Rumor has it at the Westminster dog show

Rumor the German shepherd won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club last night, becoming only the second of her breed to take home the top honors since the event began in 1877. Judges called her “magnificent.” The 5-year-old came close to winning last year, but after missing the top mark, her owners decided to take her out of competition and begin breeding her. When she didn’t get pregnant right away, co-owner Kent Boyles said they decided to give Westminster one last try. The crowd at Madison Square Garden in New York backed Rumor early, cheering her name every time she came into the ring. New Yorkers have a soft spot for German shepherds because so many serve as police and search and rescue dogs. The year after the 9/11 attacks, Westminster paid tribute to the dogs who helped with recovery efforts. With her comeback win, Rumor secured her retirement—and motherhood. During post-show interviews, Boyles said the champion will get some time to relax but admitted puppies definitely are “in her future.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.