Westminster dog show has its first mixed-breed agility winner, and her name is Nimble

NEW YORK (AP) — When the Westminster Kennel Club dog show added an agility competition a decade ago, it opened U.S. dogdom's most elite door to mixed breeds for the first time since the late 1800s.

But purebreds won every year — until Saturday, when a border collie-papillion mix aptly named Nimble outran and outmaneuvered 50 other finalists to seize the trophy and plant a flag for blended-breed dogs everywhere.

“She just tries hard, and she's a wonderful dog,” handler Cynthia Hornor told The Associated Press this week.

Just about a foot (30.5 cm) tall, Nimble powered through an obstacle course of jumps, tunnels, ramps and other features like a furry, black-and-white, well-targeted torpedo to cheers from the crowd in the agility finals.