Sudbury-bred dog takes Manhattan

A Sudbury-bred Shih Tzu has taken a bite out of the Big Apple.

Panda, a Sudbury Bred won Best Of Breed at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City on Monday.

Panda Grand American Champion Wenrick's Don't Stop Believing was bred at Wenrick Kennels by Richard Paquette, Wendy Paquette and Jody Paquette-Garcini of Sudbury, and is owned by Paquette-Garcini and Sharon Bilicich.

“Panda was handled to this exciting win by Kathy Bilicich-Garcia,” the owners said in a statement Monday from Manhattan, where the show was held.

This isn't Panda's first win at a dog show. The pup won Best Of Breed at the American Shih Tzu Club National Specialty Show in Las Vegas last May. And last year at Westminster, Panda won Select Dog, Best Of Breed at the Progressive Toy Dog Specialty and Best In Specialty Show at the Metropolitan New York Shih Tzu Fanciers.

Sudbury's Shih Tzu was also scheduled to compete later Monday evening in the next stage of the competition. The Westminster Toy Group judging started at 8 p.m. and was broadcast live from Madison Square Gardens on Animal Planet.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the most prestigious show of its kind, and dates back to 1877.

The most-coveted award in the dog show world, Best In Show at Westminster, was given for the first time in 1907, the club's website says.

“That year, and for the next two years as well, it went to a Smooth Fox Terrier bitch named Ch. Warren Remedy,” the site says. “She remains the only dog ever to win three times.

Six other dogs have won Best In Show twice, the most recent being the English Springer Spaniel, Ch. Chinoe's Adamant James in 1971 and 1972.

For information on the dog show visit:

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/

For background information on Wenrick Kennels visit:

http://wenrick.ca/