'Merry little hound' becomes 1st beagle to win Westminster

Uno the beagle was named top dog at the Westminster dog show Tuesday, becoming the first of his breed to win best in show at the nation's biggest canine competition.

A sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden that called and chanted Uno's name stood and roared when he was picked as numero uno. He got right into the act, jumping on Wilkerson and confirming his other title: noisiest in show.

"He's a people's dog, a merry little hound," handler Aaron Wilkerson said.

The only breed consistently among the nation's most popular dogs for nearly 100 years, a beagle had never won in the 100 times the Westminster Kennel Club had chosen a winner. That changed when judge J. Donald Jones pointed to this nearly three-year-old package of personality.

No longer an underdog, Uno beat out two neatly primped poodles, a top Sealyham terrier, a sleek Weimaraner, a lively Australian shepherd and a sprightly Akita.

"He's perfect, he was a 10," Jones said. "He does cuteness well."

Uno celebrated by chewing on the microphones of reporters who tried to interview his winning crew.

His tri-coloured image drew a nationwide following, and that will surely prompt a spike in beagle adoptions. Wilkerson had one bit of advice for anyone planning to get one as a pet.

"Better have a fence," he said.

More than 169 breeds and varieties were represented at the 132nd Westminster show, and the event brought 2,627 entries.

Won hound group earlier

Among the fan favourites early Tuesday evening were a Neapolitan mastiff that lumbered around the ring, a Chihuahua that spun in circles and a miniature pinscher that plucked a piece of food off the green carpet without missing a beat.

No hound of any kind had won at Westminster since 1983, and a toy poodle that began the night with 108 best in show prizes stood in Uno's way.

Formally known as K-Run's Park Me in First, Uno came into this competition wagging his white-tipped tail with 32 best in show ribbons overall. He already had become the first beagle to win the hound group since 1939.

Uno breezed in the 15-inch beagle category Monday morning, then took the group honours several hours later. So while other dogs tried to reach the final ring Tuesday, Uno went on a brisk walk around Manhattan and took a nap beneath his warm, fuzzy blanket.

'Tired of all those poodles winning'

But when it came time to show, Uno was as ready as ever. He looked around and soaked up the cheers while parading about the ring, the ovation becoming more thunderous with every step.

When he made his final stop in front of Jones, Uno went to town. Rather than rely on his golden brown, pleading eyes, he began baying over and over.

"When it came for the judge to pick, I couldn't even watch," said Uno's co-owner, Eddie Dziuk.

Chances are, millions at home were tuned to their televisions.

"My sister called me today and said she's always turned off the dog show on TV because she's tired of all those poodles winning," Jon Woodring, one of Uno's co-owners, said in the afternoon. "But she watched last night. I think Uno winning would show that an everyday dog can do it."

Longtime dog expert David Frei, the paw-by-paw announcer for USA Network's coverage of Westminster, went even further earlier.

"If he wins best in show, I'll rent him an apartment in New York City because I'll be travelling with him all year, so many people will want to see him," he said. "If he won, it would be the greatest thing for our show."