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New York — America has a new Snoop doggie.

Barking and baying up a storm, Uno lived up to his name Tuesday night by becoming the first beagle to win best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club.

Associated Press (ENLARGE)

Uno, a 15-inch beagle, licks his lips during the hound group competition Monday night.

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The nation's new top dog was clearly the fan favorite, and drew a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden when he was picked.

Uno got right into the act, jumping up on handler Aaron Wilkerson and confirming his other title: noisiest in show. Years from now, he'll be known for the "ah-roo" heard 'round the ring.

The only dog consistently listed among America's most popular breeds for nearly 100 years, a beagle had never won in the 100 times Westminster picked a winner. That changed when judge J. Donald Jones of Marietta pointed to this nearly 3-year-old package of personality.

Good ol' Snoopy, a champion at last.

Uno was numero uno, beating out two perfect poodles, a top Sealyham terrier, a sleek Weimaraner, a lively Australian shepherd and a sprightly Akita.

"We knew he was going to be No. 1," Wilkerson said.

More than 169 breeds and varieties were represented at the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club event, and the competition brought 2,627 entries.

Barks echoed around Madison Square Garden as the crowd cheered its favorites, among them a Neapolitan mastiff, a Chihuahua and a miniature pinscher.

Formally known as K-Run's Park Me in First, Uno came into this competition with 32 best in show ribbons overall. Yet he was surely an underdog, because no beagle had even won the hound group since 1939.

But when it came time to show, Uno was precocious and precious.

He soaked in the cheers as he walked around the ring. Then he made his final stop in front of Jones, a retired counseling psychologist and dean of students at Emory University.

Uno went to town, baying over and over, and kept it up on the sidelines as other dogs were judged.

Quite a win it was for Eddie Dziuk of Columbia, Mo., and his three co-owners.

"I think Uno winning would show that an everyday dog can do it," co-owner Jon Woodring had said earlier in the day.

Several Georgia dogs won their breeds over the two days, including Lincoln, a greater Swiss mountain dog from Fayetteville; Carlton, a clumber spaniel from Alpharetta; Zeus, a black cocker spaniel from Roswell; and Chandler, a Yorkshire terrier from Marietta.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution staff writer Sandra Eckstein contributed to this article.