Top dog’s sister takes top honors

NEW YORK — A top-winning whippet is out of Westminster — knocked off by, of all dogs, his own sister.

Whiskey had won the big National Dog Show televised on Thanksgiving Day and the AKC event shown on New Year’s Day. But his bid for a Triple Crown of dogdom ended when he was topped by littermate Bourbon in the breed judging.

Last year, Whiskey won the breed at Westminster, and Bourbon was awarded best of opposite sex. This time, the 3-year-olds switched places.

Justin Smithey and his wife, Cheslie Pickett Smithey, co-own both dogs and live in Sugar Valley, Ga. Justin handled Whiskey in the ring, and Cheslie guided Bourbon.

Whiskey wasn’t sour after the upset. The littermates are “best buds,” Cheslie said, and nuzzled outside the ring when it was over.