“Of all the movie stars, crooners and celebrities that visited Palm Springs throughout the 1950s and ‘60s, Buddy Holly wasn’t famous for visiting town. But now, his name will be forever tied with the city after a dog sharing his name won best in show at the 147th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City this month.
Buddy Holly, a six-year-old Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (PBGV for short), won top dog over 3,000 other hopeful pooches representing more than 200 different breeds. This is the first time a PBGV has won best in show, and it’s all because Buddy Holly perfectly adheres to the official standards for his breed.
The American Kennel Club has precise requirements for the dog’s build, color, gait, and even their tail. “[The tail] is well furnished with hair, has but a slight curve and is carried proudly like the blade of a saber; normally pointing at about two o’clock,” reads the club’s guide for the breed.
The New York Times even described Buddy as “fetchingly bewhiskered,” which is a necessary trait for the breed…”
