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The champion of the 2024 AKC National Championship, presented by Royal Canin, has been crowned! The nation鈥檚 biggest dog show, with over 5,600 competitors, took place on December 14-15 at the Orange Country Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. 鈥淢onty鈥� the 5-year-old Giant Schnauzer聽will go down in history as the 24th AKC National Champion Best in Show winner. Monty won the Working Group, and bested the six other group winners to become American鈥檚 National Champion on December 15th.

Monty is handled by Katie Bernadin of Chaplin, Connecticut, and owned by Bernadin, Sandra Nordstrom, and C. Ambrose. Monty was bred by Cherlann Ambrose, and he also won the Working group at Westminster in 2024 and 2023.

John Ricard 漏 AKC

The Reserve Best in Show winner was Afghan Hound 鈥淟ouis鈥� GCHP2 CH Sunlit鈥檚 King Of Queens. Louis is owned by Alicia Morrison Jones and Jamie Souza Bartlett of Roseville, CA. Louis was bred by Tara Richardson, Pam Winkelmeier, and Norma Feldman.

A Lifelong Love of Conformation

Bernadin began showing dogs when she was seven years old, and started showing as a Junior Handler when she was 10. Her grandmother bred Miniature Schnauzers, and Bernadin says she 鈥渙ften tagged along with her,鈥� which is where her love for purebred dogs started.

Bernadin and her husband are both professional handlers, but Bernadin didn鈥檛 always show Giant Schnauzers. She got her start with Miniature Schnauzers, Standard Schnauzers, Wirehaired Dachshunds, Whippets, and Setter breeds. It wasn鈥檛 until 2016 that Bernadin showed a Giant Schnauzer.

Showing Monty has been an incredible experience for Bernadin so far. 鈥淢onty exceeded all of our expectations,鈥� she says. 鈥淗is career has been great. I鈥檓 lucky enough to own him with Sandy Nordstrom, who also owned his father.鈥� Monty鈥檚 father

We got him from a breeder in New Jersey, Cherlann Ambrose, and we鈥檝e had him since he was basically a year old.鈥�

A Remarkable Campaign

They started his campaign just this past January. When they found out Bernadin was pregnant two years ago, they took a break from the conformation ring. But Bernadin wasn鈥檛 sitting idle while they weren鈥檛 showing. While she was pregnant, she and Monty did AKC Rally together.

After her daughter Savannah was born, Bernadin began showing Monty again in April. 鈥淗e got his first Best in Show that April,鈥� she remembers. 鈥淭hen Monty got shown a little bit here and there, but he really started his major career in January 2024.鈥�

John Ricard 漏 AKC

鈥淚 never imagined that he would go down there and win, so that was an excellent surprise,鈥� Bernadin says. 鈥淲e were just happy to be there, happy to show him.鈥� Even when they won the group, Bernadin didn鈥檛 quite believe they could ever win it all.

鈥淭he only thing I think of before I walk into the ring anytime is please just let him show good,鈥� Bernadin says. 鈥淪ometimes when you think you can win you don鈥檛, and when you think you can win, you do. You should never count on anything, but it worked this time.鈥�

A Family Dog and Team Member

Monty may be a composed star in the conformation ring, but at home, he鈥檚 the Bernadin鈥檚 beloved family dog. Their daughter Savannah, who will be two years old in the coming months, loves Monty, who she calls 鈥渉er puppy.鈥�

鈥淢onty loves his people,鈥� Bernadin says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 not just one person鈥檚 dog, he鈥檚 our family dog.鈥�

But their success isn鈥檛 just between Monty and Bernadin. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of things that have to go into place when you鈥檙e trying to reach those goals. My husband, Monty鈥檚 owners and breeders, none of this would鈥檝e worked without everyone, and I think that鈥檚 the most important part,鈥� she says.

John Ricard 漏 AKC

Monty鈥檚 Next Move

Now that Monty has multiple big wins behind him, including being crowned America鈥檚 National Champion, Bernadin is starting to look ahead to what鈥檚 next. 鈥淢onty has some time off now, and then he鈥檒l go to Westminster,鈥� Bernadin says. 鈥淎nd then, we鈥檒l find something else to do.鈥�

So far, they鈥檝e also done basic obedience with Monty, and are looking to do scent work as well. As much as he loves to relax, like a true working breed, Monty loves to have a job, and loves being in the conformation ring. 鈥淗e always likes to put on a show,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e thrives off of the clapping 鈥� that鈥檚 his element.鈥