NEW YORK (AP) — This friend Holly no longer has to sigh, “This will be the day.”
The young Griffon Vendeen named after the rock and roll legend has won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. Tuesday night, the first time to breed rabbit hunting. Buddy Holly beat out six other finalists to take home the award for Best Dog Show in the United States.
“I never thought PBGV would do that,” said Janice Hayes, owner and therapist. “Buddy Holly is the epitome of a show dog. Nothing bothers him.”
In fact, his white tail did not stop wagging as he competed on the court where the best matches of the US Open Tennis Championships were held. Not even while he posed for countless photos after a win that Hayes described as “absolutely surreal.”
“We are very proud of him,” she said.
Among his rivals was Rumi, a Beijing native who came second after aiming to bring home a third trophy in 11 years for his small but royal bloodline – and for owner, owner and breeder David Fitzpatrick. Bex led Malachy Wasabi to victory at Westminster in 2012 and 2021, respectively.
He said Monday, “A true Rummy for the Beijing type, lots of gigs, attendance — all in one, here.”
Winston the French Bulldog He was chasing the title after last year’s close. An Australian shepherd named Ribbon, an English setter named Cider, a giant schnauzer named Monty, and an American Staffordshire terrier named Trouble were also in the contenders pack.
If Buddy Holly was feeling the pressure, he wasn’t letting him show up before the Finals. Instead, he seemed more restless by late Tuesday afternoon playing with his people and dismissing the idea of napping in his crate.
“It just screams PBGV,” Hayes said. “They are very independent but also very charming and silly. Their goal is to make you laugh every day.”
Originally from France, young hounds are the 154th most popular purebred breed in the country, according to recent American Kennel Club rankings. (Their name means ‘low-haired dog of the Vendée’ and peh-TEE ‘bah-SAY’ is pronounced grihf-FAHN ‘vahn-DAY’-ahn.)
Breeder Gavin Robertson explained that Buddy Holly – so named because he’s a “friend” – has also lived and competed in the UK, Ireland and Australia.
About 2,500 dogs from 210 breeds and varieties competed for the cup. Among them: the newly qualified bracco Italiano breed, won by a dog co-owned by country music star Tim McGraw.
Besides the selected finalists, there were other fan favorites as well.
There was the hound who bowed deeply before the judge, the golden retriever cheered by the breed’s many admirers, and the spunky German Shorthaired Pointer who did a few hops before lapping it around the ring. Onlookers paid tribute to 10-year-old handlers Audra Mays and a Shiba Inu, breeder/owner/handler Alexandria Mitchell and her Ibizan hound. They made the judge’s first cut, an accomplishment in a show where many performers handle other people’s dogs as a profession.
The Westminster Show, held this year at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis CenterAlso includes open obedience and agility competitions for mixed-breed dogs.
And then what for Buddy Holly? A good night’s sleep, “upside down, rolling in the pillows,” said Hayes.
“He’ll just go back to being a dog.”
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Associated Press writer Anna Furman contributed. New York-based Associated Press journalist Jennifer Peltz has covered the Westminster Dog Show since 2013.
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