Westminster Winner Siba the Standard Poodle Will Now Retire

Getty Images Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

There’s nothing like retiring in your prime — and so goes the plan for Westminster’s newly crowned champion Siba, a 4-year-old standard poodle who will be taking her leave from the dog show

circuit having earned top marks at the competition Tuesday.

The best dog did not win tonight and anyone with two eyes and a functioning brain knows it. The golden brought the damn house down from start to finish. Absolute shame that the Westminster

refs were so horrible (both ways)

Her victory — the first for the breed since 1991 — marks the 10th time a poodle has won the Westminster Kennel Club competition, now in its 144th year.

Siba the poodle won Westminster Dog Show and immediately lay in front of her trophies like the queen she is pic.twitter.com/yQaLssZzim

LIMITED TIME OFFER Memorial Day Sale! Join AARP for just $11 per year with a 5-year membership Join now and get a FREE gift. Expires 6/4

Join Now

Siba’s poise isn’t the only distinguishing thing about her: The prim pup has discerning taste, too. As Siba’s handler Crystal Murray-Clas told NBC Philadelphia, the best-in-show winner

sustains herself solely on chicken meat. That means no kibble, no turkey and certainly no vegetables.

SIBA WANTED IT, Y’ALL pic.twitter.com/w600HgbQJ1

To fuel up before her award-winning strut, she dined on grilled chicken sandwiches from a nearby McDonald’s.

Not everyone was pleased with her victory, particularly those in the crowd cheering for golden retriever Daniel.

Some even took to social media to express their frustration, alleging a long-standing pattern of preferential treatment when it comes to judging poodles and other so-called “blue blood”

breeds.

But Siba’s elegant charm (not to mention her meticulously coiffed black fur) won the hearts of many. Murray-Clas says that her prize-winning pooch knows she’s special, adding, “I think

everything she does shows that.”

As for what Siba will get up to in retirement? Hopefully, eating as much chicken as she pleases.

Sarah Elizabeth Adler is a writer based in Washington, D.C. She has written about science, art and culture for outlets including aarp.org, where she was previously a staff writer, The

Atlantic and California magazine.

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue Already a Member? Login

AARP NEWSLETTERS

%{ newsLetterPromoText  }%

%{ description }%

Privacy Hub