A four-and-a-half year-old male, Trumpet was handled by Heather Buehner, one of the four owner-breeders of the dog from Saint Joseph, Illinois.

The loveable hound with trademark loose folds of skin was a crowd favourite at the smaller-than-normal venue in Tarrytown, New York, about 40km north of New York City.

Judge Don Sturz, a superintendent of a school district in Long Island, declared him the winner over the reserve best in show, Winston, a French bulldog, whose owners include professional American football player Morgan Fox of the Los Angeles Chargers.

The show, which had entrants from the US and nine other countries this year, dates to 1877 and has become a mainstay annual television event.

Each breed producers a winner, representing the best of what artificial selection can create from the descendants of wolves. The breed winners are separated into seven groups to determine the Best of Show finalists.

Four of the finalists were chosen on Tuesday: Trumpet the bloodhound, representing the hound group; Winston the French bulldog for non-sporting dogs; Hollywood, a Maltese, in the toy category; and River, a German shepherd, for the herding group.

Three other finalists were named on Wednesday, setting up the best-in-show competition: Belle the English setter among sporting dogs; Striker the Samoyed for the working group; and MM, a Lakeland, among the terriers.

Judges examined the dogs up close, placing their hands on the animal, then watched the handlers lead them around the floor, grading how they met breed standards on appearance, temperament, size, coat, and other characteristics.

Usually held at Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan, the show has been moved upstate to a smaller arena on the expansive grounds of Lyndhurst Mansion for the past two years because of the pandemic.