His name may not yet be a household word, but it’s on the lips of dog aficionados coast to coast: Champion Wetu of Kalahari.

The 4-year-old male Rhodesian Ridgeback  owned by Dr. Mike and Cindy Well of Lawrence  is a rising star in the world of prize American canines.

The purebred pooch, known around the house as “Woody,” captured two major awards Tuesday night at the nationally televised 126th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Woody won best of breed honors from among the 36 Ridgebacks in the competition. Better still, judges chose him as the best of the hound group, which includes 25 breeds.

He was the people’s choice, too.

USA Network had an online poll asking viewers to choose the dog they believed should win Best in Show. Woody won with 27 percent of the vote.

Champion Surrey Spice Girl, a black miniature poodle, won Best in Show honors at Westminster. But she didn’t fare as well online. Voters ranked her last in the online poll with 5 percent.

Since no Ridgeback has ever so much as placed among the top dogs in the hound group in the history of the Westminster show, it was a historic decision.

The Wells were at home watching the event on television when Woody won the honors.

“We’re just thrilled  it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It’s really making history for the breed, which has never had this kind of showing,” Cindy Well said.

“Mike was just shocked. We started screaming.”

Since their dog’s win, the couple has received a flood of congratulatory telephone calls and e-mails from across the United States.

On Wednesday, USA Today’s Web site featured a photo gallery of the winners at Westminster, including a photo of a tail-wagging Woody being chosen by judge Jane Forsyth as best of breed in the hound group competition.

Woody’s dual-win performance was a towering feat for a Ridgeback  or any canine  at the nation’s most prestigious dog show.

Westminster is the country’s second-oldest sporting event. This year, it attracted more than 2,500 dogs representing 159 recognized breeds.

“We are proud and very honored. All the dogs that are in that show are great dogs. They’re all very proven and top winners,” Cindy Well said.

This wasn’t Woody’s first appearance at Westminster. He has made several trips to Madison Square Garden in recent years with professional handler Linda Clark of Tulsa, Okla.

At last year’s show, judges chose him as the runner-up for best of breed.

In December, Woody won best of breed at another important show, the American Kennel Club Eukanuba Classic in Orlando, Fla.

Woody lives most of the year with Clark in Tulsa, who shows him in competitions around the country. But he does come home to Lawrence for visits with the Wells.

The Lawrence urologist and his wife have two other champion Ridgebacks who live with them: Phenix, one of Woody’s daughters; and Solo, a 5-year-old female.

This is probably Woody’s last year of competing in dog shows. Then he’ll retire from the spotlight and just be a regular pet at the Wells’ home.

What is it that makes Woody so special?

“It’s luck,” Mike Well said. “He just happens to have the right chromosomes. And he’s got this (dog) show attitude: ‘Watch out  I’m here to look cool.'”