The 2026 Westminster group winners have been crowned at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, presented by Purina Pro Plan. In its second year back at Madison Square Garden, group judging took place on Monday February 2 and Tuesday February 3.

Monday night featured conformation judging for the Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding Groups, while the Sporting, Working, and Terrier Groups competed for Best in Group on Tuesday night. The Best in Show winner was crowned Tuesday night after all group winners were chosen.

Dogs competed to determine Best in Breed at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, before each breed’s winner moved on to Group Judging at Madison Square Garden. 

Meet the 2026 Westminster Group Winners from the Herding, Hound, Non-Sporting, Sporting, Terrier, Toy, and Working Groups.

Hound Group

The winner of the Hound Group, the first group to be judged, was Afghan Hound “Zaida” GCHG CH Zaida Bint Muti Von Haussman of Ingleside, IL. Zaida, who is 6 years old, was handled by Wilmer Santiago, and is owned by Ramon Podesta, D. Scott Pfeil, James Donahue, and Armando Sobrado. Zaida beat out the other 35 dogs in the Hound Group. This year’s winner received the first-ever Vin-Melca Trophy, named in honor of breeder-owner-handler Pat Trotter’s Vin-Melca Norwegian Elkhounds.

The Hound Group was judged by Mr. Michael Canalizo of Mill Neck, NY. In second place in the group was Ibizan Hound “The Zit” GCHP DC Abbaio Bushbaby MC ATT. Bloodhound “Hottie” GCHS CH Quiet Creek’s Hot Toddy came in third place in the Hound Group, and Saluki “Kaspian” GCHS CH Haefen Phaeton Kaspian came in fourth.

Toy Group

The winner of the Toy Group was “Cookie” GCHB CH Ta-Jon’s Made From Scratch, a 4-year-old Maltese from Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. Cookie was handled by Tim Lehman, and owned by Tammy Simon and Dr. Diana Egnor. Cookie came out as the winner of the 25 dogs entered in the group.

Ms. Charlotte Patterson of Destin, FL, judged the Toy Group on Monday night. In second place in the Toy Group was Pomeranian “Asla” GCHG CH Artistry’s Aslan All That Is Good. “Rip” GCHB CH Rose’s Rip Tide the Pug came in third place, and Shih Tzu “Comet” GCHP2 CH Hallmark Jolei Out Of This World, who won the Toy Group in 2025, came in fourth place.

Non-Sporting Group

The Non-Sporting Group winner at Westminster also won the group (and Best in Show) at the 2025 AKC National Championship. Lhasa Apso “JJ” GCHP CH Ta Sen Westgate Jingle Juice, owned and handled by Susan Giles of Manakin Sabot, VA, won the group.

“It’s probably my 40th or 50th Westminster I’ve attended,” Giles says. “I love this show, the prestige of it for 150 years, and to win it? It’s incredible.” JJ bested 21 other dogs in the Non-Sporting Group to take home the group win. JJ is now 5 years old, and owned by Giles, Cindy Sehnert, and Muriel Wolverton.

The Non-Sporting Group was judged by Mr. Eugene Blake of Tulsa, OK. In second place in the group was Schipperke “Elle” GCHG CH Delamer Summer Sand Elle. Chinese Shar-Pei “Joy” GCHS CH Good Fortune Jump For Joy came in third place, and Xoloitzcuintli “Calaco” GCHG CH Master Rock Calaco (Alonso Tojo) placed fourth in the Non-Sporting Group.

Herding Group

Old English Sheepdog “Graham” GCHB CH Bugaboo’s Give Me Smore’, handled by Colton Johnson, won the Herding Group, the final group of Monday night. Graham is owned by C. Heather, Michaelanne, Douglas Johnson and Ron & Christine Perry.

Graham, who is 4 years old, bested the other 34 dogs in the Herding Group. “They’re happy, they’re social, they’re confident,” Johnson said of the breed after his Monday night win. “They’re a lot of fun to live with.” 

The Herding Group was judged by Mrs. Sheree Moses Combs of Wardensville, WV. In second place was Miniature American Shepherd “Sawyer” GCHS CH Flying M’s Modern Day Warrior. German Shepherd Dog “Juice” CH Kenlyn Marquis’ Queen of Hearts came in third, and Bouvier Des Flandres “Farrah” GCHB CH Quiche’s Vogue Covergirl CGC TKN came in fourth in the Herding Group.

Sporting Group

The winner of the Sporting Group was Chesapeake Bay Retriever “Cota” GCHP CH Next Generation’s Accelerate. Cota, who is 5 years old, was handled by Devon Kipp Levy, and is owned by Melissa Schumann, Dana Bleifer DVM, Dr. Katherine Scribnet, Adam Levy, and Dr. Trevor Gerardi-Miller.

 “This is something I’ve always dreamt about,” Kipp Levy says. She was asked if Cota can feel the energy of the crowd. “He feeds off of this, he loves all of this.”

The Sporting Group was judged by Mr. Douglas Johnson of Bloomington, IN. Cota, of Vashon, WA, bested 36 other dogs in the group. In second place in the Sporting Group was Pointer GCHG CH Aspyre Cat Got Ur Tongue. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever “Luca” GCHS CH Roaneden’s Shorelander came in third, and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon “Loretta” GCHG CH Overton’s Get Back Your Independence JH took fourth in the group.

Working Group

The winner of the Working Group at Westminster was Doberman Pinscher “Penny” GCHP CH Connquest Best Of Both Worlds, handled by Andy Linton. Penny is owned by Francis Sparagna, Diana Sparagna, Theresa Connors-Chan, and Gregory Chan.

“It’s been a long time, 37 years,” says Linton, who last won the group with a Doberman Pinscher named “Indy.” “I think it was ’89 when we won with Indy, and to be here at the 150th Westminster Dog show is just incredible.” Penny bested the other 32 dogs in the group to move on to Best in Show. 

The Working Group was judged by Mrs. Sioux Forsyth-Green of Pinehurst, NC. In second place was Saint Bernard “Bodacious” GCHS CH Herat Mountain’s Bodacious At Sapphire Mountain BCAT. “Sonny” the Portuguese Water Dog GCHP CH Odysea It’s Always Sonny At Surfari took home third in the group, and Samoyed “Maverick” GCHS CH Vanderbilt’s Lucky Shot FDC took fourth.

Terrier Group

The Terrier Group Winner was 2-year-old Smooth Fox Terrier “Wager” GCHB CH Aimhi Side Bet, owned, bred and handled by Amy Rutherford. Wager, of Elverta, CA, is owned by Rutherford, Barbara Miller, and Peter Holson. Wager took top honors among the 28 dogs in the group.

“This dog is my heart dog, he’s 8 generations of my breeding,” Rutherford said after her group win. “He goes back to the first Smooth Fox Terrier I had when I was 8, so he means the world to me.”

The Terrier Group was judged by Ms. Polly Smith of Pinehurst, NC. In second place was American Staffordshire Terrier “Storm” GCH CH Maison Vannbert Storm For Norrstar. “Joe,” affectionately known as “Baby Joe” GCHP CH Carmel Mr. Joe Adamis CGC took home third in the group, and Norfolk Terrier “Rambler” GCHB CH Yarrow Venerie Rambling Man came in fourth in the group.