Lead
At the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, couples who share life and the show ring stood out as much as the breeds they bring. Longtime partners such as Bill and Taffe McFadden — married in 1985 and fixtures on the circuit — described how mutual commitment makes competing at the country’s premier canine event possible. Monday’s breed-by-breed rounds produced semifinalists including Zaida the Afghan hound and JJ the Lhasa apso, setting the stage for Tuesday night’s best-in-show finale. For many handlers, the event is as much about shared daily care and teamwork as it is about ribbons.
Key Takeaways
- Westminster returned for its 150th annual show in New York, with multi-round breed competition beginning Monday and best-in-show to be decided Tuesday night.
- Bill McFadden is a two-time Westminster-winning handler; his wife, Taffe McFadden, handled the 2019 second-place winner and both travel to roughly 150–200 dog shows annually.
- Monday’s semifinalists named in public competition included Zaida (Afghan hound, two-time World Dog Show winner), JJ (Lhasa apso, AKC National Championship winner in December), Graham (old English sheepdog) and Cookie (Maltese).
- Handlers cited the practical demands of the circuit: feeding, grooming and training often on a shared family scale on properties like the McFaddens’ five-acre (two-hectare) home in Acampo, California.
- Several competing teams balance full-time careers with showing: examples include Randy and Andrea Huelsemann (911 dispatcher and dental hygienist) and junior handler Charlotte Jones, 13.
- Celebrities and show-business connections were visible but secondary to the sport: attendees included Lydia Hearst and Chris Hardwick cheering their otterhound, Zoltar.
Background
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is among the oldest and most prestigious U.S. canine events, and its 150th edition continues a tradition of breed-specific, multi-round judging that culminates in a single best-in-show title. Historically, the show attracts both professional handlers and dedicated amateur owners; success at Westminster can raise a dog’s profile globally and influence breeding and showing decisions. Parallel international competitions — such as the World Dog Show — and the AKC National Championship provide additional benchmarks; Zaida’s two World Dog Show titles signal strong international credentials ahead of her first deep run at Westminster.
Dog-handling is commonly a family enterprise. Couples who both participate can split intensive on-site tasks — feeding, grooming, exercise and transport — and sustain the travel schedule that top handlers keep. That practical teamwork can make the difference between competing comfortably and simply managing the logistics of dozens of dogs on the road. The culture of the sport also includes long-standing bloodlines: handlers often emphasize lineage and past ring results when assessing prospects, as seen with Graham’s grandfather, Swagger, who was runner-up in 2013.
Main Event
Competition shifted into breed rounds on Monday after weekend agility and performance events. Judges evaluated dogs from toy-sized Chihuahuas to Irish wolfhounds in successive elimination stages. Finalists announced Monday included Zaida, the Afghan hound handled by Willy Santiago, who was visibly emotional and said the result represented a long-awaited milestone for the team.
JJ, a Lhasa apso handled and co-owned by Susan Giles of Manakin Sabot, Virginia, advanced after a December victory at the AKC National Championship; Giles, a Lhasa owner for 53 years, described JJ as embodying the breed standard while also being unusually outgoing around people. Cookie the Maltese pulled an upset in the toy semifinals over Comet, a shih tzu with a history of top finishes, advancing the Maltese into consideration for Tuesday’s best-in-show run.
Other advancing dogs included Graham, an old English sheepdog with a documented family history in the ring. Handlers emphasized dogs’ affinity for showing: Graham’s team described him as coming from a line of dogs that enjoy the ring, a trait that can affect performance under loud arena conditions. Three more finalists were to be named Tuesday night as the field narrowed toward the best-in-show competition.
Analysis & Implications
Couples who show together reduce personnel friction and share institutional knowledge about grooming, conditioning and ring presentation; that operational synergy explains why many top handlers are paired partners. The 150–200 shows per year that experienced handlers like the McFaddens attend represent a significant time and financial commitment, which in turn influences how the sport is organized and who can participate at scale. Dual-career couples who still compete often rely on assistants or a tightly coordinated routine to maintain both livelihoods and a competitive kennel.
Visibility at Westminster can ripple into breeding demand and media opportunities. Dogs with prior international or national titles — such as Zaida and JJ — enter the ring with reputational momentum, which judges treat separately from genetic worth but which breeders and buyers notice. Celebrity owners and media appearances, like Wilbur the beagle’s role in a Netflix drama, can further raise a dog’s public profile, sometimes increasing demand for the breed but also inviting scrutiny about commercial versus sporting motives.
From an industry perspective, the show illustrates tensions between tradition and modern pressures: breeders and handlers stress lineage and conformation, while audiences and some advocates prioritize welfare and versatility. How Westminster and related organizations balance public interest, breed standards, and animal welfare debates will shape participation patterns and public perception in coming years.
Comparison & Data
| Dog | Breed | Notable Past Result |
|---|---|---|
| Zaida | Afghan hound | Two-time World Dog Show winner |
| JJ | Lhasa apso | AKC National Championship winner (Dec) |
| Graham | Old English sheepdog | Grandfather Swagger was runner-up at Westminster 2013 |
| Cookie | Maltese | Upset winner of toy semifinals over Comet |
The table shows how prior honors or lineage often correlate with deep runs at Westminster, but upsets remain common in single-elimination rounds. Historical runner-up finishes (e.g., Swagger, 2013) signal competitive lines but do not guarantee future titles. The presence of both internationally titled dogs and rising upset winners underscores the event’s blend of pedigree and ring-day performance.
Reactions & Quotes
Handlers and fans mixed practical commentary with emotion after Monday’s rounds. Bill McFadden, reflecting on partnership and competition, emphasized mutual support as central to sustaining a heavy show schedule.
“If one of us takes the big ribbon home, it’s awesome. Doesn’t matter which one.”
Bill McFadden, two-time Westminster-winning handler
Willy Santiago described the moment Zaida reached a Westminster milestone as deeply personal and long-awaited, underlining how singular ring success can be after years of campaigning a dog internationally.
“I’d been waiting for this day for all my life.”
Willy Santiago, handler of Zaida
Competitors juggling careers framed showing as a shared hobby that strengthens relationships while demanding careful time management.
“We do it for just the love of it, for something to do together.”
Randy Huelsemann, handler and 911 dispatcher
Unconfirmed
- How much a Westminster semifinal appearance will affect each dog’s future breeding demand remains uncertain and varies by breed and market.
- No official crowd-size figure for Monday’s sessions was released at the time of reporting; attendance trends relative to past years are not yet confirmed.
Bottom Line
Monday’s rounds at Westminster highlighted the dual nature of the sport: intense competition alongside intimate teamwork, often carried out by couples whose shared routines enable high-level showing. Dogs with international or national titles arrived with momentum, but ring-day performance and judges’ assessments continue to determine outcomes.
As the show moves into Tuesday’s final selections, watch for how lineage, handler experience and a dog’s apparent enjoyment of the ring combine to decide best in show. Beyond the trophy, Westminster’s 150th edition reinforces the social fabric of the sport — partnerships, both human and canine, remain at its core.