CNBNews

Oaks/Valley Forge, PA (November 23, 2023) – A proud and confident Sealyham Terrier, “Stache,” delivered a hometown victory Thanksgiving Day, winning Best In Show at Philadelphia’s prestigious National Dog Show Presented by Purina, with a capacity crowd and total audience of some 20 million holiday television viewers looking on.

 The #2-ranked Terrier and #12-ranked All-Breed show dog in America, “Stache” is from a legendary line of dogs that includes his grandfather “Charmin,” winner of the World Dog Show, the AKC National Championship, and Crufts, the famed Birmingham, England competition where he bested 22,000 dogs in 2008. Margery Good of Cochranville, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb, guided “Stache” to the title, impressing Best In Show judge Carrie Chase of Martinsburg, West Virginia.

“This dog’s condition, breed type and showmanship all come together to produce the epitome of an excellent dog,” offered Chase, who selected the Terrier over a top-rated lineup including a Shih Tzu (Toy Group), Great Dane (Working Group), Chesapeake Bay Retriever (Sporting Group), Dalmation (Non-Sporting Group), German Shepherd Dog (Herding Group) and  Azawahk (Hound Group).  “At the end of the day, it is a dog show and you want them to show off all their great attributes.”

“It’s an exhilarating feeling to win,” offered Good, a prominent and popular handler who won the nearby Montgomery County Kennel Club Terrier Show with “Stache” in October. “’Stache’ deals easily with multiple things happening around him.  He’s so well-balanced and he loves to show. Loved seeing him have his celebratory dinner (kibble on the silver plated trophy tray).”  “Stache’s” registered name is GCHP CH Goodspice Efbe Money Stache.

Coverage of the show and “Stache’s” triumphant moments were broadcast to a massive holiday audience estimated at some 20 million on NBC Thanksgiving Day following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This year marks the 22nd edition of the holiday special, which has become a family viewing tradition since its inception in 2002.  NBC 10 in the Delaware Valley and NBC nationally will air an encore presentation of the two-hour special on Saturday, November 25, at 8 p.m. ET.

Genetics, years of careful training and high-quality nutrition are the three most important factors that go into dog show preparation, especially when competing at this elite level. Purina Pro Plan was the food of choice for all 7 Group Winners, including Stache who is the 13^th of the last 13 Best in Show champions to be fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Reserve Best In Show (second place) went to a Dalmation named “Pumpkin” and handler Michael Scott from East Brunswick, New Jersey.  Winner of the Non-Sporting Group, Pumpkin’s registered name is GCHP Planett’s Pop Star.

The following are the other 2023 National Dog Show Group Winners:

• Sporting – a Chesapeake Bay Retriever named “M” of Alexandria, Ohio.
• Working – a Great Dane name “Carson” from Atlanta, Georgia.
• Hound – an Azawahk named “Yaro” of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
• Herding – a German Shepherd Dog named “Heathcliff” of Jasper, Georgia.
• Toy – a Shih Tzu named “Comet” from Monclova, Ohio.

 The Sealyham Terrier, “Stache,” delivered a hometown victory, winning Best In Show at the Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s prestigious National Dog Show Presented by Purina, with a capacity crowd at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa, and total audience of some 20 million Thanksgiving holiday television viewers. Stache is handled by prominent owner/breeder/handler Margery Good of Goodspice Kennels in Cochranville, Chester County. Photo by Maggie Fan/National Dog Show.