National Dog Show 2020 Results: Best in Show and List of Winners

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured ColumnistNovember 26, 2020

Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press

Claire the Scottish Deerhound was named the best in show at this year's National Dog Show, winning at an event that didn't have any spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic but did have fun cutouts of dogs and celebrities watching on.

NBC Sports @NBCSports
So Pure ❤️ The Scottish Deerhound is the Best in Show at the #NationalDogShow https://t.co/M45ein5v4G

This year's event was also limited to 600 dogs, a "70 percent decrease from the nearly 2,000 who compete in a regular year," per Mia Zanzucchi of NBC Sports. Additionally, three news breeds—the barbet, Belgian laekenois and dogo Argentino—made their National Dog Show debuts this year.

Below, we'll go over all the group winners and the highlights from Thursday.

Group Winners

Herding Group: Jimmy the miniature American shepherd

NBC Sports @NBCSports
"Jimmy" the Miniature American Shepherd is named after @jimmyfallon because of his high energy and goofy personality. ❤️ Think we have the next guest sorted out for @FallonTonight 😅#NationalDogShow https://t.co/Jk9X51EjCr

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Hound Group: Claire the Scottish deerhound

Non-Sporting Group: Kam the standard poodle

NBC Sports @NBCSports
"Kam" the Poodle is named after former @Seahawks' DB @KamChancellor. #NationalDogShow https://t.co/1W5WWOzhXh

Sporting Group: Teddy the English springer spaniel

NBC Sports @NBCSports
"Teddy" The English Springer Spaniel wins the Sporting group. #NationalDogShow https://t.co/8iR3ipFztC

Terrier Group: Vinny the wire fox terrier

Toy Group: Chester the affenpinscher

NBC Sports @NBCSports
"Chester" the Affenpinscher wins the Toy group! #NationalDogShow https://t.co/jNicvWXvPj

Working Group: Bowie the Portuguese water dog

NBC Sports @NBCSports
Look at "Bowie" go! #NationalDogShow https://t.co/WUTKCExX04

Reaction

While the day belonged to Claire, there were plenty of memorable pups trotting around the show floor:

NBC Sports @NBCSports
We're obsessed with this dog. #NationalDogShow https://t.co/0qjrOGgGON

NBC Sports @NBCSports
We promise this is a dog and not a Polar Bear. #NationalDogShow https://t.co/ITNoEPn4gW

NBC Sports @NBCSports
So sweet. #NationalDogShow https://t.co/bfHA849wYN

NBC Sports @NBCSports
"It's GOTTA be the hair Cotton. It's beautiful! Feathered AND lethal, you just don't see it nowadays!" "Simba" - The Afghan Hound #NationalDogShow https://t.co/I2VXqO4RNH

And of course, one of the most entertaining parts of the event is scrolling through Twitter to see the reaction:

Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi @roywoodjr
This National Dog show about to be straight comedy. https://t.co/dYdAIHEDa2

Josh Gondelman @joshgondelman
The National Dog Show taught me that my body type is “Non-Sporting.”

Emily Palmer Heller @emilypheller
3 cocktails deep, watching the National Dog Show, cheering for the dogs that look like my dog https://t.co/7U4KYuR5Vj

Glennon Doyle @GlennonDoyle
Honey is watching the dog show intently and now I’m worried she’s learning unrealistic beauty standards. https://t.co/UR73gJxN0J

Amanda Litman @amandalitman
Claire, the best in show dog, is going to celebrate by “going back to her farm and being a dog.” Perfect. Just perfect.

But let's talk Claire, the day's big winner. According to Kelli Bender of People, the best in show pup "comes from a winning lineage, her grandmother won best in show at the 2011 Westminster Dog Show and her mom earned second place, also known as reserve best in show, at the 2015 National Dog Show.

It isn't easy living up to such a lofty legacy, though dogs have the benefit of literally never thinking about such things.

"Claire has so many wonderful traits," handler Angela Lloyd said in a statement. "She embodies the same qualities. She is very similar to her grandmother, especially in the eyes."

"She is just the picture of elegance," best in show judge Karen Wilson added. "Her movement was impeccable, just the best example of a Scottish deerhound."

Elegant indeed. Now go enjoy some treats, Claire—you earned it.