On Wednesday night in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in Tarrytown, Trumpet, a Bloodhound from Illinois, won Best in Show, the most distinguished award in the show. Among competitors such as an adorable Samoyed, a luxurious Maltese, and a sophisticated German Shepard, Trumpet alone stood before a great silver trophy and a multitude of ribbons, posing quietly for the camera.
Being the first bloodhound to win Best in Show was no small feat. The Westminster Dog Show pre-dates the light bulb, car, zipper, the Brooklyn Bridge building, and the Washington Monument. It even came before the first manned air flight and the creation of the World Series.
“I was shocked,” Trumpet’s handler, Heather Buehner, said, according to The New York Times. She also added, “There were seven beautiful dogs in that ring. You know, I feel like sometimes a bloodhound might be a little bit of an underdog. So I was absolutely thrilled.” With the gentle, patient, and noble characteristics of a bloodhound, it isn’t much of a wonder Trumpet won.
The 2022 Westminster Dog Show had been far from typical in many ways. Traditionally, the show was hosted at Madison Square Garden, but it was moved, for the second time, to Lyndhurst, a country estate. The opening rounds were held in outside rings, while the Best in Show rounds were performed in a large tent filled with a small but upbeat audience. 25 miles south in Midtown, the Empire State Building had been lit purple in honor of the show.
Four-year-old Trumpet’s quizzical manner and blundering stride won many over. He wasn’t as flashy as Striker, a charming Samoyed, who reached the finals last year before losing to a little Pekingese named Wasabi. Despite his lack of flair, Trumpet had a champion bloodline; Tigger, his great-grandfather, once held the Guinness World Record for the longest ears. His right ear was 13.75 inches long, and his left was 13.5 inches long.
Clearly, the bumbling and seemingly befuddled bloodhound dogs could captivate the hearts of many. Trumpet, winner of Best in Show of the Westminster Dog Show, is only one example of this. It seems to be the year of our dazed and confused bloodhound friends.
Being the first bloodhound to win Best in Show was no small feat. The Westminster Dog Show pre-dates the light bulb, car, zipper, the Brooklyn Bridge building, and the Washington Monument. It even came before the first manned air flight and the creation of the World Series.
“I was shocked,” Trumpet’s handler, Heather Buehner, said, according to The New York Times. She also added, “There were seven beautiful dogs in that ring. You know, I feel like sometimes a bloodhound might be a little bit of an underdog. So I was absolutely thrilled.” With the gentle, patient, and noble characteristics of a bloodhound, it isn’t much of a wonder Trumpet won.
The 2022 Westminster Dog Show had been far from typical in many ways. Traditionally, the show was hosted at Madison Square Garden, but it was moved, for the second time, to Lyndhurst, a country estate. The opening rounds were held in outside rings, while the Best in Show rounds were performed in a large tent filled with a small but upbeat audience. 25 miles south in Midtown, the Empire State Building had been lit purple in honor of the show.
Four-year-old Trumpet’s quizzical manner and blundering stride won many over. He wasn’t as flashy as Striker, a charming Samoyed, who reached the finals last year before losing to a little Pekingese named Wasabi. Despite his lack of flair, Trumpet had a champion bloodline; Tigger, his great-grandfather, once held the Guinness World Record for the longest ears. His right ear was 13.75 inches long, and his left was 13.5 inches long.
Clearly, the bumbling and seemingly befuddled bloodhound dogs could captivate the hearts of many. Trumpet, winner of Best in Show of the Westminster Dog Show, is only one example of this. It seems to be the year of our dazed and confused bloodhound friends.
