At the age of 20 months, he was entered into the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in his first appearance in adult classes.

[3] He went on to compete in, and win, the James Mortimer Memorial Trophy for best American dog in the show.

Barkentine competed against a field of fifteen other dogs, including several past Best of Breed winners and an Australian Shepherd which had been shipped from Europe specifically to take part in the show.

The Scottish Terrier Jeannie Deans was eliminated from contention after she tried to bite the German Shepherd.

[1] At the Boston show later in the same month as his win at Westminster, he was beaten by the Wire Fox Terrier Hard Cider in the American bred dogs category.