The Reigning Champions: Meet The 3 Dogs That Made History At The World's Biggest Dog Shows In 2025
The world of competitive dog shows is a spectacle of grace, precision, and the relentless pursuit of perfection, with the ultimate prize being the coveted Best in Show title. As of December 25, 2025, the international circuit has crowned three new, sensational champions who have not only won their respective prestigious events but have also etched their names into the history books with groundbreaking victories.
This article dives deep into the most recent, most talked-about winners of the three biggest global dog shows—the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Crufts, and the National Dog Show—highlighting the dogs, their dedicated handlers, and the historical significance of their triumphs. These are the canine athletes setting the new gold standard for the breed standard.
The 2025 Best in Show Hall of Fame: Champion Profiles and Historic Wins
The 2025 dog show season delivered a series of stunning upsets and historic firsts, proving that the road to Best in Show is never predictable. From a trailblazing Giant Schnauzer in New York to the first Italian dog champion in the UK, these are the dogs and their biographies that captured the hearts of millions.
1. Monty the Giant Schnauzer: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 2025 Winner
The 149th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, often dubbed the "Super Bowl of Dog Shows," saw a monumental victory in February 2025.
- Dog's Name: Monty (MBIS/MBISS GCHG Hearthmore's Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB)
- Breed: Giant Schnauzer
- Group: Working Group
- Handler: Katherine Bernardin
- Age: 5-year-old male
- Historical Significance: Monty became the first Giant Schnauzer to ever win the prestigious Best in Show title at Westminster.
- Additional Achievements: This was Monty's third attempt at the Westminster title, proving the adage that persistence pays off. He is also the winner of the 2024 AKC National Championship.
Monty’s victory was a triumph for the Working Group, which has traditionally seen fewer wins than the Terrier Group at Westminster. His flawless presentation and powerful, commanding presence in the ring were key factors in the judge's decision, making him a true champion dog.
2. Miuccia the Whippet: Crufts 2025 Best in Show Champion
Held in Birmingham, England, Crufts is the largest dog show in the world, and the 2025 event produced a historic international winner.
- Dog's Name: Miuccia
- Breed: Whippet
- Group: Hound Group
- Handler: Giovanni Liguori
- Origin: Venice, Italy
- Age: 4-year-old female
- Historical Significance: Miuccia is the first Italian dog to win the coveted Best in Show title in Crufts' 134-year history.
- Breed History: Her win marks only the fourth time a Whippet has claimed the top prize at Crufts.
Handler Giovanni Liguori described the win as "really a dream come true," highlighting the intense dedication required to bring a champion from Italy to the world stage. The Whippet's elegant, sleek physique and graceful movement—a perfect representation of the breed standard—impressed the judges, securing her place as a global canine superstar.
3. Soleil the Belgian Sheepdog: National Dog Show 2025 Winner
The National Dog Show, presented annually on Thanksgiving Day, is a major American competition that showcases a wide range of breeds.
- Dog's Name: Soleil
- Breed: Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael)
- Group: Herding Group
- Age: 6-year-old female
- Competitors: Defeated over 1,900 canine rivals to take the top honor.
- Winning Attributes: Soleil was praised by judges for her "flawless presentation and charisma" and her stunning, dark coat and elegant poise.
- Breed History: Her victory made breed history at the National Dog Show, underscoring the Herding Group's growing prominence in top-tier competitions.
Soleil's win is a testament to the versatility and intelligence of the Belgian Sheepdog, a breed known for its striking appearance and strong working drive. The Herding Group has been consistently proving its worth against the more traditional winning groups, with Soleil shining brightly as a top dog champion.
The Secrets Behind a Best in Show Champion's Success
What separates a Group Winner from a Best in Show champion? The journey to the top of the dog show world is a multi-year commitment involving rigorous training, meticulous grooming, and an unwavering focus on the breed standard.
Understanding the Judging Criteria
Judges at events like Westminster and Crufts are not comparing different breeds against each other, but rather judging each dog on how closely it conforms to its specific breed standard.
Key elements of the judging criteria include:
- Structure and Conformation: Does the dog's body, bone structure, and muscle meet the ideal specifications for its breed?
- Movement and Gait: The dog must move with the correct, effortless gait specified by its breed standard, demonstrating power and efficiency.
- Temperament and Presence: A champion must display the correct temperament—confident, alert, and cooperative—and exhibit a certain "ring presence" or charisma.
- Condition and Grooming: The coat, teeth, eyes, and overall physical condition must be pristine, showcasing the handler's dedication to the dog's health and presentation.
The Commitment of Training and Conditioning
The dedication of the handlers, like Katherine Bernardin and Giovanni Liguori, is the backbone of every Best in Show title. Their work involves a holistic approach to a dog's life.
This includes specialized training to perfect the "stack" (the dog's pose) and movement, ensuring the dog is comfortable and confident on the grooming table, which is a crucial aspect of the show routine. Champion dog training is a year-round commitment to physical conditioning and mental preparation.
The Dog Show Hierarchy: From Breed to Best in Show
To understand the magnitude of Monty, Miuccia, and Soleil's victories, it is important to know the structure of a major dog show. The process is a series of eliminations that culminates in a final, dramatic round.
The typical judging order is as follows:
- Breed Judging: Dogs compete against others of the same breed for the title of Best of Breed (BOB).
- Group Judging: All the BOB winners are then grouped into one of the seven major groups (Working, Hound, Herding, Sporting, Non-Sporting, Terrier, Toy) to compete for the Group Winner title.
- Best in Show (BIS): The seven Group Winners (or eight at Crufts) then compete in the final round. The judge selects the overall champion—the Best in Show winner—and the runner-up, known as Reserve Best in Show.
The 2025 champions—Monty (Working Group), Miuccia (Hound Group), and Soleil (Herding Group)—each successfully navigated this rigorous structure, defeating hundreds of other top-tier Group Winners to claim their ultimate Best in Show titles. Their historic wins serve as an inspiration for dog enthusiasts, breeders, and handlers around the globe, cementing their status as the current elite of the competitive dog show world.
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