After Westminster: Catching Up with Penny and the Team Behind the Historic Win
June 05, 2026
A few months have passed since Penny the Doberman Pinscher made history with her Best in Show win at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
The excitement of the moment may have settled, but within the Doberman community, especially here in Canada, the impact of Penny’s win is still being felt.
Bred in Ontario by Greg Chan and Theresa Connors-Chan of ConnQuest Dobermans, Penny captured international attention earlier this year when she stepped into the spotlight at Madison Square Garden and emerged victorious on one of the world’s biggest stages.
Now, with a little distance from the whirlwind that followed Westminster, CKC caught up with Theresa to reflect on Penny’s journey, the breeding program behind her success, and the conversations this landmark win has sparked within the Doberman community.
“We knew she was something special.”
For Theresa Connors-Chan, Penny stood out long before Westminster.
“We knew very early,” she recalled. “There was just something about her. Her temperament, her structure, the essence of who she was.”
Penny was one of 20 puppies born across two litters just four days apart. At six weeks old, Theresa and Greg were already beginning to evaluate the puppies’ personalities, confidence, and structure.
One evening, while sitting in the puppy pen giving the litter their bedtime meatballs, Penny made her presence known.
“She climbed right up onto me and then growled at the other puppies when they tried to climb up too.”
Theresa laughed. “I said to Greg, ‘I don’t know what this one’s going to be all about, but we may have to keep her.’”
As Penny matured, those early signs only became more apparent.
When Theresa first placed Penny on the table to evaluate her structure, she immediately noticed something different.
“When I baited her and she arched her neck, I just thought, ‘Oh my God, I need to look at this again.’ There were four very nice sisters in that litter, but she stood out.”
Years later, Theresa says Penny has “spoiled” her eye for every Doberman that has come after her.
“There’s absolutely nothing I would change about her,” she said.
Life after Westminster
Although Penny’s Westminster win brought international attention to ConnQuest Dobermans, Theresa says life at home has largely returned to normal.
Having Penny back home after being on the road has been especially meaningful.
“She’s just happy to be home,” Theresa said.
And despite becoming one of the most recognizable Dobermans in the world, Penny is still, at heart, a deeply affectionate dog who loves being around people.
“She’s unusually friendly for a female Doberman,” Theresa explained. “Dobermans tend to be a little aloof with strangers, but Penny actively seeks people out. She genuinely loves attention.”
In fact, Theresa has even explored the possibility of having Penny certified as a therapy dog.
“She would absolutely love it,” she said. “She just loves meeting people.”
That softer side of the breed is something both Theresa and the Doberman Pinscher Club of Canada hope more people will come to understand following Penny’s win.
“Dobermans are intelligent, alert, and energetic dogs who thrive with structure, purpose, and consistent guidance,” said Cindy Harrison, President of the Doberman Pinscher Club of Canada. “While not suited to every household, in the right environment they are exceptional companions: loyal, devoted, and deeply bonded to their families.”
The breeding program behind Penny
The ConnQuest breeding program officially began in 2012, though Theresa had been involved in Dobermans long before that. From the beginning, she and Greg focused on finding mentors and foundation dogs that aligned with their goals for health, structure, longevity, and temperament.
“We looked for people who bred to the standard and really understood their pedigrees,” Theresa explained. “Dobermans are genetically predisposed to conditions like DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy), so longevity and health history were extremely important to us.”
That philosophy continues to guide every decision they make.
Theresa also strongly believes mentorship is one of the most important pieces of becoming a successful breeder.
“You need a mentor who shares common goals with you,” she said. “Somebody who will help guide your vision and be honest with you.”
Evaluating puppies, she explained, also requires breeders to make difficult decisions.
“You can’t fall in love with a puppy that isn’t structurally sound or temperamentally sound,” she said. “There have been beautiful puppies that left my house as pets because they didn’t have the temperament I was looking for in a show dog.”
For Theresa, responsible breeding goes far beyond producing beautiful dogs.
