Montana Teen Shines at Westminster Dog Show

MacKenzie Moore and her Sussex Spaniel 'Slim' represent Montana at prestigious competition.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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MacKenzie Moore, a 16-year-old from Ennis, Montana, made her mark at the prestigious Westminster Dog Show in New York City. As the only junior competitor from Montana and the only one showing a Sussex Spaniel, MacKenzie and her dog 'Slim' impressed the judges, making it through two rounds of cuts despite the tough competition.

Why it matters

MacKenzie's achievement at the Westminster Dog Show, one of the most prestigious dog competitions in the world, is a testament to her dedication and skill in the sport of dog showing. As a young competitor from a small town in Montana, her success on the national stage brings pride to her community and inspires other aspiring young handlers.

The details

MacKenzie began showing dogs at the age of 2, starting with boxers. She later fell in love with the Sussex Spaniel breed and has been showing her dog 'Slim' for the past six years. To earn an invitation to the Westminster Dog Show, a handler must have 10 'best junior handling' wins, which MacKenzie accomplished. Despite the tough competition, MacKenzie and Slim made it through two rounds of cuts at the show, though they did not make it to the top two.

  • MacKenzie began showing dogs at the age of 2.
  • When she was 13, MacKenzie and Slim won a 'Specialty' competition in Washington state.
  • MacKenzie received her invitation to the Westminster Dog Show in 2026.

The players

MacKenzie Moore

A 16-year-old from Ennis, Montana, who is an accomplished dog show competitor, having started showing boxers at the age of 2 and later falling in love with the Sussex Spaniel breed.

Slim

MacKenzie's Sussex Spaniel, who has been competing with her for the past six years and is known for his humorous personality and wagging tail.

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What they’re saying

“I think the older you get, the tougher the competition is because you start competing at different age levels – like for me, I compete in junior handling, so that ranges from 9 to 18.”

— MacKenzie Moore (kpax.com)

“Immediately, I ended up falling in love with the breed; he always brought humor to the truck.”

— MacKenzie Moore (kpax.com)

“His tail never stops wagging, he rolls around, he sits up … sometimes trips on his ears, and he sleeps… I mean any serious time its' either his tails wagging, he's sleeping or he's doing some weird thing that he's learned over the past six years.”

— MacKenzie Moore (kpax.com)

What’s next

MacKenzie plans to continue competing in dog shows, with the goal of one day earning a spot on the prestigious Westminster Dog Show stage again.

The takeaway

MacKenzie Moore's success at the Westminster Dog Show, as the only junior competitor from Montana and the only one showing a Sussex Spaniel, demonstrates the power of dedication, passion, and hard work in the sport of dog showing. Her achievement inspires other young handlers from small towns to pursue their dreams on the national stage.