She’s ruff competition.
A 3-year-old Scottish deerhound named Claire won the National Dog Show 2020 Thursday — becoming the first of her breed ever to fetch the coveted title.
The smiley pooch won the top accolade with her owner, Angela Lloyd, at her side, beating out seven finalists and a total of 538 entries.
Dog lovers quickly took to social media to cheer the tall, scraggly-haired underdog.
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“A Scottish deerhound named Claire won the dog show. Good news for Claires everywhere,” one fan gushed.
Another added, “A beautiful dog, a great winner. Congrats Claire! :)”
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The host of the annual Thanksgiving day competition, Kennel Club of Philadelphia President Wayne Ferguson, said it’s the first time in the show’s 135-year history that the breed emerged as a star.
“Scottish deerhounds are not usually in the best-in-show limelight,” Ferguson told NJ Advance Media, adding that they’re “one of the oldest breeds that the American Kennel Club recognized.”
But despite being the first of her breed to win best-in-show at the National Dog Show, Claire does hail from a long line of champions. Her grandmother, Hickory, won best-in-show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in 2011. Her mother, Chelsea, also won reserve best-in-show at the 2015 National Dog Competition.
“Claire has so many wonderful traits,” Lloyd said after snagging the prize. “She embodies the same qualities [as Hickory and Chelsea]. She is very similar to her grandmother, especially in the eyes.”
It’s the first time in the show’s 135-year history that a Scottish deerhound emerged as a star.
(National Dog Show/Steve Surfman)
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The dog show has been hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia annually since 1933. But this year, the show scaled back to prevent the spread of COVID-19 with only handlers, dog owners and staff allowed to attend.
But eagle-eyed fans were delighted to notice that spectators had been replaced by cardboard cutouts of dogs.
“HOLY F— THE DOG SHOW HAS FAKE DOGS IN THE CROWD,” one viewer tweeted, along with a photo.
Others said their best-in-show vote goes to Chester, an adorable furball competing in the toy group competition.
Many viewers also took a liking to Chester, an Affenpinscher who won the Toy Group.
(Bill McCay/NBC)
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“The dog show was such a boost of serotonin and claire was such a cutie but omg chester my heart can’t handle the cuteness,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
