NEW YORK — A familiar furry face is among the finalists at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.
Swagger, an Old English sheepdog from Colorado Springs, won the herding group Monday night at the largest and most prestigious dog show in the country.
That means he’ll be back on center stage Tuesday night competing with six other dogs for best in show.
Two years ago, Swagger almost won it all, finishing second despite being a huge crowd favorite.
Three other Colorado dogs also competed at Westminster but failed to advance.
Dessie, a long-haired dachshund from Keenesburg, won its best in breed but lost out to crowd-pleasing 15-inch beagle Miss P in the hound group.
On Tuesday, J-Lo, a Labrador from Longmont, competed for best in breed but did not win, failing to advance to the sporting group, but she did earn an award of merit.
J-Lo’s owner, Susan Burke-Rose, has been showing dogs since 1972 and it was her her first time at Westminster.
A Labrador has never won Westminster.
And Gordy, a Great Dane from Calhan, failed to advance to the working group by failing to win best in breed.
The terrier group will also be contested Tuesday night along with the sporting and working groups.
Besides Swagger in the herding and Miss P in the hound, the other winners Monday were a shih tzu called Rocket co-owned by infamous heiress Patty Hearst in the toy group and Flame the standard poodle in the nonsporting category.
The seven group winners then compete in best of show, which will begin about 8 p.m. MST.