There’s a new top dog at Westminster. And Monty the giant schnauzer, who made history with his Best in Show win at the 149th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Feb. 11, knew it when it happened.

In this year's Westminster Dog Show, a veteran show dog finally broke through to win the ultimate prize. Monty the giant schnauzer took home Best in Show after falling just short in each of the last two years,

Among the Westminster Dog Show finalists were a bichon frisé, a shih tzu, a whippet, a German shepherd, an English springer spaniel, a giant schnauzer and a Skye terrier.

After coming close in the last two years, Monty the giant schnauzer won the top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday night, leaving handler and co-owner Katie Bernardin almost too emotional to speak. “He always tries so hard, and we’re just proud of him,” she told the crowd at Madison Square Garden.

Other finalists included a bichon frisé called Neal, a Skye terrier named Archer, a whippet and repeat runner-up known as Bourbon and a shih tzu called Comet.