CJ the German Shorthaired Pointer Wins Best in Show at 2016 Westminster Dog Show

He beat out a German shepherd, a bulldog, a Skye terrier and a shih tzu for the top prize at the 140th annual show from NYC’s Madison Square Garden

CJ the Pointer at Westminster Dog Show
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CJ the German shorthaired pointer had tails wagging on Tuesday night when he was named Best in Show at the 2016 Westminster Dog Show.

The 3-year-old took home the top honors to close out the 140th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

He beat out fellow fan favorites Annabelle (a bulldog), Rumor (a German shepherd), Lucy (a borzoi) and Panda (a shih tzu).

Best in Show was judged by Dr. Richard Meen of Ontario, Canada, who crowned Lucy as the reserve runner-up.

CJ is the first Sporting Group winner to take Best in Show since 2009, and the 20th from the group to win over all.

“He was born for this,” owner Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, from Temecula, California, said after CJ, short for California Journey, won best in the sporting group earlier in the night. “There’s something special about him.”

CJ now gets to enjoy a steak lunch at Sardi’s restaurant, a tradition that was almost abolished in 2012 due to health code concerns. There, he will lap up a gourmet meal from a silver platter.

It’s the third time this breed has won, with previous victories coming in 1974 and 2005. Judges select the best of each breed and group, divided into seven categories — hound, toy, non-sporting, herding, sporting, working and terrier.

A Beagle named Miss P won Best in Show in 2015.

See the finalists get put through their paces below.

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