A nearly full crowd at Madison Square Garden cheered loudly when judge Sari Tietjen pointed to the new champion. She picked Stump from a field of seven that included a giant schnauzer that was the nation's top show dog, a favored Brussels griffon, a Scottish deerhound named Tiger Woods, a standard poodle with 94 best in show wins, a Scottish terrier and a puli.

"He showed his heart out," Tietjen said. "He was everything you want."

After he won, Stump showed off his one trick: He got up on his hinds, as if to beg. He didn't have to, he was already No. 1.

Nearly 2,500 dogs in 170 breeds and varieties were entered in this 133rd edition of Westminster. Last year's champion, a beagle named Uno, was perhaps the most popular winner ever.

But with a bounce in his step, Stump is sure to win over plenty of people while he reigns for a year. He'll also get extra playtime with his green Grinch toy.

"He really is retired this time," Sommer said.

Adorable and mellow, Stump doesn't bark much. He'll have something to howl about now — after being shipped to New York because he's too big to fit under the seat, he'll fly back in first class.

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