VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Jewel, an American Foxhound, was selected Thursday as Best in Show at the National Dog Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.
Judge Randy E. Garren selected Jewel from among seven canines emerging from the judging of more than 1,500 dogs at the tradition-rich, all-breed show, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia said in a release.
Jewel, a 3-year-old bitch, is the first winner to come from the Hound Group in the 12-year history of The National Dog Show.
Every other group has had at least one winner in the history of the event -- five Terrier, two Sporting, and one each from the Working, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups.
Jewel, who defended her 2012 Hound Group win, defeated a Bearded Collie, a Pekingese, a Norfolk Terrier, a Standard Schnauzer, a Bichon Frise and an Irish Water Spaniel for the top prize.
"Jewel flies around on a loose lead, then she stops and free stacks with a look that says, 'Beat me.' She is probably the best American Foxhound I've ever bred," Handler Lisa Miller of Mechanicsville, Md., said of her champion.
The following are the 2013 National Dog Show Group Winners:
-- Hound Group: The American Foxhound, "Jewel" of Mechanicsville, Md.
-- Herding Group: a Bearded Collie named "Fawny," of Ridgefield, N.J.
-- Toy Group: a Pekingese named "Rodger," of East Berlin, Pa.
-- Terrier: a Norfolk Terrier named "Ryder," of Boston.
-- Sporting: an Irish Water Spaniel named "Riley," of Seattle.
-- Non-Sporting: a Bichon Frise named "Honor" from Washington, D.C.
-- Working Group: a Standard Schnauzer named "Schweitzer," of Baltimore.
