We're less than a week out from the 2014 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and we've been waiting patiently for Vegas oddsmaker Johnny Avello to predict which breeds have the best shot at taking Best in Show. This is Avello's eighth year calculating the odds, and he was correct on his No. 1 breed the first year and in 2012.
No one can know exactly what will happen at Madison Square Garden next Tuesday night, but if we were you, we'd keep an eye on these top canine contenders. Check out our photo gallery to see which breeds made the Wynn's top 10.
No. 10: Standard Poodle
Johnny Avello and the Wynn predict that the tenth most likely breed to take Best in Show is the Standard Poodle. Known for her poufy, shaved and bouffant coat in the show ring, the last time the Standard Poodle brought home Best in Show was in 1991 with Ch Whisperwind On A Carousel. Odds: 25 to 1.
A relative newcomer to Westminster, the Russell Terrier gained full recognition from the AKC in 2012, and in just two years, the breed already has a pretty good shot at winning Best in Show. Odds: 20 to 1.
No. 7: Miniature Pinscher
The spirited and fearless Miniature Pinscher reigns as the “King of the Toys,” but has never won Westminster. Will it be his lucky year? Odds: 18 to 1.
No. 6: Giant Schnauzer
The largest of the Schnauzer breeds, the Giant Schnauzer is an independent-minded working dog bred to drive cattle in Germany. Odds: 16 to 1.
No. 5: Doberman Pinscher
The intelligent and courageous Doberman Pinscher gets an unfair reputation as an aggressive dog, but his devoted fans consider him a loving and loyal companion. Odds: 15 to 1.
No. 4: Irish Water Spaniel
Impressively, the Irish Water Spaniel is one of only nine dogs who can claim to be an original American Kennel Club breed. It was first recognized when the AKC began in 1884. Odds: 14 to 1.
According to the odds determined by Johnny Avello and the Wynn, the breed most likely to take Best in Show is the enthusiastic and outgoing Portuguese Water Dog. Odds: 8 to 1.
