The largest dog show in the country wrapped up this week, sending one of Palmerton’s own home with a winner’s ribbon.

The 2014 and 2016 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Best in Breed winning Chesapeake Bay retriever has more title letters behind his name than most physicians.“His official name is Gold GCH Chesastar Hudson Bay CGC, WD, BN, RN, THD, JH. But around here he is just Hudson,” said Jan Sosik, who owns the dog with his wife, Karen.The 82-pound brown retriever is a typical dog most days, riding in the car, guarding the yard, and chasing squirrels with his 2-year-old prodigy Gunnie and companion Lizzy, 13.“After his win in 2014, the whole town was asking me, ‘Hey, how’s the dog?’ I’d be getting my groceries bagged and people would ask me about him,” Karen said.“For him the show is a job. When he gets the leash on he knows,” Karen said. “His handler, Michelle Scott, practices with him. When she stops, he stops perfectly. It’s very showy.”Not just a pretty faceHudson is no stranger to the spotlight or to work. The THD behind his name signifies that the retriever is a therapy dog.“My mom is in the Village at Palmerton care home. He visits. It’s an informal thing but he is certified,” Sosik said.Hudson, also a trained and licensed hunting guide dog, often works at Clover Hollow Hunting Preserve in Slatington.“He hunts ducks and pheasants. You need a dog to hunt game birds. If a hunter doesn’t have one, they can rent him,” Sosik said.“He’s a real hunting dog. He does the work. He’s not just a pretty face,” Karen said.“He’s in very good condition. That’s why he does so well. He does what a Chesapeake is supposed to do,” Sosik said.The 5-year-old medium-sized canine began his show career in 2013 with Karen Sosik as his handler.“Sandy Moyer of Bowmanstown is a real great handler. She gave me lessons,” she said. “He wasn’t as good for me as he is Michelle.”It could be the chicken his current handler uses, what dog show aficionados call bait.“They will use whatever gets the dog’s attention. Some like liver, some like squeaky toys,” Karen said.It was at the suggestion of Scott that the Sosiks entered Hudson in the 140th anniversary show, Karen said.This year, winners received the iconic brightly colored ribbon and a medal engraved with the winner’s moniker.170 winsHudson, born on the Fourth of July, was the Sosiks’ pick of a 14-puppy litter, bred by Maryann Vaccaro and Patsy Barber.Hudson descends from a champion blood line, having been sired by the former number one Chesapeake in the country, GCH Chesabar Pawprints In The Sand.“You don’t know which will or won’t be a good show dog. He started showing, and we saw he was a really good dog,” Karen said.Hudson has racked up over 170 best-in-breed wins across the states.“He’s traveled all over the east, from Maine to Florida,” Karen said.The Westminster Show is an all-day event, beginning with the bench show, set up at the pier near the main event.“The dogs have to be there at a certain time and stay there all day. Over 10,000 people come to see the dogs in the crates. People came to pet him and take pictures with him,” Karen said.“It’s a lot of work. To travel with the dog, crate and luggage,” she said of the New York Madison Square Garden destination. “Where do you take a dog to pee in the city?” she said, with a laugh. Luckily for the couple and their four-legged prize winner, the hotel had already created fake greenery in the bottom of the building.The Sosiks have owned dogs of the Chesapeake variety for over 25 years, starting with a puppy bred by Moyer.They are family dogs. Their temperament is good and they’re not yappy,” Sosik said. The average life span is longer than most purebreds. Their oldest dog was 14.“Hudson’s grandfather, Tonka, would have celebrated his 15th birthday this year. His birthday was on the day Hudson won for the breed,” Karen said.