A Belgian Sheepdog named Soleil was crowned the winner of the National Dog Show in Philadelphia on Thursday. Photo courtesy of NBC
Nov. 27 (UPI) — A Belgian Sheepdog named Soleil was crowned the winner of the National Dog Show in Philadelphia on Thursday.
“Today, that dog was ‘on.’ Didn’t put its foot down wrong. Didn’t miss a beat,” Best in Show judge Charlie Olvis said in a statement. “She is in drop-dead gorgeous condition.”
Soleil’s handler, Daniel Martin, added: “I knew that this would be a fierce, intense competition. Soleil loves the energy and she feels it. That’s her magic. She’ll do whatever we ask of her. She’s a winner.”
Soleil beat out a Miniature Schnauzer, Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise for the day’s top honor.
Owned by Connie Jasinski of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Pat Snow of Sapulpa, Okla., and Nancy Maye of Towanda, Kan., Soleil also won the prize in the Herding Group.
Reserve Best in Show — second place — went to an American Foxhound named George and his handler Tristen Lawrence of Mechanicsville, Md. George was the winner of the Hound Group.
John O’Hurley and David Frei co-hosted the event, while Mary Carillo offered behind-the-scenes commentary.
The program aired on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
Last year’s winner was Vito the pug.
