'He did us proud': Panda the dog competes in Westminster finals

A two-and-a-half-year-old shih tzu bred in Sudbury competed in the Best in Show competition at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City Tuesday night.

While Panda didn't end up winning Best in Show, “he showed his heart out and did us proud,” said Richard Paquette, who bred the dog with wife Wendy Paquette at Wenrick Kennels.

The couple are best known locally for running the Rainbow District Animal Control and Shelter Services.

It was a German shorthaired pointer named California Journey (or CJ for short) who ended up taking the Best in Show award at Westminster, one of the most prestigious dog shows in the world.

Panda did take home Best in Breed and Best in Group (for toy breed dogs) at the show, putting him into the Best in Show finals.

“It was very fulfilling after 45 years of dedicated dog breeding to have a dog of that quality reach the final of one of the world's most prestigious dog shows,” said Paquette.

Panda was also the runner-up in Best in Group last year at Westminster. The little pooch also won best of breed at the American Shih Tzu Club National Specialty Show in 2015.

This isn't the first time one of the Paquette family's dogs has done well at Westminster. Selena, another shih tzu bred by the Paquettes, also won Best in Breed at the show back in the 1990s.

Panda is owned by Richard and Wendy's daughter, Jody Paquette-Garcini, along with Sharon Bilicich.

While the little pooch spent the first year of his life in Sudbury, he no longer has to contend with Northern Ontario winters.

Panda lives with his handler, Bilicich's daughter Kathy Bilicich-Garcia, in California.

“He lives in a family atmosphere in California,” said Paquette, adding that Panda is outgoing, affectionate and playful – if a bit mischievous. “Kathy has a couple of seven-year-old kids who spoil Panda rotten. He lives the life.