Winston, a top-ranked French bulldog from an NFL family, has won Best in Show at the 2022 National Dog Show presented by Purina.

“I get excited every time, and so does Winston,” his handler Perry Payson said after Winston’s Best in Show win. “The National Dog Show in Philadelphia, with the television exposure on Thanksgiving Day, is obviously special. We’ve had a lot of support, and that’s what happens with a dog of this quality.”

On Thursday, Winston defeated hundreds of dogs from dozens of breeds to win the grand prize.

“He is a show dog with personality and beauty and a perfect fit for the breed,” Vicki Seiler-Cushman, the 2022 National Dog Show’s Best In Show judge, said in a statement. “He has a razzle-dazzle that says, ‘I am here to win tonight.’ You can just tell that he can also go home and be the perfect pet.”

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Who is Perry Payson?

Perry Payson, Winston’s handler, lives in Bixby, Oklahoma. At the age of 11, he bought his first show dog which was a Doberman bitch named Gina. He bred her when he was 12. He has been doing this for almost 50 years.

The name of his kennel is Goldshield. Currently there are four French Bulldogs and one Boston Terrier.

He has taken many Rottweilers to the No. 1 ranking.

His dog Brew set a record by becoming the first French Bulldog to win the Westminster Non-Sporting Group in 2014.

Winston is “currently No.1 dog all-breed and is an absolute joy,” Payson said.

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“My dogs live in my home. There is no kennel. I designed my living areas as well as my outdoor space and gardens specifically to create an amazing environment for my dogs and visitors,” he said while talking about his facilities in an interview.