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.

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.

Monty, a 5-year-old giant schnauzer, was crowned the best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.

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.

Monty's competition 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 who's been a finalist before.

Monty, who came into Tuesday as the nation’s top-ranked dog, beat out a whippet, a Skye terrier and the fan-favorite German shepherd for top honors.