A German Shepherd from British Columbia has won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show award for best female in her breed.
Bella, a pedigree German Shepherd from Chilliwack, officially won the award for Best of Opposite Sex at the annual event in New York. The world-renowned show boasts an impressive 204 breeds and varieties among 2,630 entries from 49 U.S states and 19 other countries.
The Best of Opposite Sex award is given to the top dog that's the opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner. The winner of Best of Breed, Marquis' Hermes V Kenlyn, is a male German Shepherd.
Bella, along with her competition, are judged on their ability to contribute and improve the next generation of dogs. The judges measure each dog against a written standard which describes the ideal dog for a specific breed. Everything from a dog's movement to its temperament, the shape and colour of its eyes to the length of its tail, all factor into the final decision.
In order to qualify for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, all entries must be qualifed American Kennel Club champions. In order to qualify to compete in Best in Show, however, Best of Breed winners must compete in the group competitions.
Unfortunately, since Bella won Best of Opposite Sex and not Best of Breed, she will not be advancing to the next round.
According to the the Westminster Kennel Club, "Each breed falls into one of seven groups: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. Four placements are awarded in each group."
Now, the winners of Best of Breed will undergo a process of elimination in order to compete for the coveted title of Best in Show.
The award will be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Bella, named rather appropriately, has already made a splash on the dog show scene, being named number one German Shepherd in Canada and the number six-show dog of All Breeds in Canada. Read more about Bella's journey here.
