(For the full USA Today article click here.)
Article by Kelly Whiteside
Photo by Shannon Stapleton
NEW YORK — Uno the underdog beagle first captured the hearts of the crowd
at the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and then he won the affection
of the judge, becoming the first beagle to win Best in Show Tuesday night.
He's Numero Uno now.
"He's the most perfect beagle I've ever seen," said judge J. Donald Jones.
"The standard of perfection for the beagle is very clear. It describes him."
"If you saw him go around the ring, you saw a perfectly smooth locomotion,"
Jones said. "Not one muscle went the wrong way. … And look at his face,
you just melt right down."
Uno defeated a toy poodle named Vikki, the nation's No. 1 dog last year,
a Sealyham terrier named Charmin, a standard poodle named Remy, an
Australian shepherd named Deuce, a Weimaraner named Marge, and an akita
named Macey, the No. 2 dog last year.
Expect Uno to be one of the most popular Westminster winners, says the
longtime TV host of Westminster, David Frei, given that a beagle is an
all-American dog and one of the most popular breeds in the country.
"He's the people's dog," handler Aaron Wilkerson said. "He's exactly
what a beagle is supposed to be, a merry little hound." Besides,
he's awfully cute.
With dreamy brown eyes and a continually wagging tail, Uno was clearly
a crowd pleaser at Madison Square Garden. Even during quiet moments,
fans shouted "Uno!" as if this was a football game and not a dog show
full of tuxedoed and sequined fans. When Jones picked Uno, the crowd
gave him a standing ovation.
But he's more than just a pretty face and a fan favorite. He's also one
accomplished hound. Almost three, Uno, who is officially named K-Run's
Park Me in First, was the No. 6 ranked dog in the country and ended last
year as the No. 1 beagle and No. 1 hound. He won the hound group at
the prestigious AKC/Eukanuba national championship in December.
When Wilkerson, who lives with Uno in Columbia, S.C., was asked in the
news conference about Uno's personality, Uno woofed as if on cue. He
also grabbed a hold of a fuzzy microphone boom on the end of a TV camera
a few times as if it was his favorite duck toy. Of course, he barked
throughout, which sounds more like ahh-rooo.
After making the rounds of the TV morning shows, Uno will spend the
rest of today being feted at various luncheons. He will also eat steak
on a silver platter at Sardi's Restaurant in Manhattan, as is the
custom for the winner. He has even been asked to ring the opening bell
on Wall Street on Friday. And it's only just beginning.
Click here for another awesome article, video and photogallery on Uno (Globe & Mail).
So what can I say more, other than Beagles are the most awesomest dogs in the world.
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