Trumpet, a Bloodhound, Is Westminster Top Dog

A bloodhound named Trumpet won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Wednesday night. The prize marks the first time that the dog breed known for its sense of smell has been honored.

The show recognizes dogs with the best qualities of their kind, or breed.

Trumpet took the top dog prize in a competition including more than 3,000 dogs from 200 breeds. Other finalists included a French bulldog, a German shepherd, a Maltese, an English setter, a Samoyed and a Lakeland terrier.

Heather Helmer is Trumpet's breeder and owner. "I was shocked," she said. The competition was tough, she added, "and sometimes I feel the bloodhound is a bit of an underdog."

After making dog show history, Trumpet sat patiently for picture after picture taken by reporters. Then, he started to do what bloodhounds do best — sniff or smell the scents around him.

The bloodhound is a breed known for its ability to find lost or hiding people by their scent.

Trumpet examined some flowers that had been set up for pictures in the winner's area but did not appear to find anything of note.

Winston, a French bulldog co-owned by NFL football player Morgan Fox, took second in the dog show. "I'm just so proud of him and the whole team," Fox said in a text message after the show.

The competition is usually held during the winter at New York City's Madison Square Garden. The show was moved to the Lyndhurst building in Tarrytown, 40 kilometers north of the city, last year and this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

For hopeful competitors that did not come away with a prize, the event was a chance to show off their dogs and what they can do.

Bonnie, a Brittany dog, is Dr. Jessica Sielawa's first show dog. Bonnie accompanies Sielawa to work at her medical business in Syracuse, New York.

"She's really helped people with their emotional stress," Sielawa said. And she plans to get Bonnie officially registered as a therapy dog, too.

I'm Jill Robbins.

Jennifer Peltz reported this story for the Associated Press. Hai Do adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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breed –n. a particular kind of dog, cat, horse or other such animal produced by breeding

patiently –adv. behaving in a calm way and not being bothered by problems or waiting

show off –v. (phrasal)

stress –n. a state of mental tension

therapy dog –n. a dog that is used in the treatment of physical or mental sicknesses

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