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Best in show: Banana Joe the affenpinscher wins Westminster

Banana Joe wins best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club's annual dog show, edging out Swagger the sheepdog.

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Shannon Stapleton / Reuters
Banana Joe, an Affenpinscher, enters the ring with handler Ernesto Lara before winning the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York, February 12, 2013.
  • By Ben Walker Associated Press

| New York

Banana Joe didn't monkey around this time.

The little affenpinscher with the bouncy step and shiny black coat walked off as America's top dog Tuesday night, winning best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club.

Affectionately called a monkey dog because he looks just like one, Banana Joe made up for near misses the last two years at Madison Square Garden.

The 5-year-old wagged his tail a mile a minute after earning his 86th best in show title overall. It was a timely win, too, coming a day before he was set to fly back to the Netherlands with his owner.

An old English sheepdog only 20 months old was picked as the runner-up on the green carpet of the Garden. Swagger the sheepdog drew the most cheers, but judge Michael Dougherty picked Banana Joe.

Also in the best-of-seven final ring were a German wirehaired pointer ranked as the nation's No. 1 show dog, an American foxhound, a Portuguese water dog, a bichon frisé, and a smooth fox terrier.

Handler Ernesto Lara kept hoisting up Banana Joe after the victory at the country's premier dog show. The playful pooch enjoys tugging at his squeaky mouse toy – now he'll be able to put it in the prized silver bowl he won.

There were 2,721 entries in the 137th Westminster.

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