How did Modesto’s Anna the whippet fare at the National Dog Show?

Anna the whippet came within a whisker of emerging with the top prize at the National Dog Show on Thursday.

The Modesto-born Anna was among seven dogs in the elite “Best of Breed” competition after winning the “best of breed” in the hound category. As the “Best of Show” results were being tabulated on the NBC television show, host John O’Hurley said, “I love the whippet.”

But a little Chewbacca-lookalike dog named Newton stole the show, and the title.

Newton, a 3-year-old Brussels Griffon, came away the winner of the 2017 National Dog Show. According to The Washington Post, the competition, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, was held last weekend, but the results were a closely guarded secret until Thursday’s broadcast. More than 20 million people watch the show each year, according to NBC. It is broadcast immediately after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

A Portuguese water dog named Noah finished second.

Newton’s owner, Susan Depew, said Newton —his “official” name is GCH Somerset Wynzall Hashtag —has “marvelous breed type and attitude. He’s just the whole package.”

This is first time a Brussels Griffon has won the National Dog Show since NBC Sports began broadcasting the competition 15 years ago

Newton’s prize for beating out 2,000 other dogs, according to the Post? He got some ice cream.

The program will get an encore airing on Saturday at 8 p.m., also on NBC.

This story was originally published November 23, 2017 at 2:17 PM with the headline "How did Modesto’s Anna the whippet fare at the National Dog Show?."