Beagle Is Top Dog At Westminster

Uno Lives Up To His Name, Beagle Becomes First Of His Breed To Win Event

(CBS/AP)  Good ol' Snoopy, a champion at last.

Barking and baying up a storm, Uno lived up to his name Tuesday night by becoming the first beagle to win best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club.

The nation's new top dog was clearly the fan favorite, and drew a roaring, standing ovation from the sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden when he was picked.

Uno got right into the act, jumping up on handler Aaron Wilkerson and confirming his other title: noisiest in show. Years from now, he'll be known for the "ah-roo" heard 'round the ring.

"He's a people's dog, a merry little hound," Wilkerson said.

The only dog consistently listed among America's most popular breeds for nearly 100 years, a beagle had never won in the 100 times Westminster picked a winner. That changed when judge J. Donald Jones pointed to this nearly 3-year-old package of personality.

Uno was numero uno, beating out two perfect poodles, a top Sealyham terrier, a sleek Weimaraner, a lively Australian shepherd and a sprightly Akita.

"We knew he was going to be No. 1. I didn't know he'd do it this fast," Wilkerson said.

"It was very exciting," Wilkerson said on The Early Show Wednesday. "As soon as we walked in the ring, I could feel it, and I could feel that he was feeling it. Just amazing. He was very good in there."

Uno celebrated by chewing on the microphones of reporters who tried to interview his winning crew. Those had to suffice for the yellow, soft duck that's his favorite toy.

"He's perfect, he was a 10," Jones said. "He does cuteness well."

More than 169 breeds and varieties were represented at the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club event, and the competition brought 2,627 entries.

Barks echoed around Madison Square Garden as the crowd cheered its favorites, among them a Neapolitan mastiff that lumbered around the ring, a Chihuahua that spun in circles and a miniature pinscher that plucked a piece of food off the green carpet without missing a beat.

Formally known as K-Run's Park Me in First, Uno came into this competition wagging his white-tipped tail with 32 best in show ribbons overall. Yet he was surely an underdog - make that an Underdog - because no beagle had even won the hound group since 1939.

But Uno fixed that, breezing in the 15-inch breed judging on Monday morning and taking his group several hours later. So while other dogs tried to reach the final ring Tuesday, Uno spent the day going on a brisk walk around Manhattan and taking a nap underneath his warm, fuzzy blanket.

But when it came time to show, Uno was as precocious and precious as ever.

With fans calling out his name and clapping, he soaked in the cheers as he paraded around the ring, the cheers becoming more thunderous with every step. And when he made his final stop in front of Jones, Uno went to town, baying over and over.

Even when he returned to sidelines as other dogs were judged, Uno kept going. Quite a win it was for Eddie Dziuk of Columbia, Mo., and the other three co-owners.

"My sister called me today and said she's always turned off the dog show on TV because she's tired of all those poodles winning," Jon Woodring, one of the other co-owners, said earlier in the day. "But she watched last night. I think Uno winning would show that an everyday dog can do it."

Longtime dog expert David Frei, the paw-by-paw announcer for USA Network's coverage of the Westminster Kennel Club show, went even further.

"If he wins best in show, I'll rent him an apartment in New York City because I'll be traveling with him all year, so many people will want to see him," he said. "If he won, it would be the greatest thing for our show."

Better get that first rent check ready - Uno is here to stay.

No hound of any kind had won at Westminster since 1983, and a toy poodle that began the night with 108 best in show prizes stood in Uno's way.

It was an upset in the show world, where wire fox terriers usually wobble off with the prize ribbon. Sort of like the boy-next-door becoming president - that's how it was to see an everyday backyard pet earn the silver bowl.

With pleading, golden-brown eyes, Uno certainly looked like the picture of man's best friend.

Exactly why beagles hadn't done better at shows was somewhat of a mystery. Some say that they're so common, they don't stand out in the ring. Others say they're hurt by being an "honest dog" - as in, they're not a masterpiece carved with a pair of clippers.

Jones did not realize he'd made history by choosing the first beagle at Westminster.

"I had no idea," he said.

