POULSBO — His height may be measured in mere inches and he may just be 3 years old, but one local pup just came home a big winner.

Yankee, a Japanese Chin owned by Gail Rivers of Poulsbo, was voted Best of Breed at the 128th Westminster Kennel Club dog show. That event took place Feb. 9-10 in New York, N.Y.

The prestigious dog show accepts only 2,500 dogs from around the nation each year and Yankee took top honors from a field of 18 Japanese Chins. For Rivers, who has been breeding show dogs since 1966, the accomplishment is somewhat of a capstone to her career. In 38 years, Yankee is her first national champion.

“This is it,” Rivers commented. “This is the biggest of the year. This is when all the star dogs and the movie stars come out and we felt like we were stars when we got through.”

In all, Rivers has 20 show dogs. Besides the Chins, she also shows toy poodles, miniature poodles and Pomeranians. Some dogs, like Yankee, Rivers has had bred at other kennels. But for the most part, she has a long-standing reputation for breeding winners.

“Having the babies and seeing them turn out so beautiful — it’s just fabulous,” Rivers commented on the enjoyment she derives from breeding show dogs. “You know you’ve created that. You worked very hard to create that and it’s the best.”

But her work with dogs began with a much more humble origin. She said growing up as an only child, she’d always loved any kind of animal. Later, when she got married and her husband took a job that had him traveling a lot, Rivers decided she needed a pet to keep her company. She bought a poodle from a local pet shop and since there was a lack of trained groomers in North Kitsap at the time, she taught herself how to groom.

Before long, Rivers said she’d be out in public and locals would ask her who groomed her poodle. When she told them that she did, many would ask if she’d work with their dogs as well.

“My problem all my life has been I’m a yes person,” Rivers said with a laugh.

In 1965, Rivers’ father helped her establish a grooming business in her home. Today, Pampered Pooch is still in business. And it was at a booth at a pet show that Rivers met the person who sold her the first show dog she owned and taught her the ropes of showing.

Beginning each January, Rivers starts the showing season for all 20 dogs by choosing the events she will attend. She said the Northwest doesn’t have as many shows as the East Coast, however, the few in this area have extremely strong showings. And even before he was a national champion, Rivers said Yankee was holding his own at local shows.

“He started at 6 months and it’s comical to see the pictures today but he did well right from the start. He was winning Best of Breed from the puppy category,” Rivers commented. “And he has real charisma. He likes to show.”

And bringing home a national champion this month was an even bigger honor for Rivers since this was only her second trip to Westminster. She said the first trip was as a very young and inexperienced breeder, so this time she appreciated the opportunity more. She said she’s hoping to be able to be a part of Westminster again next year, by continuing to show Yankee and also by promoting another Japanese Chin she has. Her only complaint about the national competition — usually the announcers read a great deal of information about the winning dogs and their breeders but this time they read only the dog’s name and its city.

“Poulsbo got more attention that I did,” Rivers said with a smile.