SNOOPY would be pleased. His breed, long passed over for glory at the Westminster Kennel Club's annual dog show, has finally triumphed. Uno, a 38-centimetre beagle, has won the coveted title of best in show.
Through 131 previous events, no beagle has celebrated what terriers have more than 40 times.
There is no actual crown but a lovely celebratory bowl into which victorious toy dogs leap for a little nap while their entourage glows with pride.
The best in show judge, Dr J. Donald Jones, watched at Madison Square Garden as a standard poodle trotted out first for a lap around the green-carpeted floor, followed by an Akita, a weimaraner, an Australian shepherd, Uno, a Sealyham terrier and, finally, a toy poodle.
Dr Jones could hear Uno, who will turn three in May, baying as he gave his once-over to the standard poodle. When he completed his observations, he needed four minutes before he pointed to Uno, the winner.
On Monday Uno took one small step towards the coveted title for his breed by winning the hound group, the first beagle to do so since 1939.
"Others this special are few and far between," one of Uno's owners, Eddie Dziuk, said.
Remy, the standard poodle, won the non-sporting group, as expected, given that she was the third-ranked dog in the country.
"Her grandfather always had a smile," said Chris Manelopoulos, her handler, who grew up among toy poodles in Melbourne and now lives in North Carolina.
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