Meet the 2025 Westminster Group Winners
The 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, presented by Purina Pro Plan, returned to Madison Square Garden for Group Judging on Monday, February 10 and Tuesday, February 11, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Monday night featured conformation judging for the Hound Group, Toy Group, Non-Sporting Group, and Herding Group, 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.
This year, over 2,500 total dogs were entered, all competing to win the title of Best in Show at Westminster.
Meet the 2025 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 Whippet “Bourbon” GCHP CH Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon, handled by Chelsie Pickett Smithey. Bourbon, who is 9 years old, is owned by Justin Smithey, Dr. Ken Latimer, Judy Descutner, Nancy Shaw, and Chelsie Smithey. Bourbon, who beat out the other 35 dogs in the Hound Group, lives in Sugar Valley, Georgia.
Mr. Harold Tatro, III judged the breeds during Monday’s group judging. Whippets have won the group eight times at Westminster: first in 1958, and most recently, Bourbon herself in 2021.
Toy Group
For the second year in a row, the winner of the Toy Group was “Comet” GCHP CH Hallmark Jolei Out Of This World, a 4-and-a-half-year-old Shih Tzu, handled and owned by Luke Ehricht. This Monclova, Ohio team won Best in Show at the 2023 American Kennel Club National Championship. Mrs. Angela Pickett judged the Toy Group on Monday night, choosing Comet as the winner of 25 dogs entered in the group.
Comet is co-owned by Luke and Diane Ehrict, and Bonnie J. Miller DVM. Including Comet’s past group wins, Shih Tzu have won the Toy Group at Westminster seven times.
Non-Sporting Group
The Non-Sporting Group winner at Westminster also won the group at the 2024 AKC National Championship. Bichon Frise “Neal” GCHS CH Top Speed Neal, handled by Lisa Bettis, won the group. Neal is owned by Ellen Charles, Fan Yang, Nancy Brown, and Glen Lajeski.
Neal, who is 4 years old, is the eighth Bichon to win the Non-Sporting Group at Westminster, the most recent winner being in 2018. “He’s a great representation of the breed,” Bettis said after their win. “He loves life.” Neal bested 21 other dogs in the Non-Sporting Group to take home the group win.
Herding Group
German Shepherd Dog “Mercedes” GCHP CH Kaleef’s Mercedes, handled by Kent Boyles, won the Herding Group, the final group of Monday night’s group judging. Mercedes also won the Herding group at Westminster in 2024, in addition to winning the group at the 2024 AKC National Championship. In addition, Mercedes won Reserve Best in Show at the 2023 American Kennel Club National Championship.
Mercedes, who is 5 years old, is owned by Cynthian Wilhelmy and Sheree Moses and lives in Bethesda, Maryland. Out of 34 dogs in the Herding Group, judged by Ms. Janina K. Laurin, Mercedes represented GSDs to move on to Best in Show judging on Tuesday night.
“They’re such a joy to work with,” Boyles says of the breed. “They’re super dependable.” Including Mercedes’ win in 2025, 12 German Shepherd Dogs have won the group at Westminster.
Sporting Group
The winner of the Sporting Group was 6-year-old English Springer Spaniel “Freddie” GCHP CH Telltale Bohemian Rhapsody, handled by Robin Novack. Freddie is owned by Beth Fink, Liz Pike, Judy Vanderlip, Gina Paulucci and Susan Hatch.
English Springer Spaniels have won the Sporting Group 16 times, including Freddie’s win on Tuesday. The first winner was in 1933, but an English Springer Spaniel hadn’t won the group in a decade until Freddie did on Tuesday night.
“Freddie is the dog that I’ve worked my whole life for,” Novack said when they won the group. “I bred him, so he’s the one for me.”
Working Group
A familiar face won the Working Group for the third consecutive year in a row: Giant Schnauzer “Monty” GCHG CH Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB from Ocean City, New Jersey, handled by Katherine Bernadin. Monty won the 2024 AKC National Championship just two months before getting in the ring at Westminster.
Monty, who is 5 years old, is co-owned by Sandra Nordstrom, Katherin Bernadin, and Cherlann Ambrose.
The Giant Schnauzer has never won Best in Show at Westminster before, but the breed did win Reserve Best in Show in 2018. That Giant Schnauzer, GCH Ingebar’s Tynan Dances With Wildflowers, was also owned by Nordstrom, and co-owners Carol Mann and Maryann Bisceglia.
Terrier Group
Skye Terrier “Archer” GCHS CH Gleanntan’s Sure Shot Greyjoy, handled by Antoinelle Vulpis, won the Terrier Group at Westminster. Archer, who is 8 years old, is owned by Antoinelle and Frank Vulpis. “It’s a lot of cardio with a dog with short legs and an owner that needs to work out,” Vulpis joked after their group win. “I grew up watching this show as a girl, and I just can’t believe I’m here right now.”
The Skye Terrier has won the Terrier Group at Westminster seven times, first in 1953 and most recently in 2016 prior to 2025. A Skye Terrier won Reserve Best in Show at Westminster in 2015, but the only time the breed has won Best in Show at Westminster was in 1969.
The 149th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has crowned its Best in Show! Catch reruns of the coverage on demand and learn more about one of the most famous dog shows in the United States at westminsterkennelclub.org.
