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German Shorthaired Pointer Wins Westminster's Best In Show

By Doreen McCallister
Published February 16, 2016 at 11:45 PM EST
Handler Valerie Nunes-Atkinson shares a moment with German shorthaired pointer CJ after he won best in show at the 140th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday.
1 of 11  — Handler Valerie Nunes-Atkinson shares a moment with German shorthaired pointer CJ after he won best in show at the 140th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday.
Handler Valerie Nunes-Atkinson shares a moment with German shorthaired pointer CJ after he won best in show at the 140th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday.
Falko, a wire-haired vizsla — a new breed for 2015 — poses for a press conference before the start of the show at Westminster.
2 of 11  — Falko, a wire-haired vizsla — a new breed for 2015 — poses for a press conference before the start of the show at Westminster.
Falko, a wire-haired vizsla — a new breed for 2015 — poses for a press conference before the start of the show at Westminster.
Sophia Rogers celebrates with Kiarry's Back in the Saddle, an American foxhound, after winning the junior showmanship competition during the Westminster dog show.
3 of 11  — Sophia Rogers celebrates with Kiarry's Back in the Saddle, an American foxhound, after winning the junior showmanship competition during the Westminster dog show.
Sophia Rogers celebrates with Kiarry's Back in the Saddle, an American foxhound, after winning the junior showmanship competition during the Westminster dog show.
An Irish wolfhound chills in the grooming area.
4 of 11  — An Irish wolfhound chills in the grooming area.
An Irish wolfhound chills in the grooming area.
A dog competes in the agility ring during the Masters Agility Championship at the Westminster dog show.
5 of 11  — A dog competes in the agility ring during the Masters Agility Championship at the Westminster dog show.
A dog competes in the agility ring during the Masters Agility Championship at the Westminster dog show.
Mimi, a Brittany spaniel rescue dog, demonstrates skills for the agility competition.
6 of 11  — Mimi, a Brittany spaniel rescue dog, demonstrates skills for the agility competition.
Mimi, a Brittany spaniel rescue dog, demonstrates skills for the agility competition.
A papillon competes in the agility ring.
7 of 11  — A papillon competes in the agility ring.
A papillon competes in the agility ring.
A basset hound waits to be primped.
8 of 11  — A basset hound waits to be primped.
A basset hound waits to be primped.
Dogs line up for the obedience competition during the dog show.
9 of 11  — Dogs line up for the obedience competition during the dog show.
Dogs line up for the obedience competition during the dog show.
A komondor shows its stuff in the judging ring.
10 of 11  — A komondor shows its stuff in the judging ring.
A komondor shows its stuff in the judging ring.
An English setter gets a blow-dry in the grooming area.
11 of 11  — An English setter gets a blow-dry in the grooming area.
An English setter gets a blow-dry in the grooming area.

Three-year-old CJ, a male German shorthaired pointer, was named best in show at the140th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday night.

CJ's owner, Valerie Nunes-Atlinson from Temecula, Calif., said from the time CJ was a puppy, she knew he had "that something extra."

California Journey, aka CJ, performs in the ring. Owner Valerie Nunes-Atkinson said from the time CJ was a puppy, she knew he had "that something extra."
Seth Wenig / AP
/
AP
California Journey, aka CJ, performs in the ring. Owner Valerie Nunes-Atkinson said from the time CJ was a puppy, she knew he had "that something extra."

CJ's other owners are Alice Manning and Yvonne Hassler-Deterding.

After naming America's top dog, judge Richard Meen said CJ was an "outstanding example of the breed."

The Associated Press reports:

"CJ certainly came from championship stock. His grandmother, Carlee, was one of two previous German shorthaired pointers to win Westminster, taking the title in 2005."

Reserve best in show, which is second place, went to a borzoi named Lucy.

CJ, which stands for California Journey, also beat a Skye terrier, a German shepherd, a bulldog, a Shih Tzu and a Samoyed to win the show's silver bowl.

While CJ's team doesn't win any prize money, the breeding rights are valuable.

There were 2,752 entries in 199 breeds registered in the premier dog show.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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