[kevzgrl]

I never did understand the fascination people have with those ugly little clipper cut poodles, and after watching this show, I still don''t understand it. I am glad a dog looking dog won it, not a clipper-cut freak.

[lambofgoth]

kevzgrl - those "clipper cut freaks" are groomed so that form follows function. Poodles were originally meant to be water dogs. They leave the hair around the joints and shave the rest so the dogs joints are kept warm in cold water, cold sensitive areas are covered and the rest of the dog isn''t weighed down by excessive hair. Think before you type.

[nothappyatall]

Instead of wasting all this money on this event, this money SHOULD be going into legal funds to stop anti dog legislation!
I''ve said it for years- dump the dam trophies and trinkets and get that money into a pool to stop the neuter happy freaks in peta and Los Angeles who blame show breeders for all their problems. It is show breeders and members of national breed clubs who do EXTENSIVE rescue, posting to our respective lists and newsletters about dogs of our breeds in shelters, pulling dogs of their breed out of shelters and networking to transport them to new homes.
Theres over 150 national breed clubs and hundreds of local clubs, and they all do rescue yet are the ones slammed by the speuter nuts and shelters.
My advice for shelter workers is, if you dont like the job, including the bad parts, then quit complaining and then QUIT.

[lisaswope]

I''ll try to explain my fascination with poodles. At eleven, I was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. When my parents promised me anything I wanted to console me, I asked for a dog. We got Renni, a poodle puppy, because he met my mom''s requirement not to shed. As we rode home from the breeder, Renni started crying. I held the little black poodle puppy against my chest, right where a sunbeam was coming in the car window on my brown coat. His crying stopped, and as his little heart beat against mine, all the coldness and pain building up in my heart from my recent diagnosis just melted away. Thirty-eight years and two poodles later, my life has been saved over and over again by those little clipper cut poodles.

[nolalou]

lambofgoth, how rude your comments are! Maybe you should think before you type! Sure there may have once been a reason to clip poodles that way at one time long ago, but nobody does it for that reason now! So there may have been a function, but now it''s done for no reason except ''style''.

[bb19631]

I am so happy a beagle won, I am a owner of a beagle. He is so sweet and adorable. You can''t miss that hound dog bark. Beagles make very good pets. They are so loyal and hard workers. Congrats Uno!!!

[samthetvcat]

Way to go Uno!

PS That was a very touching story lisaswope (sniff sniff)

[samthetvcat]

PS We used to have a West Highland terrier who wasn''t neutered when I was a kid and he used to spend all his time either in the backyard chasing fruitlessly after birds and squirrels or trying to get out of the backyard so he could chase (successfully) all the lady dogs of the neighborhood.

The only time he was ever interested in hanging around me other than when I was eating a snack would be when I was sick and then he would guard my bed like a little bodyguard.

Pets are so intuitive and wonderful! :)

[kevzgrl]

To lambof goth: They are still dam-n ugly...

[maryko1]

My children grew up with a poodle, named ''Scooby-Do''!
he was a most odinary pet, and very smart.
I only trimed his top knot so we could see his beauitiful face and his overall body to keep him clean.
We were given him when my 39 year old daughter developed asthma at the age of 3,by my brother Larry and wife Jackie.
My brother and wife,have always had beagles.
''Sheba'' and last ''Suzy''I always thought they were devoted pets with the sweetest expressions!
I am thrilled for the breed! maryko1

[maryko1]

My children grew up with a poodle, named ''Scooby-Do''!
he was a most odinary pet, and very smart.
I only trimed his top knot so we could see his beauitiful face and his overall body to keep him clean.
We were given him when my 39 year old daughter developed asthma at the age of 3,by my brother Larry and wife Jackie.
My brother and wife,have always had beagles.
''Sheba'' and last ''Suzy''I always thought they were devoted pets with the sweetest expressions!
I am thrilled for the breed! maryko1

[plusbbcather]

those "clipper cut freaks" are groomed so that form follows function. Poodles were originally meant to be water dogs. They leave the hair around the joints and shave the rest so the dogs joints are kept warm in cold water, cold sensitive areas are covered and the rest of the dog isn''''t weighed down by excessive hair.
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