Historic Best In Show Winners From Westminsters Past

Each year a carefully selected pack of canine contestants strut their stuff for the judges at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, where they represent their breed and try to prove they're the Best In Show.

This year the competition will be even hairier, since three new breeds have entered the battle- the Pumi, the American hairless terrier and the Sloughi, all very interesting dogs indeed.

But enough about the now, let's look back at Westminsters past with Miss C's article 12 Historic Westminster Best In Show Winners and see who won about 100 years ago.

His name is Haymarket Flawless, and he won Best In Show in 1918. Hay was both the first Bull Terrier and the first Canadian dog to win, and he definitely could have been the Spuds McKenzie of his day.

And speaking of dogs with star power, get a load of 1957's winner- Shirkhan Of Grandeur.

Shirkhan was the first Afghan hound to win Westminster, and he was so gorgeous and elegant looking TIME Magazine felt compelled to bow down:

The others walked or trotted, ran or cantered like dogs. Shirkhan moved like a king."

But you don't have to be doggy royalty to win Westminster, just ask Tickle Em Jock.

Scrappy little Tickle Em Jock was purchased from a London butcher for $15, and he became the first Scottish terrier to win Best In Show in 1911.

However, Jock obviously had a hard time putting his rough and tumble past behind him- because he bit a judge at another show later that year after winning Best in Breed. Tickle 'em indeed!

See 12 Historic Westminster Best In Show Winners at mental_floss