Exceptional Dogs from the Westminster Dog Show
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Best in Show: Hickory, Scottish Deerhound
Hickory took home top honors at the 2011 Westminster competition, with the first Best in Show prize ever awarded to a Scottish deerhound. The three-year-old from Warrenton, Virginia, has been the No. 1 dog in its breed for the past three Westminster shows.
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Pinky, Miniature Pinscher
As the second-youngest dog at the contest, 10-month-old Pinky has a distinguished pedigree -- her father, Major, has won Best in Breed and appeared in the November 2010 issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine. The miniature pinscher breed is known in the business as the "king of the toys," and perhaps not coincidentally, these toys love to play.
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Mr. Miyagi, Shiba Inu
Mr. Miyagi is the show's oldest competitor at 13 1/2 years old. Originally bred to flush birds and small game, the Shiba Inu is the most popular breed in Japan.
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Jack, Irish Wolfhound | Fifi, Chihuahua
Irish wolfhounds like Jack are physically the largest breed at Westminster. The sweet-tempered animals can reach up to seven feet tall when standing on their hind legs.
Learn More About Irish Wolfhounds
The Chihuahua, represented here by one-year-old Fifi, is the tiniest of all the breeds at Westminster. This intelligent breed takes its name from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where the earliest specimens were found.
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R.J., Labrador Retriever | Bonnie, English Foxhound
Trusty Labrador retrievers are one of the most common dog breeds in the United States. With 14 Best in Show wins, R.J. is the highest-ranked black Lab in the history of the breed.
Learn More About Labrador Retrievers
The rarest breed at Westminster, the regal English foxhound has been a favorite subject for dog painters over the years. Bonnie, two-and-a-half years old, is from Canfield, Ohio.
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Sienna, Leonberger
First recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2010, the Leonberger is new to Westminster for 2011. Sienna lives with another Leonberger on an Arkansas farm, where she loves to play with horses.
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Show Floor
Thousands made their way to New York's Madison Square Garden to view the action at the Westminster Dog Show.
Behind-the-scenes photos courtesy of Greg Kleva, host of "It's a Dog's Life" on Martha Stewart Living Radio.
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Festive Outerwear
No, those aren't the Best in Show finalists -- it's just an audience member's very venue-appropriate attire.
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Belgian Sheepdogs
Belgian sheepdogs -- a breed with a proud history of service that includes WWI -- await judging on the show floor.
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Pharaoh Hounds
A Pharaoh hound shows its playful side as others look on during a break from competition.
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Greg with Lulu
Martha Stewart Living Radio host Greg Kleva strikes a pose with Lulu. Does she remind you of a familiar French bulldog?
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Exhausted French Bulldog
Another Frenchie takes a chill after a long day of competition.