Two years after his Pekingese “Wasabi” was the first Toy dog to win Best in Show at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin, David Fitzpatrick walked away with two more huge awards.
At the 2021 AKC National Championship, Fitzpatrick received the award for AKC Breeder of the Year for Pequest Pekingese and won Best Bred-By-Exhibitor in Show with “Fortune Cookie.”
Breeder of the Year
The annual Breeder of the Year award honors breeders who have made an impact on their breed and dedicate their lives to improving the health, temperament, and quality of purebred dogs.
“We are thrilled to honor David Fitzpatrick with the 2021 AKC Breeder of the Year award,” said Dennis B. Sprung, AKC President and CEO. “The Pequest prefix has been associated with top quality, healthy Pekingese in the United States and his positive influence on the breed will be seen for many more years to come.”
One honoree is chosen from each of the seven groups: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. From those seven, one Group winner is selected as “AKC Breeder of the Year” during the AKC National Championship, which was held this year in Orlando, FL on December 18th and 19th.
All Seven Group Honorees
- Sporting Group: Dyane Baldwin, Pond Hollow Chesapeakes
- Hound Group: Susan LaCroix Hamil, Quiet Creek Bloodhounds
- Working Group: Cathy and Mike Dugan, Aviator Kennel
- Terrier Group: Mary Remer, Banbury Bedrock Bull Terriers
- Toy Group: David Fitzpatrick, Pequest Pekingese
- Non-Sporting Group: Connie Wagner, Spotlight Dalmatians
- Herding Group: Guy A. & Thelma J. Mauldin, Kismet Kennels
Bred By Exhibitor Best in Show
In addition to winning Breeder of the Year, David Fitzpatrick won Best in Show in “Bred by Exhibitor” at the AKC National Championship. The award was given to CH Pequest Fortune Cookie “Fortune Cookie” by judge Dana P. Cline.
This show includes dogs who are owned or co-owned by any of the breeders of record as of the date of the show. The person handling the dog in this class must be a breeder of record and an owner of record of this dog.
Pequest Pekingese
David Fitzpatrick began his lifelong passion for Pekingese in the early 1970s. With well over 100 homebred champions produced, 17 have become Best in Show winners. Awards have included Best in Show at The Pekingese Club of America, Morris and Essex, Westminster, the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin, as well as Best Bred by Exhibitor in Show at the AKC National Championship.
David has had many personal achievements in the sport, including the 2006 Dogs in Review award for Best Professional Handler, 2009 AKC Toy Breeder of the Year, 2009 Pekingese Club of America Mentor of the Year, AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award, as well as many Top Breeder Awards.
Pequest Pekingese continues working towards their goal of producing healthy, quality dogs with great temperaments that are suitable for the ring as well as companions. David says, “With all the great successes aside, great pleasure comes from the Pekes that end up bringing their unique character and love to companion homes.”