‘Newton,’ a Brussels Griffon, Wins 16th Annual National Dog Show

A happy, darling 3-year-old red rough male Brussels Griffon named “Newton” (Multi-BIS/Multi-BISS GCH Somerset Wynzall Hashtag) wowed Best in Show judge Peter Green to win the 16th annual “National Dog Show Presented by Purina.”

Handler Susan DePew of Aiken, South Carolina, who has bred and shown the breed for 36 years, says Newton is the “best Brussels Griffon I have ever shown.”

Although shown on a limited basis in 2017, Newton is the No. 3 Toy dog and No. 1 Brussels Griffon. He took his 22nd Best in Show at the National Dog Show.

Green, of Bowmansville, Pennsylvania, a renowned terrier handler, recognized Newton’s exceptional quality. “I know a lot about this breed and understand how difficult it is to breed a dog as nice as this,” he says. “Newton has a fabulous face, top-class coat and shows great. He is the complete package.”

Describing the standout qualities of her house dog and companion, DePew says, “Newton has magnificent breed type and attitude. He has one of the best heads I’ve ever seen with a perfect bite and beautiful underjaw. He has gorgeous big eyes, a big nose pad, and a thick set body with good bone. He wins because he is a great dog.”

Other big wins for the 11-pound toy dog are Best of Breed at the 2017 American Brussels Griffon Association National Specialty and Toy Group First at the 2016 AKC (American Kennel Club) National Championship. Newton finished at 14 months old in two days by taking three 5-point majors, winning Bests of Breed at an all-breed show, regional specialty show and the 2015 Morris & Essex Kennel Club show.  

Newton is owned by Mike and Janet Bazell, St Johns Brussels Griffon Kennel (Jeff Kestner and Jeff Bazell), Ven Grasso, and breeders Keith Jacobson (Somerset) and Jo Ann Noffsinger (Wynzall). DePew says she plans to show Newton through 2018 as they chase a breed (rough variety) record of 26 Bests in Show.        

This year’s National Dog Show, which was televised on NBC on Thanksgiving Day, had the largest entry in the past 10 years, with 2,135 dogs representing 198 breeds. More than 26 million people watched the show, which is hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, DePew and Newton, along with David Frei, co-host and veteran dog show analyst, made a celebrity visit to the “Today” show.         

Winning a holiday dog show was a family affair this year for DePew and daughter Dylan Kipp Keith, who won the inaugural “Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina” with a 3-year-old red male Doberman Pinscher, GCH Fidelis Ripcord (“Rip”). Hosted by the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills, the show aired on NBC on Easter Sunday.

Newton is the seventh consecutive Best in Show winner of the National Dog Show to be fed Purina Pro Plan. He is fed Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula. The other top winners are:

Reserve Best in Show and Working Group First: 
GCH Pouch Cove In the Paint (“Noah”), a 3-year-old male Portuguese Water Dog, handled by Michael Scott of Elkton, Maryland. Noah, who was bred by Milan Lint and Peggy Helming, is owned by Virginia Murray.

Hound Group First: 
GCH Windborn Starline Heiress JC BN (“Anna”), a 3 ½-year-old female Whippet, handled by breeder-owner Lori Wilson of Modesto, California. Anna is co-owned by Kellie Padon, Robert Paust, and co-breeder Lori Lawrence. She is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Salmon & Rice Formula.

Terrier Group First: 
GCH Roadhouse’s Life Of the Party CGCA CGCU RATN DN CA (“Louie”), a 3 ½-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier, handled by Kimberly Rudzik of Westfield, Massachusetts. Louie is co-owned by David Berrey and William Roadhouse, the co-breeder with Danny Casanova. He is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Grain Free Formula.

Non-Sporting Group First: 
GCH Bandog’s A League Of His Own at Tx-Star (“Babe”), a 4-year-old male French Bulldog, handled by Michelle Scott of Elkton, Maryland. Babe is co-owned by breeder Nancy Shaw and Craig Stephens. Co-breeders are Luis F. and Patricia A. Sosa. He is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Formula.

Herding Group First: 
GCH Bagatelle Moon Light Drive (“Sophia”), a 1 ½-year-old female Old English Sheepdog, handled by Clifford Steele of Carmel, New York. Sophia is owned by Roberta Corbett and Bernard and Joanne Charles, the co-breeder with Linda Menard. Sophia is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Formula.

Sporting Group First: 
GCH Cerise Blindside (“Timmy”), a 6 ½-year-old male English Springer Spaniel, handled by Howard Huber Jr. of Oxford, Pennsylvania. Timmy, who won Reserve Best in Show at the 2016 National Dog Show, is owned by Dorothy Cherry, the breeder with Donna Herzig. He is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Formula.