Scottish Deerhound Tops 2011 Westminster Show, Stories

The Scottish Deerhound "Hickory" has won Best in Show at Westminster. The five year old was slated to be retired but now embarks on a whirlwind media tour as is typical for the winning dog. She takes up a bit more room than "Uno" the beagle or other winners!

An old breed developed for chasing down game, the Scottish Deerhound is not likely to make the wave of pet popularity. They're big. They're not guard dogs. From 75-110 pounds they've been a breed since the 16^th and 17^th centuries, but many have never seen them. They can be over 30 inches tall, but should be balanced.

Officially known as GCH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, she is owned and bred by Cecilia L Dove & Dr. R Scott Dove. She won the hound group over the 15 inch Beagle, the Norwegian Elkhound and the Petits Bassets Griffons Vendeen, taking the best of the best of hounds before winning the Best in Show trophy.

The dog show sport is often criticized and with many seeking to ban all breeding there was more to the story at Westminster in those champion lineups. Not one of these dogs was bought from a puppy mill or a pet store. They aren't in shelters.

But going down that big list of champions there were stories! There's GCH Carpe Diem's Old School, the Anatolian Shepherd who works on an Idaho ranch keeping calves safe from predators.

There's GCH Protocol's Veni Vidi Vici, better known on Facebook as the Fifinator and a beautiful representation of the Doberman. The Rottweiler GCH Cammcastle's Friar Tuck, is the family's first show dog, making their first trip to Westminster special.

Several dogs in the championship lineup were certified therapy dogs. The Siberian Husky, "Benson", GCH Kontoki's A Bend In The Road, knows how to open doors. Another is the Leonberger, GCH Starhaven's All I Want For Christmas, also known as "Gulliver" who serves at a children's hospital. Service dogs also were in the lineup.

Dogs like the terrier group winner, a Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH Slyfox Sneak's A Peek that love children, as well as the Bedlington Terrier GCH Kaylynn's Party Crasher.

There was a hero dog, the field spaniel officially known as CH Freedom's Playing With the Gang. Known as "Burt" at home, he saved his family by alerting them to a fire hazard.

Dogs representing the other groups included the Toy group winner, Pekingese GCH Palacegarden Malachy; non-sporting winner was a Chinese Shar-Pei GCH Vaje's Miss Jayne Hathaway; herding group winner went to a beautiful Bearded Collie, GCH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins; sporting group winner was GCH Casablanca's Thrilling Seduction, a black Cocker Spaniel and the winner of the working group GCH Aviators Luck Be A Lady, a Portuguese Water Dog.

Certainly there were many stories and paths to the Westminster dog show, and some that qualified that were unable to chase the dream of showing there. But there can only be one winner and of all the champions present it was the Scottish Deerhound taking the crown for 2011. Certainly every dog earned the right to be there, and many will go home tomorrow and continue to serve.