what dog won the westminster dog show 2023
Buddy Holly, a petit basset griffon Vendéen (PBGV), won Best in Show at the 2023 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Quick Scoop: Westminster 2023 Winner 🐶
- The dog that won the Westminster Dog Show 2023 was GCH Soletrader Buddy Holly , known simply as Buddy Holly.
- His breed is petit basset griffon Vendéen (PBGV) , a small French hound originally bred for rabbit hunting.
- Buddy Holly made history as the first PBGV ever to win Best in Show at Westminster.
- He is a 6‑year‑old hound whose win came at the 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.
- He beat six other finalists, including a Pekingese, French bulldog, Australian shepherd, English setter, giant schnauzer, and American Staffordshire terrier.
Mini Story: The “Best Boy” Moment
When Buddy Holly stepped into the Best in Show ring, judges highlighted how strongly he represented what a PBGV should look and move like. His judge later said he “exudes breed type” and moves effortlessly, which is exactly what pushed him over the top.
His handler and co‑owner, Janice Hayes, admitted she never thought a PBGV would do this , underscoring how unusual and special this win was for the breed. For PBGV fans, 2023 was a true milestone year.
Quick Facts Table
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| What dog won the Westminster Dog Show 2023? | GCH Soletrader Buddy Holly (Buddy Holly) | [7][3]
| Breed | Petit basset griffon Vendéen (PBGV) | [1][5]
| Title | Best in Show, 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show | [1][3]
| Historic note | First PBGV ever to win Best in Show at Westminster | [3][5][1]
| Age at win | 6 years old | [5][1]
Forum / Trending Angle
Dog forums, social media, and fan communities in 2023 buzzed over a less “usual suspect” breed taking the crown instead of perennial powerhouses like poodles or Pekingese. Many fans loved that a scruffy, rabbit-hunting hound from France broke through on one of the most traditional stages in the dog world.
Some discussion threads praised Westminster for spotlighting more diverse breeds, while others debated whether hounds are finally getting their long‑overdue recognition at big shows.
TL;DR
The dog that won the Westminster Dog Show 2023 was Buddy Holly, a petit basset griffon Vendéen, and he was the first of his breed ever to earn Best in Show at Westminster.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.