Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support


      NEW YORK (AP) - Hickory just might like the big-city life.

      A Scottish deerhound that loves to chase deer and rabbits on a
50-acre farm in Virginia did more than fine at Madison Square
Garden this week, winning best in show at the Westminster Kennel
Club on Tuesday night and the title of America's top dog.


      "She's not used to lights, camera and noise," handler Angela
Lloyd said.


      Whatever, Hickory will get a couple of Manhattan treats on
Wednesday - steak at famed Sardi's restaurant and a trip to the top
of the Empire State Building.


      The 5-year-old Hickory became the first of her breed to capture
the purple-and-gold ribbon and shiny silver bowl.


      By dog world standards, it was an upset. OK, maybe not quite as
big as the Hickory Huskers winning the Indiana high school state
basketball championship in the film "Hoosiers," but quite a
surprise nonetheless.


      "I think Hickory could feel my lead that I was excited and went
with it," Lloyd said.


      Judge Paolo Dondina of Italy thanked every person and dog inside
the arena, then picked Hickory from a best-of-seven final show ring
that truly sounded international - along with a Scottish deerhound,
there was a Pekingese, Portuguese water dog, Chinese shar-pei,
smooth fox terrier, bearded collie and black cocker spaniel.


      A couple of those pooches on the green carpet ring with Hickory
were among the country's top-rated show dogs. The 85-pound Hickory
wasn't on that list, though she wagged her long tail the most at
the end after beating out a total of nearly 2,600 entries. No
doubt, owners Sally Sweatt, of Minneapolis, and Cecilia Dove and Dr. Scott Dove were
equally thrilled after her 16th best-in-show overall.


      "The quality of all of the dogs were outstanding," Dondina
said. "This animal is like in the heavens. It's not of this
world."


      The 135th Westminster was considered a wide-open field from the
start. A smooth fox terrier that was the No. 1 show dog of 2010
recently retired and an Australian shepherd that won the big
AKC/Eukanuba event did not enter.


      Hickory won the hound group Monday night, then had to wait
around all day for her big chance. That was a lot to ask for a kind
of dog that feels most comfortable in the woods, but she clearly
managed to do just fine.


      The 31-year-old Lloyd had won at Westminster before - in 1998,
she was honored for her handling in the junior showmanship for
youngsters who hope to work in the dog world.


      "People who own, breed, show dogs dream of this day," she
said.


      Among the owners who showed earlier in the day: Brig. Gen.
Rhonda Cornum, an Army surgeon who was shot down from a helicopter
during the Persian Gulf War and briefly held as a prisoner of war.
She was at the Garden showing a Gordon setter.

      Cornum was clear on which was more difficult, ascending in the
show ring or in the military.


      "No question, it is dogs," she said.


      Sitting high up in section 118, Linda Melvin kept her eyes fixed
on those Gordon setters competing on the floor. A seat away, her
daughter fixated on her cell phone.


      Krista Piller was busy posting on Facebook: "Wants a big dog to
win the WKC dog show this year."


      "I'll being putting up more, too," Piller wrote.


      From the stands, to the rings to backstage, people were
a-twitter - iPads, Blackberries, Droids and then some at an event
that started in 1877. Signs of social media were everywhere at the
Westminster Kennel Club show.


      Proving, in fact, that it is indeed possible to teach an old dog
show new tech tricks.

      "It is now uploaded!" exclaimed Lorraine Shore of Sequim,
Wash.


      In town with a pair of German pinschers, her peeps worldwide
could see on YouTube how her favorite pooches fared.


      "From Germany to Australia to California, people are waiting
for my postings," she said. "People who have never been here, now
they've experienced Westminster."


      Westminster had 49,000 friends on Facebook by late Tuesday
afternoon, said Susi Szeremy of the kennel club's social media
team, and the number quickly zoomed to more than 60,000. There are
about 2,400 followers Tweeting along - litters of twitters.


      Ken Roux of Dixon, Ill., made it easy for anyone to keep track
of his Boston terrier at the 135th Westminster event. Hoss won a
best of breed award Monday.


      Roux put a tag with a QR code, a sophisticated set of small
squares randomly appearing in a larger square, on top of his dog's
crate. The pattern is more than an inch square, and anyone pointing
a smartphone at the pattern is automatically taken to Hoss'
website.


      Brook Berth, an assistant to Hoss' handler, said she'd heard
only one other dog at Westminster had the QR tag, which stands for
"quick response." The new technology allows people to instantly
access the dog's history and contacts.


      "I noticed a lot of people taking pictures," Berth said.
"It's just so convenient. You don't have to worry about people
writing down information or passing out cards. They have it all
right away."


      The fancy bar codes could become Westminster's trendy bark
codes.


      "This is the test area," Berth said. "So far, it seems to be
a big hit."

Gallery

A 5-year-old named Hickory pulled a huge surprise Tuesday night
at the Westminster Kennel Club, winning best in show and the title
of America's top dog. She became the first of her breed to capture
the purple-and-gold ribbon and shiny silver bowl.

Scottish deerhound is best in show at Westminster

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox