11 of America’s Favorite Dog Breeds Have Never Won “Best in Show” at Westminster

Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) ranks the most popular dog breeds in America, and every year, representatives of those breeds compete along with many others for “Best in Show” — the top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. (The winner of Best in Show in 2021 was the Pekingese.)

But did you know that a surprising 11 out of America’s 20 favorite dog breeds have never won Best in Show?

Best in Show isn’t the only title up for grabs at Westminster, though. Most of the dog breeds listed below — all ranked among the top 20 most popular dog breeds in America — have earned quite a few Best of Group awards and consistently placed in the top 4 of their groups.

We spent hours — actually, several days — digging through news archives and kennel club records to bring you the following list, which we update every year…

The Most Popular Dog Breeds That Have Never Won “Best in Show” at Westminster

1. Labrador Retriever

America’s favorite dog for many years now, Labrador Retrievers have done abysmally at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, placing only 11 times but never 1st in their group. A Sporting Group breed, Labs were recognized by the AKC in 1917. That’s 100-plus years in which to accomplish something, Labbies. Perhaps they should spend more time on conformation and less time perfecting their sad Lab faces!

• Best in Show: none
• Best of Group: none
• 2nd Place (4 times): 1933, 1934, 1939, 1978
• 3rd Place (1 time): 2016
• 4th Place (6 times): 1964, 1974, 1986, 2003, 2009, 2010

2. Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers have done even worse, placing in their group only 6 times since Westminster began. But at least they snagged a pair of Best of Groups in the past few years. Goldens — who, like Labs, are in the Sporting Group — were officially recognized in 1925, giving them plenty of time. But maybe they were all too busy fetching tennis balls?

• Best in Show: none
• Best of Group (2 times): 2006, 2020
• 2nd Place (1 time): 2009
• 3rd Place (2 times): 2014, 2017
• 4th Place (1 time): 2005

3. French Bulldog

A little dog with batlike ears and a distinct underbite, the French Bulldog has never won Best in Show at Westminster — which is pretty sad, considering these dogs have been exhibited there since 1897. The last time a French Bulldog got close was in 2021, when this breed captured its second-ever Non-Sporting Group win.

• Best in Show: none
• Best of Group (2 times): 2010, 2021
• 2nd Place (6 times): 1924, 1926, 1956, 1963, 2009, 2019
• 3rd Place (2 times): 1957, 2013
• 4th Place (14 times): 1927, 1930, 1931, 1942, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1970, 1989, 1999, 2004, 2017

4. Rottweiler

Rottweilers, members of the Working Group since 1931, have had no Best in Show wins at Westminster. It gets worse: Although they’ve had 1 group win, Rottweilers have placed 2nd, 3rd or 4th only 6 other times in all those years.

• Best in Show: none
• Best of Group (1 time): 2006
• 2nd Place: none
• 3rd Place (3 times): 1984, 1987, 2016
• 4th Place (3 times): 1989, 1996, 2013

5. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pembroke Welsh Corgis were first recognized by the AKC in 1934, and they are a proud member of the Working Group. Over the years, these pups have picked up an outstanding 7 Best of Group ribbons and more than 2 dozen other placements. Not bad! But no Best in Show win ever.

• Best in Show: none
• Best of Group (7 times): 1960, 1972, 1976, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004
• 2nd Place (9 times): 1949, 1955, 1962, 1970, 1973, 1977, 1984, 1992, 1999
• 3rd Place (9 times): 1936, 1961, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2017
• 4th Place (7 times): 1939, 1956, 1957, 1963, 1971, 1990, 2011

By the way, the Pembroke’s close cousin, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, which is a member of the Herding Group, has never won Best in Show at Westminster either.

6. Dachshund

The overwhelming winner among all the breeds listed here, Dachshunds have placed many times in the Hound Group, with 11 Best of Groups. There are 3 classes of Dachshunds who compete: Longhaired, Wirehaired and Smooth. (Miniature and Standard Dachshunds compete together in each of these 3 classes.)

The AKC recognized Dachshunds as a breed in 1885, which perhaps accounts for the enduring popularity and relatively high rankings at Westminster.

• Best in Show: none
• Best of Group (11 times): Longhaired (1998, 2019); Wirehaired (1952, 1997, 2012); Smooth (1948, 1951, 1952, 1961, 1968, 1969)
• 2nd Place (11 times): Longhaired (1957, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1975, 1989, 2008); Wirehaired (1978); Smooth (1933, 1937, 1983)
• 3rd Place (16 times): Longhaired (1946, 1954, 1976, 1990, 1991); Wirehaired (2003); Smooth (1926, 1936, 1941, 1950, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1963, 1964, 1967)
• 4th Place (13 times): Longhaired (1943); Wirehaired (1979, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1994, 2007, 2009); Smooth (1935, 1939, 1948, 1949, 1960)

7. Australian Shepherd

Look, we should cut the Australian Shepherd a little slack — this dog breed has been competing at Westminster only since 1994.

Interestingly enough, Australian Shepherds are not from Australia. They descend from working mountain dogs, who were companions to Basque shepherds from southern France and northern Spain. These smart, exuberant working dogs are members of the Herding Group.

• Best in Show: none
• Best of Group (1 time): 2008
• 2nd Place (3 times): 2005, 2006, 2016
• 3rd Place (1 time): 2015
• 4th Place: none

8. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

These gentle, graceful pups — members of the Toy Group — have never won Best in Show at Westminster? That’s crazy!

One possible reason: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are relatively new to the scene, competing at Westminster only since 1997.

• Best in Show: none
• Best of Group: none
• 2nd Place (1 time): 2014
• 3rd Place (1 time): 2003
• 4th Place (1 time): 1997

9. Great Dane

One of the oldest-recognized breeds, Great Danes were admitted into the Working Group in 1887. Although they’ve never won Best in Show, they’ve taken home 5 Best of Group ribbons, with a total of 22 placements.

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• Best in Show: none
• Best of Group (5 times): 1931, 1933, 1959, 1962, 1983
• 2nd Place (3 times): 1932, 1943, 2000, 1943
• 3rd Place (10 times): 1935, 1941, 1950, 1961, 1968, 1972, 1980, 2005, 2008, 2021
• 4th Place (4 times): 1930, 1938, 1977, 1990

10. Miniature Schnauzer

A completely different breed from the Standard Schnauzer and the Giant Schnauzer, the Miniature Schnauzer is a member of the Terrier Group and was recognized in 1926. Since then, the breed has managed to eke out only 1 Best of Group, but it has placed 8 other times, a not altogether dismal showing.

• Best in Show: none
• Best of Group (1 time): 1947
• 2nd Place (3 times): 1948, 1960, 2021
• 3rd Place (2 times): 1956, 1959
• 4th Place (3 times): 1946, 1975, 2009

11. Shih Tzu

Added to the Toy Group in 1969, Shih Tzus have done remarkably well for a breed that has competed for only the past half century. The breed has garnered an admirable 5 Best of Group placements, as well as 14 other group placements.

• Best in Show: none
• Best of Group (5 times): 1983, 2000, 2001, 2015, 2016
• 2nd Place (4 times): 1973, 1977, 1997, 2003
• 3rd Place (6 times): 1972, 1974, 1979, 1985, 1999, 2010
• 4th Place (4 times): 1971, 1975, 1988, 1991

