Standard Poodle Wins Best in Show at Westminster Dog Show, Disappoints Fans

Madison Square Garden in New York recently held the 144th Westminster Dog Show. Siba, the standard poodle, won Best in Show. 3-year-old Siba had black puffs and pompoms and was described by Fox Business as “the absolute picture of what many see as the epitome of a show dog.”

Bourbon the whippet finished second. Those included in the final grouping are Daniel the golden retriever, Bono the Havanese, Wilma the boxer, Conrad the Shetland sheepdog, and Vinny the wire fox terrier.

Poodles come in three sizes. The last time a standard poodle won was in 1991. Siba is the first poodle of any size to win best in show since 2002.

According to Fox Business, “The Westminster winner receives no prize money in a sport where owners can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their pet. Instead, the reward is a silver bowl, lucrative breeding rights and a lifetime of bragging rights in dog lore.”

“It hasn't settled in yet,” said handler Crystal Murray-Clas. “Give me a couple days, and I'll be just shocked.”

However, Daniel the golden retriever won many hearts – making many viewers negatively react to Siba’s win. Daniel received loud cheers while his handler Karen Mammano showed him off for judging. Mashable reported that a golden retriever has never won Best in Show, “So the good boy had the rare chance to make history as well. In contrast, poodles have won five times.”

“A poodle winning over a golden retriever like Daniel is everything that’s wrong with our country.  #WestminsterDogShow,” said one Twitter user. Another Twitter user said: “The Golden Retriever was robbed! #WKCDogShow #WestminsterDogShow2020 #JusticeForDaniel.” Some even booed when Best in Show was announced.