Last week, it came to pass that the winner of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show – one of the largest dog shows in North America, as well as the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the U.S. – hailed from none other than Newtonville, Ont.

On Tuesday, Penny, a four-year-old Doberman pinscher, was named Best in Show out of seven finalists. She’s not the first Canadian dog to win the prestigious event – Miss P, a Canadian beagle, won in 2015, and others preceded her – but the honour of winning the 150th iteration of the competition carries extra heft.

The Globe and Mail (or, for Penny, The Globe and Tail) spoke with Theresa Connors-Chan, Penny’s co-owner and breeder, about what goes into a Westminster win – as well as what’s next for Penny.

Dobermans carry a bad rap in the media – they’re often shown to have volatile personalities. Is that the case?

The ideal personality in a Doberman is watchful, alert and loyal. They’re a great family pet when they’re with their people, but they’re willing to stand up and face the bad guy in an emergency.

How much does temperament factor into what the judges are looking for?

It is essential that they have a proper temperament. The dog should not be shy or vicious, and they have to stand well for an examination. In order for a dog to be a top show dog, they must possess a certain amount of confidence, so the dog almost commands attention when they walk in the ring.

Hollywood does a fantastic job of portraying them as bad dogs. But a lot of breeders, myself included, have done a great job of breeding that volatility out of the dogs, and made them more suitable family companions who are also willing to stand up to a challenge.

Dobermans can be aloof with strangers, but Penny loves meeting people. She looks forward to getting petted by strangers, which is odd for the breed, but she just loves it.

How do you get a dog ready for a show as large as Westminster?

Penny has been living with her handler Andy Linton since 2023. She’s home with us now. But almost every weekend she’s been showing – it’s called a campaign. She ended 2025 as the No. 1 working dog in the U.S., with 65 Best in Show titles.

As far as preparation for the actual day – she had lots of rest in the days before. And Andy is the greatest of all time, as far as handling Dobermans. He has a 50-year career and is a top handler – he approached us in 2023 to ask about Penny’s future, and everything went from there. We’ve gone down to the U.S. to visit her probably 10 times.

Westminster itself is just electric. It’s so prestigious. It is the pinnacle event for anyone in the sport of purebred dogs. It’s just surreal to be there, and to feel the energy and the support for Andy and for Penny.

What motivates Penny in the ring?

She loves food, which is important for a show dog. They have to be motivated by food. You get the best out of a dog when they have that interest. But her favourite thing to do is what she’s doing in this interview, which is sitting with me on the sofa with her head in my lap.

What’s next for Penny?

We’re getting her certified as a therapy dog to go into retirement homes and hospitals to visit with people. I think that’s something she’d really enjoy. And then, hopefully later this year, we’ll be successful in breeding her.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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Aisling Murphy is the theatre reporter for The Globe and Mail.

Before joining The Globe, she spent four years as the senior editor of Intermission Magazine. While there, she also completed consecutive newsroom stints at the Toronto Star and CP24, where she wrote breaking news and entertainment stories.

During her time at CP24, Murphy reported extensively on the upcoming Kenneth Law trial, earning a team RTDNA nomination for outstanding continuing coverage. CP24’s coverage of the 2023 mayoral election in Toronto additionally earned Murphy and her team an RTDNA award for outstanding special events coverage.

While at CP24, Murphy was also named the runner-up for two Nathan Cohen Awards for work published by Intermission.

As a freelancer, Murphy has written extensively about Canadian theatre and pop culture, building on the Taylor Swift beat she helped create while working at the Toronto Star and chronicling theatre across the country. Her freelance bylines include The New York Times, CBC Arts and her hometown paper, the Baltimore Sun.

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