Scottie Named 'Sadie' Wins Best in Show at AKC/Eukanuba National Championship

She did it again! Sadie, the four year-old Scottish Terrier who won Best in Show at the National Dog Show in Philadelphia last month, won top honors at the 2009 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, Calif. on Sunday night, taking home her 110th Best in Show title, as well as a $50,000 cash prize.

"I feel really proud of her that she's showing great for us all year long," Sadie's handler, Gabriel Rangel, told Paw Nation. Cheering on Sadie, whose formal name is Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, was her owner, Amelia Musser, who had traveled from Mackinac Island, Mich. "It feels really wonderful to be here," Musser tells Paw Nation. "We're just thrilled with Sadie."

Traditionally, champion dogs compete at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship by invitation only. But this year, in recognition of the AKC's 125th anniversary, the event was open to "any AKC registered purebred unaltered dog six months of age or older." Nearly 4,000 dogs competed at this year's event, which included agility and obedience contests, as well as an international competition of dogs from 41 different countries.

"It's very special to win on the 125th anniversary of the American Kennel Club," Rangel told Paw Nation. "It's a unique thing."

Next up for the number one ranked dog in the country is the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in February. How does Rangel feel about Sadie's chances there? "We're all thinking of the dream of getting Best In Show at Westminster," Rangel admits. "You have to be ready and perform well, but it all depends on what happens at the show. It's like at the races. Not always the favorite horse wins. Somebody could come from behind. But, definitely we have a beautiful dog that we love regardless of what she does."

Tags: american kennel club, AmericanKennelClub, scottish terrier sadie, ScottishTerrierSadie