By Heidi Clayton
On Feb. 11, history was made at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show when a Giant Schnauzer was the first of his breed to win Best in Show. Grand Champion Gold Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain TI CGC TKN FITB, also known as Monty, was selected from over 2,500 other entries and won what is considered the most prestigious dog show in the world. Monty was bred here in New Jersey, and his owners are from Ocean City.
It takes a village of dedicated people to get to participate in Westminster. Most importantly, it takes a great dog, and Monty is a great dog. Monty’s team started with his breeder Cherlann Ambrose, whose kennel prefix is Hearthmore Giant Schnauzers. Cherlann is a member of the Giant Schnauzer Club of America, and she responsibly health-tests her dogs before breeding. I can only imagine the sheer joy and pride of watching a puppy born into your hands whose life you nurtured before he was even born being selected as Best in Show at Westminster. Sandy and Bob Nordstrom of Ocean City are Monty’s co-owners. Their dedication to Monty’s show career and, most importantly, giving him such a loving home is a breeder’s dream. They saw something in their puppy that led them to ask professional handlers, Katie and Adam Bernardin, to show him. Katie saw something special in this “big puppy.” Together, Team Monty kept him physically and, most importantly in this breed, mentally on his A-game.
Monty is also the first dog in Westminster History to win three consecutive Working Group one placements. Watching Monty and Katie show this year was poetry in motion. Both of them were at the top of their game, and the boy was undeniable.
The Best in Show lineup this year at Westminster was, in my opinion, a truly stellar lineup. Best in Show Judge Paula Nykiel awarded Monty the coveted win, because she thought, of the dogs standing there, Monty most closely fit the AKC breed standard for the Giant Schnauzer.
Giant Schnauzers are big dogs. Males stand as tall as 27.5 inches and weigh up to 95 pounds. They are working dogs that originated in the German Alps in the mid-1800s and are widely used as guard dogs. They are the largest of the three Schnauzer breeds and are known for having high energy mixed with high intelligence. Therefore, they will need training that involves physical and mental stimulation.
According to the AKC webpage, “Giants want to be with their owners and cannot abide being ignored or left in the yard. A Giant Schnauzer needs to have a job, even something as simple as chasing a ball. The Giant is a ‘high-energy, protective, territorial guard dog,’ says one prominent breed fancier. ‘The breed is not for the casual owner.’”
So, while you may see Monty in all of his glory and want a Giant Schnauzer, be sure to know that you will be putting in some work with them in the training department.
I have watched Monty show over the years, and I completely understand why everyone on his team had such faith in him. His breeder must be over the moon. His owners gave so much to get him out to shows and trusted Katie and Adam to give Monty the skills needed to be that level of show dog. To all of Monty’s team, I offer my sincere congratulations on your historic win.
Monty is now retired, and who knows? You may see him in all of his glory strutting through Ocean City very soon. Good boy, Monty!
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
