On Wednesday night, Trumpet became the first bloodhound to win Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show. He faced off against a Samoyed, a Maltese, and a German shepherd.
This year’s show, like the previous few, took place in the suburban Lyndhurst Estate—rather than in Madison Square Garden—due to the pandemic. In the distance, the Empire State Building was decked out in purple lights to honor the show.
Trumpet wasn’t exactly the audience favorite—spectators gravitated toward more flashy dogs. A beautiful snow-white Samoyed named Striker was the most popular among spectators and received a large amount of cheers.
Nonetheless, Trumpet won. His vaguely questioning, substantial face had a unique charm to it. With a certain bloodhound-like grace, he lumbered to the stage and posed proudly next to his newly-won silver cup and ribbons.
“I was shocked,” said Heather Buehner, Trumpet’s handler. “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.”
There is one surprising thing that gave Trumpet an edge in the competition: his lineage. His great-grandfather, Tigger, once claimed the world record for having the longest ears of any dog. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, his right ear was a whopping 13.75 inches long.
This year’s show, like the previous few, took place in the suburban Lyndhurst Estate—rather than in Madison Square Garden—due to the pandemic. In the distance, the Empire State Building was decked out in purple lights to honor the show.
Trumpet wasn’t exactly the audience favorite—spectators gravitated toward more flashy dogs. A beautiful snow-white Samoyed named Striker was the most popular among spectators and received a large amount of cheers.
Nonetheless, Trumpet won. His vaguely questioning, substantial face had a unique charm to it. With a certain bloodhound-like grace, he lumbered to the stage and posed proudly next to his newly-won silver cup and ribbons.
“I was shocked,” said Heather Buehner, Trumpet’s handler. “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.”
There is one surprising thing that gave Trumpet an edge in the competition: his lineage. His great-grandfather, Tigger, once claimed the world record for having the longest ears of any dog. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, his right ear was a whopping 13.75 inches long.
