German shorthaired pointer wins Westminster title

NEW YORK -- Now appointed America's top dog: CJ, the German shorthaired pointer.

CJ won best in show at the 140th Westminster Kennel Club on Tuesday night, beating a couple of top favorites at a nearly packed Madison Square Garden.

The 3-year-old CJ bested 2,751 other entries in 199 breeds and varieties to win the nation's most prestigious dog competition.

CJ certainly came from championship stock. His grandmother, Carlee, was one of two previous German shorthaired pointers to win Westminster, taking the title in 2005.

A borzoi called Lucy finished second.

CJ also topped a Skye terrier, German shepherd, bulldog, shih tzu and Samoyed to win the prized silver bowl. There is no prize money for the win, but there are valuable breeding rights in the near future.

Charlie the Skye terrier finished second at Westminster last year to Miss P the beagle. Rumor the German shepherd was ranked as the No. 1 show dog in the nation last year and had won 101 times.

This was the 18th overall best in show win for CJ, whose initials stand for his path from the West Coast.

Earlier in the day, handler Valerie Nunes Atkinson explained what made CJ so special.

"He has that extra sparkle," she said. "He's an old soul."

CJ has his rituals, too. Before romping around the ring, he usually bows down and sneezes.

After the victory, Atkinson kept kissing CJ while looking into his golden eyes.

Got treats?

Dario the big Leonberger wanted a treat. So what if he was right in the middle of the show ring at the Westminster Kennel Club?

The persistent and playful Dario became an instant sensation in the dog world Tuesday night, delighting a packed crowd at Madison Square Garden with his antics.

Not to be denied, Dario kept gnawing at the suit pocket of handler Sam Mammano as he romped all the way around the ring. He wouldn't stop, and the fans went bonkers.

Tricks, no treats.

Dario missed out on an award in the working group, but the 2 1/2-year-old earned a place forever in dogdom lore.

Mammano of Rochester, New York, could only smile afterward.

"Good comic relief," he said. "He's a young, silly dog and was just having fun."

And exactly what treat was in that left pocket Dario kept digging into?

"Nothing," Mammano said, laughing. "The food was on the other side."

Catwalk to dogs walk

This is Fashion Week in Manhattan, and the models are strutting less than a block from the Garden. But don't expect to see any of them venturing from the runway over to the ring.

Even though designer Valentino brings his pugs everywhere, most of the fashionistas are busy.

Instead, watch what the top handlers wear on the green carpet.

As a rule, the pooches are supposed to be the stars, so no glitzy couture or loosey-goosey garments. Michelle Scott is among the best; she's twice won best in show at Westminster.

"It has to be comfortable. It has to be professional. And I like bright colors," she said.

Uno flap

Try to imagine Derek Jeter being ejected from Yankee Stadium on Old-Timers' Day. That's sort of what happened Monday night to Uno the beagle, acclaimed as the most popular winner in Westminster history.

CNBC wanted to show Uno in the opening segment of its telecast and had him brought to the TV tower in the ring.

But Uno wasn't registered to be in the building, and Westminster officials didn't know he was there until they heard him barking.

The 2008 winner and his handlers were escorted by security out of the Garden as "any undocumented dog would've been," Westminster president Sean McCarthy said.

A spokesman for NBC Sports said it was "a misunderstanding."