Juniors compete in the preliminaries at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last weekend in New York City.

By Wednesday all eyes were on a Pekingese named Malachy, but there were plenty of other top dogs in New York City last week.

A bobbing little pompom won the hearts and minds of judges at the Westminster Kennel Club in New York City last week. Malachy the Pekingese wobbled off with Best in Show on Tuesday night, becoming America's top dog much to the delight of an adoring crowd that called his name.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, first held in 1877, is the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the US, second only to the Kentucky Derby.

The 4-year-old Peke won his 115th overall best in show title. He beat out a Dalmatian, German shepherd, Doberman pinscher, Irish setter, a Kerry blue terrier and wire-haired dachshund at Madison Square Garden.

Las Vegas odds makers had their money on the Pekingese, at 6-to-1, as the favorite to prevail. Among Monday's pack of initial finalists, the Dalmatian was the long shot at 100-to-1.

Clockwise from above left: Dreadlocked Raaza, a Komondorok, waits to go into the ring. The English bulldog - with its squat, face, enormous underbite and bulging eyes - has surged in popularity in recent years. But the very traits that make these bulldogs lovable are causing the dogs to suffer chronic health problems. Malachy celebrates winning the Best in Show title with a chicken and rice meal at the swank Sardi's restaurant on Wednesday in New York. A Lowchen gets groomed in the staging area and will probably win "Prettiest bum in show". Tucker, a Yorkshire Terrier, wears a red ribbon and hopes to win a blue one. Nikkie Kinzigner shares a kiss with Reese, a Tibetan Terrier who had won an award of merit.

Last year's winner, a Scottish deerhound named Hickory, was the first of its breed ever to win, defying the 60-to-1 odds against victory.

Malachy's handler David Fitzpatrick gave his 11-pound (5-kilogram) champ a bit of help - he carried him a short way onto the green carpet for the final lineup, shortening the long walk in the ring. Malachy's pink tongue popped out from his black face, his eyes sparkling like black diamonds as he soaked in the cheers.

"No other dog moves like this," Fitzpatrick said. It's true, as a Pekingese is supposed to move with a "slow and dignified" gait.

Malachy chilled out after his win, resting his silver and white coat on a cool pack. He had plenty of time to get ready, having won the toy group Monday night.

"I kept him quiet all day," Fitzpatrick said.

Judge Cindy Vogels chose the winner as fans hollered for their favorites. The No. 2 show dog in the nation this year was clearly the most popular. Malachy had heard it before, having taken the toy group here last February.

"Super dog, and he had a stupendous night," she said. "There's a lot of dog in a small package."

The champion at Westminster wins a coveted silver bowl, but not a cent of prize money. Instead, the prestige of this title lasts a lifetime for any owner, and brings a wealth of opportunity in breeding potential.

This was the fourth time a Peke won at Westminster, and the first since 1990. Fitzpatrick, who's also a co-owner, said Malachy was likely headed back to East Berlin, Pennsylvania, for a life in retirement.

"He'll probably chase squirrels and he'll be pampered," Fitzpatrick said.

More than 2,000 dogs representing 185 breeds competed at Madison Square Garden over two days.

"Judging is all in the eye of the beholder. It's really a subjective process," said David Frei, the club's director of communications.

He added that balance and silhouette were critical.

Dogs competing in the show came from as far away as China, Russia, Brazil and Japan, but the majority were from the United States, particularly New York, California and Pennsylvania.

Six breeds competed for the first time this year: the American English coonhound, the Cesky Terrier, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, the Finnish Lapphund, the Norwegian Lundehund and Mexico's hairless Xoloitzcuintli.

On Monday a chow chow owned by lifestyle guru Martha Stewart won the best-of-breed competition, but failed to place during the non-sporting group judging, which was won by the Dalmatian.

Reuters - Associated Press