Skip to content

Best In Show Records

Best In Show Awards By Breed (1907-2023)

116 total awards. (AKC rules did not allow for a BIS award in 1923.)

TOTALBREEDS & VARIETIES
15Wire Fox Terrier
8Scottish Terrier
6English Springer Spaniel
5

Poodle (Standard)
Pekingese

4

Airedale Terrier
Boxer
Doberman Pinscher

Smooth Fox Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
3German Shorthaired Pointer
Pointer
Poodle (Miniature)
2Afghan Hound
Beagle (15 Inch)
Bichon Frise
Bulldog
Cocker Spaniel (Black)
German Shepherd Dog
Lakeland Terrier
Newfoundland
Norwich Terrier
Old English Sheepdog
Poodle (Toy)
West Highland White Terrier
1

Affenpinscher
Bedlington Terrier
Bloodhound
Bull Terrier (Colored)
Bull Terrier (White)
Clumber Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel (A.S.C.O.B.)
Cocker Spaniel (Parti-Color)
Collie (Rough)
English Setter
Irish Water Spaniel
Kerry Blue Terrier
Papillon

 

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Pomeranian
Pug
Scottish Deerhound
Siberian Husky
Skye Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Sussex Spaniel
Welsh Terrier
Whippet
Yorkshire Terrier

Best In Show Awards By Group (1907-2023)

Note: Best In Show awards for Old English Sheepdog (2) and for Rough Collie (1) were won from the Working Group before these breeds were moved to the newly-created Herding Group in 1983.

20SPORTING
6English Springer Spaniel
3German Shorthaired Pointer
Pointer
2Cocker Spaniel (Black)
1Clumber Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel (A.S.C.O.B.)
Cocker Spaniel (Parti-Color)
English Setter
Irish Water Spaniel
Sussex Spaniel

Most recent: German Shorthaired Pointer in 2016

7HOUND
2Afghan Hound, Beagle (15 Inch)
1Bloodhound
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Scottish Deerhound
Whippet

Most recent: Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen in 2023

15WORKING
4Boxer
Doberman Pinscher
2Newfoundland
Old English Sheepdog
1Collie (Rough)
Siberian Husky
Standard Schnauzer

Most recent: Newfoundland in 2004

47TERRIER
15Wire Fox Terrier
8Scottish Terrier
4Airedale Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Smooth Fox Terrier
2Lakeland Terrier
Norwich Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
1Bedlington Terrier
Bull Terrier (Colored)
Bull Terrier (White)
Kerry Blue Terrier
Skye Terrier
Welsh Terrier

Most recent: Wire Fox Terrier in 2021

11TOY
5Pekingese
2Poodle (Toy)
1Affenpinscher
Papillon
Pomeranian
Pug
Yorkshire Terrier

Most recent: Affenpinscher in 2013

11NON-SPORTING
5Poodle (Standard)
3Poodle (Miniature)
2Bichon Frise
2Bulldog

Most recent: Standard Poodle in 2020

2HERDING
2German Shepherd Dog

Most recent: German Shepherd Dog in 2017

Best In Show Awards By Sex Of The Dog

Dog: 76 (most recent: 2023)
Bitch: 40 (most recent: 2020)

Oldest Dogs To Win Best In Show:

YEARBREEDAGE
2009Sussex Spaniel10 years, 2 months, 10 days
1999Papillon8 years, 1 month, 10 days
1987German Shepherd Dog7 years, 9 months, 6 days
2003Kerry Blue Terrier6 years, 8 months, 13 days
2007English Springer Spaniel6 years, 8 months, 4 days
1946Wire Fox Terrier6 years, 5 months, 27 days
1985Scottish Terrier6 years, 3 months, 21 days
2006Bull Terrier (Colored)5 years, 10 months, 6 days
1997Standard Schnauzer5 years, 9 months, 28 days
1941Cocker Spaniel (Black)5 years, 9 months, 8 days
1920Wire Fox Terrier5 years, 8 months, 30 days

Youngest Dogs To Win Best In Show:

YEARBREEDAGE
1929Collie (Rough)9 months exactly
1938English Setter10 months, 25 days
1918Bull Terrier (White)1 year, 6 months, 1 day
1922Airedale Terrier1 year, 7 months, 4 days
1907Smooth Fox Terrier1 year, 8 months, 5 days
1933Airedale Terrier1 year, 9 months
1930Wire Fox Terrier1 year, 9 months, 10 days
1948Bedlington Terrier1 year, 11 months, 6 days
1951Boxer1 year, 11 months, 26 days
1973Poodle (Standard)2 years, 0 months, 10 days

