Huey the English bulldog, the pride of Buffalo, Minn., gave it his best at this year's Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show but could waddle away with only a consolation prize.

The three-year-old show dog finished among the top three in a field of 12 Monday in the Best of Breed category, earning an Award of Merit but denying Huey a shot at Best in Show glory.

Jane Flowers, Huey's breeder and one of his owners who is in New York for the show, described the 58-pounder's accomplishment as "like being runner-up in a beauty pageant."

"Huey showed extremely well," Flowers said. Once outside the ring, she said, "he entertained the crowd, rolled over and waited for someone tickle his belly."

And how did Huey take the defeat in what is expected to be his final strut under the scrutiny of canine judging?

"Win or lose, I don't know if they even know," Flowers said of Huey and the other pooches. "But all the dogs love the attention. He'll miss the limelight."

She said that next up for Huey is training to be a therapy dog and then visiting nursing homes and hospices to cheer up people.

PAUL WALSH