Which breed became a star at the 2019 Beverly Hills Dog Show?
The 2019 Beverly Hills Dog Show presented by Purina, the third BHDS event and the first to air on NBC, is now officially in the books after airing on Easter Sunday.
Hosted by the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills, which was existed since the mid-1960s, the BHDS was created as a companion event to the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving, and is arguably the fourth-most important conformation show in the country, after the NDS, the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin, and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The first two BHDS events aired on the USA Network.
Announcing were David Frei and actor John O’Hurley (Seinfeld).
(For more on how dog shows work, see our explanatory guide here.)
Taking the Herding Group was Conrad the Shetland Sheepdog, officially GCHP Syringa-Akadia The Corsair. He became the back-to-back winner of the class.
Winning the Hound Group was the Bloodhound called Piper, officially GCH Quiet Creek’s Dance With Me. She also won this class last year.
Triumphing in the Non-Sporting Group was Princeton the French Bulldog, who is officially GHCG Le Petit Prince De La Bette. He won the class in the 2018 AKC National Championship.
The Sporting Group was won by Colt the English Setter, officially GCHG Winchester’s Made My Day.
The Terrier Group was won by the West Highland White Terrier known officially as GCH Arbroath’s Pride, more commonly known as Little Caesar. McDuff from the picture books by Rosemary Wells and Susan Jeffers is a Westie, and Little Caesar is also a star, a Hollywood dog who appears in commercials and TV shows.
The Toy Group was claimed by Bono the Havanese, officially GCH Oeste’s In The Name of Love. Bono is named after the lead singer of rock band U2, and he won this group last year as well.
Finally, the Working Group was won by a Doberman called Bravo, known officially as CH Protocol’s To the Victor Go the Spoils. Bravo hasn’t competed much in America yet, but he’s the top dog in Brazil, winning Best in Show 42 times last year.
The Best in Show ring was specially designed as a red carpet premiere, with the audience alongside the catwalk to get a better view.
Among the celebrities to attend were former NFL player and current American Ninja Warrior host Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, who enthusiastically called the play-by-play for an agility demonstration. Triple Crown jockeys Victor Espinoza and Mike Smith were also in attendance, as was Olympic snowboarder Shaun White and his dog Leroy.
Actors attending the show included Bo Derek, Mario Lopez (Saved By the Bell, Pet Star) and his kids, and Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical, Phineas and Ferb, Hellcats). and her dog Maui
The Best in Show winner for the 2019 Beverly Hills Dog Show was Bono the Havanese.
The next major dog show (that the Dog O’Day staff is aware of) will be the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving Day, which will air on NBC.