Blaine cairn terrier, Tali, wins Best of Breed at Westminster

Bow Wow & Woofs owner Heather Campbell’s cairn terrier, Talisker, won the best of breed while competing at the 149th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Talisker, or Tali, was the best cairn terrier at one of the most prestigious dog shows in the world. By winning his breed, Tali got to compete in his group under the lights of Madison Square Garden in New York on February 11.

He was shown to the world on Fox Sports 1, while representing Blaine. Tali gaited for the judges in the best in group competition for terriers but lost to Archer, a skye terrier. This year’s best in show was a giant schnauzer named Monty. A cairn terrier has never won a best in show, according to Westminster.

“He far exceeded expectations,” Campbell said. “He just showed himself.”

Tali is going to keep competing, Campbell said, adding that winning his breed at Westminster was a major accomplishment. It was her first time bringing a dog to Westminster.

“This is a bucket list accomplishment,” Campbell said. “It really was a magical experience.”

Tali was born on the Big Island of Hawaii in November 2021. His official competition name is GCHG CH Nakoa Talisker, named after the single malt whisky Talisker.

“That is the only malt whisky that is distilled on the Isle of Skye in Scotland,” Campbell said. “Cairns used to be named little skye terriers.”

Campbell, who previously hadn’t shown dogs in over two decades, began showing Tali once he was eligible at six months old.

At Tali’s first dog show, a cairn specialist, whose family had been breeding over 75 years, told Campbell she had an exceptional dog. 

At seven months old, Tali was being shown by his handlers Bill and Taffe McFadden, who both have had successful careers guiding two Westminster winners and a runner-up.

Although he didn’t win it all this year, Campbell said the trip to New York was still a success.

“It’s about showcasing the breed and improving on the breed,” she said. “He’s a really wonderful ambassador for his breed.”

Tali now begins another show year, and in order to enter into the 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2026, he will have to be top five in his breed throughout the year. Next, he will travel to Del Mar, California, to compete in the Silver Bay Dog Show February 21-23.