Sage the miniature poodle wins the 2024 Westminster Dog Show: Meet the top dog

A cute little miniature poodle with furs inmagnificent metallic black colour won the 2024 Westminster Dog Show. Sage the poodle competed with more than 2,500 dogs in one of the biggest canine contests in the US, the 148th Westminster Dog Show, held in New York on Wednesday (May 14).

“I am so happy,” said Sage’s handler Kaz Hosaka after his furry friend’s victory in the competition.

Tuesday’s victory of Sage was the 11th triumph for its poodles brethren of various sizes. Only wise fox terriers have won more titles than poodles.

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Tuesday’s show was also the second-best win for handler Kaz Hosaka.

In 2022, he led another miniature poodle, Spice, to win the Westminster’s trophy.

"No words," he said in the ring to describe his reaction to Sage's win.

How Sage, the miniature poodle, won the 2024 Westminster Dog Show

Sage bested six other fellow finalists to take the top spot.

It put to second Mercedes the German shepherd, guided by handler Kent Boyles, who has also won the big prize before.

Other finalists that Sage beat out in the contest were:

-Comet, a shih tzu from the toy group

-Louis, an Afghan hound from the hound group

-Frankie, a coloured bull terrier from the terrier group

-Monday, a giant schnauzer from the working group

-Micah, a cocker spaniel from the sporting group

It's not easy winning the dog show.

All the dogs who take part in the competition first compete against others of their breed. Then the winner of each breed goes up against others in its “group”. The seven group winners then meet in the final round for the ultimate showdown.

The competition is seen as an event where all participants are champions in the sport’s point system, and winning is more dependent on nuances and standout turns in the ring.

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The best performance by a dog in the show gets a trophy and a place in dog-world history, but no cash prize.

The Westminster show, dating back to 1877, is centred on the traditional purebred judging that leads to the best in-show prize.

However, over the last decade, the club has added agility and obedience events open to mixed-breed dogs.

This year, the agility competition counted its first non-purebred winner, a border collie-papillon mix named Nimble.

(With inputs from agencies)