A black affenpinscher defeated the crowd favorite Old English sheepdog and five other finalists on Tuesday to win best in show at the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the premier canine competition in America.
The 5-year-old toy dog named Banana Joe claimed his 86th career best in show title. He will retire to the Netherlands where he was born, said his handler, Ernesto Lara.
Lara characterized the breed as having a "comic seriousness," unaware that they are funny little dogs. The breed's name in French means "mustached little devil," according to the Westminster Kennel Club.
"He's a very tough little guy. He's just a comedian," Lara told reporters after the show. "He doesn't know his size. He doesn't know he has a fluffy face. He thinks he's Mr. America."
Judge Michael Dougherty chose a 20-month-old Old English sheepdog named Swagger as the reserve best in show, or runner-up, after the 90-pound (40-kg) cloud of white and gray fur drew the loudest cheers from the crowd.
"It came down to a hair's breadth, an nth degree," Dougherty said of the difference between Banana Joe and Swagger.
{{/usCountry}}"It came down to a hair's breadth, an nth degree," Dougherty said of the difference between Banana Joe and Swagger.
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