The Madison Square Garden crowd went wild for the golden retriever and the old English sheepdog.
But in the end, best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show went to a breed that hasn't won since 1918: a Colored Bull Terrier.
His owners, Tom and Barbara Bishop of Holmdel, N.J., screamed, wept and all but collapsed in the stands when the tall dapper Canadian judge walked toward their dog Rufus bearing the coveted purple and gold ribbon and silver trophy.
"This is like having Lance Armstrong for a son" said Tom, a 50-year-old chemical plant maintenance supervisor in a corduroy jacket.
In addition to the golden retriever and the old English sheepdog, Rufus beat out a rottweiler, a Scottish Deer Hound, a Dalmatian and a pug in the final round of judging, which ended just before 11 p.m. Tuesday at New York's Madison Square Garden.