Full List: All 160 Dog Breeds That Have Never Won Best in Show at Westminster

1. Akita
2. Alaskan Malamute
3. American English Coonhound
4. American Eskimo Dog
5. American Foxhound
6. American Hairless Terrier
7. American Staffordshire Terrier
8. Anatolian Shepherd Dog
9. Australian Cattle Dog
10. Australian Shepherd
11. Australian Terrier
12. Azawakh
13. Barbet
14. Basenji
15. Basset Hound
16. Beagle, 13-Inch
17. Bearded Collie
18. Beauceron
19. Belgian Laekenois
20. Belgian Malinois
21. Belgian Sheepdog
22. Belgian Tervuren
23. Bergamasco Sheepdog
24. Berger Picard
25. Bernese Mountain Dog
26. Biewer Terrier
27. Black and Tan Coonhound
28. Black Russian Terrier
29. Bloodhound
30. Bluetick Coonhound
31. Boerboel
32. Border Collie
33. Border Terrier
34. Borzoi
35. Boston Terrier
36. Bouvier des Flandres
37. Briard
38. Brittany
39. Brussels Griffon
40. Bullmastiff
41. Cairn Terrier
42. Canaan Dog
43. Cane Corso
44. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
45. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
46. Cesky Terrier
47. Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)
48. Chinese Crested
49. Chinese Shar-Pei
50. Chow Chow
51. Cirnecho dell’Etna
52. Collie (Rough)
53. Collie (Smooth)
54. Coton de Tulear
55. Dachshund (Longhaired)
56. Dachshund (Smooth)
57. Dachshund (Wirehaired)
58. Dalmatian
59. Dandie Dinmont Terrier
60. Dogo Argentino
61. Dogue de Bordeaux
62. English Toy Spaniel (B & PC)
63. English Toy Spaniel (KC & R)
64. Entlebucher Mountain Dog
65. Finnish Lapphund
66. Finnish Spitz
67. French Bulldog
68. German Pinscher
69. Giant Schnauzer
70. Glen of Imaal Terrier
71. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen
72. Great Dane
73. Great Pyrenees
74. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
75. Greyhound
76. Harrier
77. Havanese
78. Ibizan Hound
79. Icelandic Sheepdog
80. Irish Terrier
81. Irish Wolfhound
82. Italian Greyhound
83. Japanese Chin
84. Keeshond
85. Komondor
86. Kuvasz
87. Lagotto Romagnolo
88. Leonberger
89. Lhasa Apso
90. Lowchen
91. Maltese
92. Manchester Terrier (Standard)
93. Manchester Terrier (Toy)
94. Mastiff
95. Miniature American Shepherd
96. Miniature Bull Terrier
97. Miniature Pinscher
98. Miniature Schnauzer
99. Neapolitan Mastiff
100. Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
101. Norfolk Terrier
102. Norwegian Buhund
103. Norwegian Elkhound
104. Norwegian Lundehund
105. Otterhound
106. Parson Russell Terrier
107. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
108. Petits Basset Griffon Vendeen
109. Pharaoh Hound
110. Plott
111. Pointer (German Wirehaired)
112. Polish Lowland Sheepdog
113. Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
114. Portuguese Water Dog
115. Puli
116. Pumi
117. Pyrenean Shepherd
118. Rat Terrier
119. Redbone Coonhound
120. Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)
121. Retriever (Curly-Coated)
122. Retriever (Flat-Coated)
123. Retriever (Golden)
124. Retriever (Labrador)
125. Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)
126. Rhodesian Ridgeback
127. Rottweiler
128. Russell Terrier
129. Saluki
130. Samoyed
131. Schipperke
132. Setter (Gordon)
133. Setter (Irish Red and White)
134. Setter (Irish)
135. Shetland Sheepdog
136. Shiba Inu
137. Shih Tzu
138. Silky Terrier
139. Sloughi
140. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
141. Spaniel (American Water)
142. Spaniel (Boykin)
143. Spaniel (English Cocker)
144. Spaniel (Field)
145. Spaniel (Welsh Springer)
146. Spanish Water Dog
147. Spinone Italiano
148. Saint Bernard
149. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
150. Swedish Vallhund
151. Tibetan Mastiff
152. Tibetan Spaniel
153. Tibetan Terrier
154. Toy Fox Terrier
155. Treeing Walker Coonhound
156. Vizsla
157. Weimaraner
158. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
159. Wirehaired Vizsla
160. Xoloitzcuintli

So, why do you think so many popular dog breeds have never won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show? Leave your comment below!