“It’s about matching the right temperament with the right home,” she explained. “These dogs become part of your life forever.”
A bigger conversation around the breed
For the Doberman community, Penny’s Westminster win represented more than a major show win.
“Penny’s win is a powerful moment for the Doberman Pinscher community and for Canadian breeders who have dedicated decades to preserving their breeds through careful planning, thoughtful training, and lifelong stewardship of their dogs,” said Cindy Harrison, President of the Doberman Pinscher Club of Canada.
The Club also noted that moments like this can help challenge outdated misconceptions about the breed.
“Seeing a Canadian-bred Doberman succeed on one of the world’s most prestigious stages helps shift public perception away from outdated stereotypes and toward a more informed understanding of the breed’s true temperament and capabilities,” added Harrison.
At the same time, Theresa acknowledges that increased attention on the breed also comes with new challenges.
“The average person sees a beautiful dog and wants one immediately,” she said. “But Dobermans are not a breed for everybody.”
She describes Dobermans as deeply intelligent, emotionally connected dogs that require daily mental and physical engagement.
“This is not a dog you can ignore all week and then take for a run on the weekend,” she explained. “They need to be with you. They need stimulation. They need purpose.”
That is why responsible breeding and careful puppy placement remain such an important priority.
“If people are breeding the same dogs repeatedly, if they aren’t doing health testing, if they always have puppies available, those can all be red flags,” Theresa said.
She also emphasized the lifelong responsibility ethical breeders take on.
“I just took back a dog recently because the owner was going through personal challenges,” she explained.
“That’s part of the commitment. You always take responsibility for the dogs you produce.”
“I’m going to win Westminster with her.”
Penny’s journey to Westminster also brought together an extraordinary team.
After finishing her Canadian championship and making an impression at the Doberman Pinscher Club of America National Specialty, Penny eventually caught the attention of renowned handler Andy Linton.
When Greg first met Andy to discuss Penny’s future, he asked a simple question:
“What’s the goal here?”
Andy’s response was immediate.
“I'm going to win Westminster with her.”
Years later, that prediction became reality.
For Theresa, the victory feels especially meaningful given Andy’s long history with the breed and his recent Parkinson’s diagnosis.
“What a wonderful way for him to finish his career in Dobermans,” she said. “It’s pretty cool.”
Looking ahead
Now that the excitement of Westminster has settled, Theresa hopes Penny’s story continues to encourage thoughtful conversations about responsible breeding, mentorship, and the realities of living with a Doberman.
“I think we have a responsibility now to educate people about what it really means to own a Doberman,” she said.
The Doberman Pinscher Club of Canada agrees.
“Achievements like this reflect what responsible dog ownership looks like at its very best, not only in the show ring, but in daily life,” said Harrison.
For Theresa, the journey has already surpassed anything she once imagined.
“We’ve reached the pinnacle,” she said.
And even months later, Penny’s Westminster win continues to leave a lasting impression, not just because of what she accomplished in the ring, but because of the conversations her story continues to inspire.
The opinions expressed by authors on the Canadian Kennel Club Blog and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of the Canadian Kennel Club or any of its employees.
Les opinions et les commentaires exprimés dans le blogue du Club Canin Canadien sont ceux des auteurs et ils ne reflètent pas les opinions du Club Canin Canadien ni de ses employés.
Maddie Demarte
Maddie Demarte is the Social Media and Communications Lead at the Canadian Kennel Club, where she leads social media strategies and content creation. With a strong background in communications, Maddie previously worked as a Communications Officer at the Georgetown Hospital Foundation, focusing on newsletters, social media, and marketing campaigns. Before that, she spent over five years with Rogers Sports & Media, including roles as a Reporter/Editor and Reporter/Anchor, where she honed her skills in journalism, social media best practices, and content production. With a passion for effective communication, Maddie brings expertise in social media marketing, written communication, videography, and online engagement to her role at the CKC.