Meet Costello

Fifth Annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship
Best in Show Winner
Best-Bred-By-Exhibitor in Show
Winner of Iams Viewers' Choice
Awarded Over $80,000 in total cash prizes

Breed: Alaskan Malamute

Age at Time of Win: 3

Home: Buffalo, New York

AKC Show Name: CH Nanuke's Snoklassic No Boundaries

Story Behind the Name: Owner D'Andrea explains, "Costello's brother also lives with us. His name is Abbott. They are just like the comic routine they are named for, but Costello is definitely the straight man."

Favorite Pastime: Chasing rabbits. If not the real thing, a stuffed toy will suffice. He also loves being with people, especially children. His tail never stops wagging.

What People Are Saying: Costello's good looks run in the family. His father, Tyler, won a top prize from the Westminster Kennel Club at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1998.

Costello's owner, D'Andrea, said she plans to pay off some bills with her winnings, noting: "It's a very expensive sport."

But will the big prize pay off for Costello? D'Andrea said she gives Costello and her other dogs special rewards once in a while. "The dogs get whatever we're eating, but they like McDonald's cheeseburgers the best."

However, being a top dog doesn't always mean getting pampered. "The airlines are apparently unimpressed — Costello goes with the luggage," said D'Andrea.

COSTELLO'S TRAINING ROUTINE

Physical Conditioning

• Runs loose in the fields every day.
• Runs out in large exercise yards with his girlfriend Kendal (she drags him from one end to the other).
• At dog shows, long walks, several times a day.
• Playing catch with his favorite toy.

Emotional Training

• Listening to country music.
• Being massaged all over.

Beauty Regiment

• Brushing teeth and having nails ground, not cut.
• Sleeping on hotel beds.
• Having a bag of ice under his belly to keep him cool.
• Being brushed from head to toe while relaxing on his grooming table.