintli, is shown in the ring during the nonsporting group competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Nathan, a bloodhound, is shown in the ring during the hound competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Jim Grieco, a cameraman for the USA Network, films Bloodhound Nathan in the benching area of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Michael Scott positions Matisse, a Portuguese water dog, during competition at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. The show started Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches set to take part, it's the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States, one giant bark in the park.
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Michael Scott grooms Matisse, a Portuguese water dog, before he competes at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. The show started Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches set to take part, it's the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States, one giant bark in the park.
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Winston, a Great Dane, gets some attention from his owner Stacie Stern-Leaphart at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. The show started Monday morning and, to the owners of the 2,711 pooches set to take part, it's the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500 of dogdom in the United States, one giant bark in the park.
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Alaskan malamute dogs line up for competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015.
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A Komondor named Chauncey competes at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015.
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Lydia Frey shows Let Them Eat Cake, a bedlington terrier, during the junior sportsmanship competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Frey won the competition.
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Janice Hayes shows Liz an English springer spaniel during the sporting group competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Liz won the sporting group.
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Liz, an English springer Spaniel competes the sporting group at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in New York.
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A Sussex spaniel competes with the sporting group at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in New York.
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A Weimaraner competes with the sporting group at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in New York.
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Liz, an English springer spaniel leaves the floor after winning the sporting group at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in New York.
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An A.S.C.O.B. cocker spaniel is judged with the sporting group at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in New York.
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A Komondor is shown in the ring during the working group competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Matisse, a Portuguese water dog, is judged in the working group at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in New York.
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Larry Cornelius shows Charlie, a skye terrier during the terrier group competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Miss P, a 15-inch beagle, and handler William Alexander, react after winning the Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in New York.
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Miss P, a 15-inch beagle, and handler William Alexander, compete in the Best in Show group at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in New York.
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Miss P, a 15-inch beagle, and handler William Alexander, react after winning the Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Miss P, a 15-inch beagle, and handler William Alexander, react after winning the Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in New York.
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Handler William Alexander shows Miss P, a 15-inch beagle, during the best in show competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Miss P won best in show.
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Miss P, a 15-inch beagle, and handler William Alexander, left, react after winning the Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in New York.
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William Alexander poses with Miss P, a 15-inch beagle, after winning the best in show competition title at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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William Alexander, second from right, poses with Miss P, a 15-inch beagle, after winning the best in show competition title at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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A Boston terrier named Mango relaxes after winning best of opposite sex at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
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