Instagram famous pugs, Natty and Tilly Pugdashion had just finished showing and wore matching outfits -- purple hats, purple pearls and pink and green tutus.
"People know them for their big fashion statements," said their owner, Lori Sirois on Saturday. "So we're here, we showed, we're having fun and now we're here to just kick off our shoes and enjoy the rest of it."
Shannon Oliver was super excited that her Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, Bullet, won the Best of Breed award.
"It is a dream come true for somebody who's been showing dogs for over 25 years," she said. "To come here, first, is an honor, to be invited is an honor, and then to win, it's a dream. This is a dream. We do this to dream. We do this to succeed. All this is a dream. Everything about here is a dream. And it came true. And I'm blessed. Yes!"
Quin, a Chow Chow, also won a Best of Breed award.
"What's interesting about Quin... his mother was the product of sperm I had frozen for 27 years," said his owner, Barbara Becker. "He's what we call a popsicle puppy and came out of a litter of six. Mother had no milk. I had to nurse every three hours for three weeks. He helped me through my cancer. That's how he became a service dog. And we're in remission and out showing all the time and doing very well."
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, usually held in February in New York City, was moved from its longtime home of Madison Square Garden to an outdoor event at the Lyndhurst Estate because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"We're happy to be here at Lyndhurst," said Charlton Reynders III, Westminster Kennel Club president. "They've hosted us so beautifully and for a lot of people, this is what a natural dog show looks like -- outside."
Due to New York State COVID-19 restrictions, Westminster's show and surrounding events will not be open to spectators.
"It's different now because the public isn't here, but these are the greatest dog fans around," said Reynders. "They love their dogs and we've got a lot of great competition going on."
The show is the second-longest continuously running sporting event in the United States after the Kentucky Derby.
