Monty the Giant Schnauzer Wins Best in Show at the 2024 AKC National Championship
Over 5,000 dogs competed for the Best in Show title and $50,000 prize at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin
Vicki Holloway © AKC
Monty the Giant Schnauzer wins Best in Show at the 2024 AKC National ChampionshipMonty ended 2024 as the top dog.
The Giant Schnauzer — show name GCHG CH Hearthmore's Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB — won Best in Show at the 24th Annual American Kennel Club (AKC) National Championship Presented by Royal Canin. The dog show, the largest in North America, occurred in Orlando, Florida, and aired on ABC on Dec. 29.
Monty triumphed over 5,600 other dogs to win Best in Show and the $50,000 cash prize that comes with it. The AKC National Championship win also earned the dog the title of America's National Champion. Carl Liepmann judged the Best in Show round.
Monty didn't achieve the win alone; his owners, Katie Bernardin, Sandra Nordstrom, and C Ambrose of Ocean City, New Jersey, helped him succeed.
Related: National Dog Show Handlers Say They're 'Stuck' During the Show Because Of This One Rule (Exclusive)
The Giant Schnauzer won the dog show's Working Group's Best in Group prize before moving on to the Best in Show round. Monty was joined in the final round of judging by River the Gordon Setter from the Sporting Group, Louis the Afghan Hound of the Hound Group, Verde the Welsh Terrier of the Terrier Group, Valentina the Miniature Pinscher of the Toy Group, Neal the Bichon Frise of the Non-Sporting Group, and Mercedes the German Shepherd of the Herding Group.
Louis the Afghan Hound won Reserve Best in Show at the 2024 event. This title is the AKC National Championship's prize for the runner-up.
Vicki Holloway © AKC
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The 2024 AKC National Championship included the conformation competition, which determines Best in Show, as well as agility, obedience, dock diving, and junior showmanship events. In total, over 9,000 dogs participated in the 2024 AKC National Championship.
Dog lovers who want to revisit some of the adorable action from the 2024 AKC National Championship can watch videos from the event on AKC.tv.
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