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.

In a historic victory at Madison Square Garden, Monty the giant schnauzer captured Westminster Kennel Club’s coveted Best in Show title, becoming the first of his breed to win America’s most prestigious dog show trophy.

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.