In like Flynn: Adorable Bichon Frise wins 2018 Westminster Best In Show

They say that good things come in small packages — and one little pup proved to the world that he was the biggest presence in the dog world at the 2018 Westminster Dog Show. Flynn, a stunning white Bichon Frise, took home the show’s top prize — Best in Show — on Feb. 13 in New York.

Flynn bested 2,882 other dogs from 202 breeds to win the 142nd annual dog show. The five-year-old’s win is considered to be a bit of a surprise to many people, including his handler, Bill McFadden.

“It feels a little unreal,” McFadden told The New York Times. “I came in expecting nothing and just hoping for a good performance and I think I got it.”

Flynn seemed to make a good first impression with Best in Show judge Betty-Ann Stenmark as she made her first review walk down the line of seven finalists. When Stenmark walked near Flynn, he approached her and lifted one of his front paws as if saying “Hello, how are you?”

Flynn’s actions didn’t go unnoticed by the lead judge.

“He kept wagging his tail and that sold himself to me,” Stenmark told CNBC.

The audience cheered on other dogs as their favorites as Stenmark stepped to the microphone to make the big announcement. When Stenmark announced Flynn as the winner, the energetic crowd fell momentarily silent before celebrating the new champion.

Flynn didn’t have a lot of time to kick back and enjoy his win, however. He was quite the pup around town in New York City on Valentine’s Day with a variety of media appearances.

First, there was “Good Morning America”:

Thanks for having us @GMA! #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/0BIKgTmNBw

— Westminster Dog Show (@WKCDOGS) February 14, 2018

Then Flynn made his way over to “Fox and Friends”:

So much love at @foxandfriends! #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/5XE9k471lP

— Westminster Dog Show (@WKCDOGS) February 14, 2018

But Flynn didn’t want to miss the spectacular views that New York City has to offer. So, he made a quick stop at Rockefeller Center to look at the Empire State Building (and Freedom Tower in the distance!):

On top of the world. @rockcenternyc #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/zbhAZpMWll

— Westminster Dog Show (@WKCDOGS) February 14, 2018

Then he made an entrance worthy of a champion over on “The View”:

Congrats to this champ — Flynn, the @WKCDOGS best in show winner! 🐶 pic.twitter.com/lgXE8Q4tVF

— The View (@TheView) February 14, 2018

For the record, it takes Flynn a lot of effort to look that good, according to his handler’s wife, Taffe McFadden.

“You bathe him and dry him and then trim him, then re-trim him at the show, then trim him again when he wins,” she told The New York Times. “And then you just keep trimming him.”

This beauty regimen seems to be working for fabulous Flynn, wouldn’t you agree?

NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 13: Best in Show winner Flynn, a Bichon Frise, poses for photos at the conclusion of the 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at The Piers on February 13, 2018 in New York City. The show is scheduled to see 2,882 dogs from all 50 states take part in this year’s competition. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Flynn’s big win at Westminster will likely be his last, according to McFadden. “I’d have to ask the owners, but I’m pretty sure I can drop the mic and say he’s retired,” McFadden told Fox Sports.

Flynn, whose official name is Champion Belle Creek’s All I Care About Is Love (phew!), is only the second Bichon Frise to be named top dog at Westminster—the first being JR in 2001.

These dogs are so cute, though, that we’re surprised they don’t win every year!