German shorthaired pointer wins Westminster's best in show

Three-year-old CJ, a male German shorthaired pointer, was named best in show at the 140th 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."
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

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."

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

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 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.