Best In Show Winners By Country Of Breeding:

COUNTRYCOUNTYEAR OF WIN(S)
United States641907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1921, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022
United Kingdom371911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1950, 1955, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1977, 1996, 2003, 2012, 2023
Canada61918, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1998, 2015
Belgium12019
Italy11997
Germany11939
Netherlands12013
Switzerland11935

Multiple Best In Show Wins:

DOGS:
1907
1908
1909
Smooth Fox TerrierCh. Warren Remedy
1915
1916
Wire Fox TerrierCh. Matford Vic
1917
1920
Wire Fox TerrierCh. Conejo Wycollar Boy
1930
1931
Wire Fox TerrierCh. Pendley Calling of Blarney
1940
1941
Cocker Spaniel (Black)Ch. My Own Brucie
1952
1953
Doberman PinscherCh. Rancho Dobe’s Storm
1971
1972
English Springer SpanielCh. Chinoe’s Adamant James
SAME OWNER, DIFFERENT DOG:
1926
1934
1937
Halleston Kennels (Stanley Halle)
1932
1939
Giralda Farms (Mrs. Geraldine Dodge)
1942
1950
Mrs. J. G. Winant
1973
1990
Mr. Ed Jenner
1979
1982
Ms. Anne E. Snelling
1993
2000
Mrs. Julia Gasow
2001
2009
Ms. Cecelia Ruggles
2005
2016
Ms. Valerie Nunes-Atkinson
2008
2015
Mr. Eddie Dziuk
2014
2019
Mr. Victor Malzoni Jr.
2012
2021
Mr. David Fitzpatrick
2012
2021
Ms. Iris Love
2012
2021
Ms. Sandra Middlebrooks 
SAME BREEDER, DIFFERENT DOGS, SAME BREED:
1947
1949
Mr. & Mrs. John P. Wagner
1992
2000
Mrs. Julia Gasow
SAME BREEDER, DIFFERENT DOGS, DIFFERENT BREEDS:
1996
2009
Mr. Douglas Johnson

Best In Show Handlers:

Note: The handlers for the Best In Show winning dogs are unknown for 1910, 1911, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1920, 1922

MOST BEST IN SHOW WINS AS A HANDLER:
4*Percy Roberts1926, 1927, 1934, 1937
4*Peter Green1968, 1977, 1994, 1998
3Donald Munro1907, 1908, 1909 (same dog)
3*Anne Hone Rogers1956, 1959, 1961
3*Gabriel Rangel2010, 2014, 2019
2John G. Bates1930, 1931 (same dog)
2*McClure Halley1932, 1939
2*Robert Gorman1942, 1958
2H.E. Mellenthin1940, 1941 (same dog)
2*Nate Levine1947, 1951
2*Peter Knoop1952, 1953 (same dog)
2*George Ward1962, 1985
2*Clint Harris1971, 1972 (same dog)
2*William Trainor1979, 1982
2*Michelle Ostermiller2004, 2005
2*Kellie Fitzgerald2000, 2007
2*Scott Sommer2001, 2009
2*Bill McFadden2003, 2018
2David Fitzpatrick2012, 2021

*indicates professional handler

BEST IN SHOW WINS BY FEMALE HANDLERS:
1935Mrs. Sherman Hoyt
1956*Anne Hone Rogers
1957Sunny Shay
1959*Anne Hone Rogers
1960*Clara Alford
1961*Anne Hone Rogers
1970*Jane Kamp Forsyth
1974*Jo Shellenbarger
1978Maureen Lutovsky
1980Trish Kanzler
1984*Gerlinde Hockla
1995*Maripi Wooldridge
1996*Jane Alston Myers
2000*Kellie Fitzgerald
2004*Michelle Ostermiller
2005*Michelle Ostermiller
2006*Kathryn Kirk
2007*Kellie Fitzgerald
2011*Angela Lloyd
2016*Valerie Nunes-Atkinson
2020*Chrystal Murray Clas
2022*Heather Buehner (fka Helmer)
2023*Janice Hayes

*indicates professional handler

HUSBAND AND WIFE HANDLERS TO EACH WIN BEST IN SHOW:
1964Bob Forsyth
1970Jane Kamp Forsyth

 

BREEDER-OWNER-HANDLER WINNING BEST IN SHOW:
1918R. H. Elliott
1921William T. Payne
1940
1941
H. E. Mellenthin
1945T. H. Snethen
1957Sunny Shay
1969Walter Goodman
1983Chris Terrell
2016Valerie Nunes-Atkinson
2017Kent Boyles
2021David Fitzpatrick
2022Heather Buehner (fka Helmer)

