Highlights from Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 2021: Wasabi the Pekingese wins Best in Show

The event took place outside of New York City for the first time to comply with Covid-19 protocols

A chow chow in the benching area at the 145th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at the Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown, New York. AFP

A komondor runs with its handler during the judging of the Working Group at the 145th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. AFP

Wasabi, a Pekingese, rests on the winner's podium with its trophy and ribbons after winning Best in Show. AP

Mathew, a French bulldog, wins the top prize in his breed group. He also won the Non-Sporting Group. AP

Jade the German shorthaired pointer is named winner of the Sporting Group at the 145th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Twitter / WKCDOGS

Connor the old English sheepdog is named winner of the Herding Group at the 145th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Twitter / WKCDOGS

A West Highland white terrier named Boy leaves the ring after placing first in the Terrier Group. AP

Striker, a samoyed from Toronto, Canada, is handled by Laura King after winning the Sporting Group judging at the 145th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown. Reuters

Bourbon the whippet is named Reserve Best in Show at the 145th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. He also won the Hound Group. Twitter / WKCDOGS

A Tibetan mastiff waits for his turn to compete in the Working Group judging. Reuters

A chihuahua gets a kiss from their handler during breed judging. AP

Dreamy the dalmatian gets a treat. EPA

Matty Pugdashian, a pug, rests following breed judging. AP

A Chinese crested dog in the judging area. AFP

Bearded collies line up in the judging area. AFP

A handler presents a berger Picard dog during judging. Reuters

A handler presents an Afghan hound dog during judging. Reuters

Maximus, a Neapolitan mastiff, stands with his handler after breed judging. Reuters

The pug group is judged outside at the 145th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. AP

A bichon frise is groomed in the staging area. AP

Quinn, a chow chow, who won the top prize in his breed group, rests in front of a fan after judging. AP

Princess Aurora, a kesan, stands beside her Best of Opposite Sex ribbon. AP

Logan Yankowski of Houston, Texas, poses with her great dane, Logan. Reuters

Two dogue de Bordeaux wait in the benching area prior to the judging of Sporting, Working and Terrier Breeds. AFP

A German wirehaired pointer kisses his handler during judging. Reuters

The 145th Westminster Dog Show has wrapped for another year, with a Pekingese pooch named Wasabi nabbing the Best in Show prize.

The event, which is traditionally held in February, took place at New York's Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown on Sunday. Held free of spectators, it was relocated to a venue outside New York City for the first time to comply with Covid-19 protocols.

The event is an annual celebration of purebred dogs, ranging in size, shape and fur types. The 2021 event brought together more than 2,000 candidates from more than 200 breeds.

Three-year-old Pekingese Wasabi was crowned Best in Show, with Bourbon the Whippet claiming second place. Bourbon also won the hound group.

Rounding out the pack of seven group winners were Mathew, a French bulldog who won the Non-sporting Group; Connor, an Old English sheepdog who won the Herding Group; Boy, a West Highland terrier who won the Terrier Group; Striker, a samoyed who won the Working Group; and Jade, a German shorthaired pointer who won the sporting Group.

When Wasabi won the Toy Group earlier in the day, owner and handler David Fitzpatrick, who also won Best in Show in 2012 with the Pekingese's grandfather, Malachy, lauded his dog's "charisma, movement and showmanship" …

"He's in his prime and he just looks wonderful."

After Wasabi was named Best in Show, Mr Fitzpatrick said: "He can have a filet mignon."

Dogs are judged by how well they stack up against breed characteristics set by the American Kennel Club.

Breeds are assessed not only in terms of how they move, but whether their facial expressions show what is deemed proper vigilance or merriment.

Additional reporting by AFP