The 144th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show crowned its Best in Show on Tuesday night, bestowing the honour upon a black standard poodle named Siba.

In usual circumstances we can all agree that all dogs are good dogs, and no dog is more good than others. But the Westminster Dog Show is not usual circumstances. Pitting pup against pup, this thunderdome forces its audience to evaluate the goodness of dogs against each other, whittling them down in a brutal competition to find the Best in Show.

The ritual was completed again this week, when the Westminster Dog Show bestowed the coveted title upon Siba. Indeed, few would disagree that Siba is a very good dog.

The Best in Show America deserves. Image: Johannes Eisele / AFP via Getty Images

However, many viewers were unconvinced Siba was the best — not when Daniel was around.

The internet has exploded with vocal support for Daniel the golden retriever, winner of the Sporting category. (All dogs at the Westminster Dog Show compete in one of seven categories — Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding — with Best in Show picked from one of the winners.)

Daniel instantly charmed everyone with his joyful smile, sweet demeanour, and undeniable fluffiness. Carrying his bright blue Sporting ribbon off in his mouth, it seemed impossible to conceive there could be a gooder dog in the competition.

The audience cheered loudly when Daniel's handler Karen Mammano showed him off for judging, making it clear he was the crowd favourite. A golden retriever has never won Best in Show, so the good boy had the rare chance to make history as well. In contrast, poodles have won five times.

Sadly, it was not to be. Daniel lost out to Siba, and general sentiment has been that this was a terrible call. Many are using the hashtag #DanielWasRobbed, and some even booed when Best in Show was announced.

Good boy alert! Daniel the Golden Retriever is a crowd favorite in the Sporting Group. #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/BGanCyCqBD — FOX Sports (@FOXSports) February 12, 2020

To understand how this apparent injustice occurred, it is imperative to understand the Westminster Dog Show's judging criteria.

Despite common belief, the judges aren't looking for the best, most doggy dog. Rather, judges evaluate each dog to determine which is closest the "ideal" of their specific breed. The judges also all conform to the same written, uniform standard of what is considered "ideal," so nobody can go rogue and say that their ideal border collie weighs 100 pounds and just lies in bed with you all day.

Many in the audience considered Daniel to be a much more appealing pup than Siba, and I can't say I disagree. However, this is more of an issue of breed preference than with the specific dog. The judges simply decided that Siba was better at being a poodle than Daniel was at being a golden retriever.

Still sounds fake, but okay.

Frankly, the whole concept of the "ideal" dog perpetuates unrealistic and damaging canine beauty standards. You're perfect as you are, Daniel, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The internet has your back.

A poodle winning over a golden retriever like Daniel is everything that’s wrong with our country. #WestminsterDogShow pic.twitter.com/o0bFiGEqFJ — Goodwyn Speedbumps (@GSpeedbumps) February 12, 2020

Westminster Dog Show twitter is wild as hell when a standard poodle beats out Daniel, the golden retriever: pic.twitter.com/HcgoTbngwv — Jude Kilgour (@judekilgour) February 12, 2020

DANIEL WAS ROBBED #WKCDogShow — Hayden Herrera (@haydenherrera) February 12, 2020

Love watching the WKC but come on, that Poodle best in show was weak, especially over a stacked class of Golden, Sheltie, Whippet, and Havanese #WestminsterDogShow #WKCDogShow #WestminsterDogShow2020 pic.twitter.com/UGBQZSyro6 — Mike Mason (@mikemasonx) February 12, 2020

Daniel the Golden Retriever is absolutely gorgeous and is a star. It’s awful that the standard poodle wins all the time. It’s boring and unfair. 😐 #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/pyTsYDSX9W — 🅰️njali (@abenawra) February 12, 2020

THE POODLE?!?!?!?!?!?!? Maybe next year they should use a judge who wasn't one of the original soldiers in 1917 😭DANIEL WAS ROBBED GOOOOOOODNIGHT. #WestminsterDogShow — Michelle Collins (@michcoll) February 12, 2020

me explaining to my wife how the poodle paid off the judge and beat the true champion Daniel #WestminsterDogShow pic.twitter.com/y0x1AW8ZZo — GoodForAnother (@goodforanother) February 12, 2020

Daniel didn't win Best in Show, but he did win thousands of hearts. In some ways, his was the greater victory. Would still be nice to have that trophy, though.