Breeder-Owners also won Best In Show in 1910*, 1922*, 1924, 1938, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1963, 1975, 1979, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2015. (*handler unknown)

BEST IN SHOW JUDGES:

JUDGES WHO HAVE JUDGED MORE THAN ONE BEST IN SHOW:
(since 1929, when using one judge for Best In Show became standard)
1958
1972
1976
William W. Brainard Jr.
1937
1945
George S. West
1940
1948
Dr. Samuel Milbank
1941
1952
Joseph Patterson Sims
1949
1959
Thomas H. Carruthers III
1950
1960
George H. Hartman
1953
1966
James Farrell
1954
1963
Virgil D. Johnson
1964
1974
Len Carey

 

HUSBANDS AND WIVES WHO HAVE JUDGED BEST IN SHOW:
Beatrice Godsol (1958) and Major Godsol (1968)
Dorothy Collier (1997) and Chester Collier (2000)
Edd Bivin (1999) and Irene Bivin (2003)

 

BEST IN SHOW WINNERS WHO HAVE JUDGED BEST IN SHOW:
BREEDER-OWNER HANDLERSHANDLED BISJUDGED BIS
H.E. Mellenthin1940, 19411942
Walter Goodman19691994
OWNER-HANDLERS
(did not breed BIS winner)
HANDLED BISJUDGED BIS
William P. Wolcott19121946
John G. Bates1930, 19311938
BREEDER-OWNER
(did not handle BIS winner)
none
BREEDER-HANDLER
(did not own BIS winner)
none
BREEDER OF BIS DOG
WHO ALSO JUDGED BIS
BREEDER OF BISJUDGED BIS
Anne Rogers Clark20021978
HANDLERS
(did not own or breed BIS winner)
HANDLED BISJUDGED BIS
Percy Roberts1926, 1927, 1934, 19371967
Anne Rogers Clark1956, 1959, 19611978
Frank Sabella19731990
Peter Green1968, 1977, 1994, 19982019
OWNED BEST IN SHOW WINNER
(did not handle or breed BIS winner)
OWNED BISJUDGED BIS
Mrs. Geraldine Dodge (Giralda Farms)1932, 19391933
Thomas H. Carruthers, III19461949
Len Carey1952, 19531964, 1974
James Farrell19681953, 1966

BEST BRACE IN SHOW:

BEST BRACE IN SHOW 1933-1971
1933Newfoundlands
1934Sealyham Terriers
1935Cocker Spaniels (Black)
1936Sealyham Terriers
1937Pointers
1938Greyhounds
1939Poodles (Std)
1940Poodles (Std)
1941Welsh Terriers
1942Pointers
1943Poodles (Std)
1944Wire Fox Terriers
1945Poodles (Std)
1946Wire Fox Terriers
1947Manchester Terriers (Std)
1948Sealyham Terriers
1949Schipperkes
1950Shetland Sheepdogs
1951Greyhounds
1952Maltese
1953Beagles (15)
1954Collies (Rough)
1955Dachshunds (Smooth)
1956Keeshonden
1957English Setters
1958Norwich Terriers
1959Beagles (13)
1960Beagles (13)
1961Keeshonden
1962Keeshonden
1963St. Bernards
1964Poodles (Min)
1965Poodles (Toy)
1966Keeshonden
1967Dandie Dinmont Terriers
1968Whippets
1969Poodles (Min)
1970Boston Terriers
1971Alaskan Malamutes

BEST TEAM IN SHOW:

BEST TEAM IN SHOW 1933-1960
1933English Setters
1934Scottish Terriers
1935Sealyham Terriers
1936Wire Fox Terriers
1937Sealyham Terriers
1938English Setters
1939Sealyham Terriers
1940Shetland Sheepdogs
1941Shetland Sheepdogs
1942Shetland Sheepdogs
1943Shetland Sheepdogs
1944Dachshunds (Longhaired)
1945Sealyham Terriers
1946Sealyham Terriers
1947Shetland Sheepdogs
1948Welsh Terriers
1949Greyhounds
1950Poodles (Min)
1951Maltese
1952Irish Setters
1953Shetland Sheepdogs
1954Miniature Schnauzers
1955Golden Retrievers
1956Maltese
1957Maltese
1958Dachshunds (Smooth)
1959Maltese
1960Yorkshire Terriers