While many families like to tune their TVs to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or the football game, the National Dog Show is another popular Turkey Day event. The 2020 competition didn’t have a live audience, but the 2021 show returned with plenty of new surprises. The Biewer Terrier was the newest breed to be added. And for the first time, the event included a National Dog Show Junior for young dog handlers.
But of course, the most anticipated part of the show is finding out which dog got Best in Show. This year’s winner made history for the first time in 20 years, and she’s certainly deserving of her unique achievement.
Scottish Deerhound Steals the Show
Claire, the Scottish Deerhound, won the 2020 National Dog Show. Now, after competing against over 1,500 dogs in the 2021 show, Claire has reclaimed her Best in Show title. Claire is the first dog to have two consecutive wins in the past 20 years.
Even though the Scottish Deerhound isn’t a common breed for most dog lovers, Claire is highly regarded compared to other dogs of her breed. She’s known as the number one Scottish Deerhound in America, and she has had more victories than any other Scottish Deerhound in history. Her grandmother is also well-known for winning Best in Show during the 2011 Westminster Dog Show.
“Claire, in her mind, really believes in herself and has a lot of confidence in who she is. And if you looked like her, wouldn’t you?” said Angela Lloyd, Claire’s handler. “She is just truly at the top of her game.”
During the competition, Claire first had to win against other dogs of her breed. Then, she won during the Hound Group competition, leading her to win the Best in Show. She was up against many other beautiful dogs, including Chester the Affenpinscher, Mo’Ne the Kuvasz, Sasha the Pyrenean Shepherd, MM the Lakeland Terrier, Jade the German Shorthaired Pointer, and Winter the Bulldog.
Claire Enjoys the Experience
Lloyd said that when she entered Claire again this year, she didn’t expect to win, but of course, she’s happy she did. More importantly, she thought it would be another fun experience for her furry friend.
“I was thinking more about keeping her happy, getting a really good performance out of her, and just having a good time,” Lloyd said.
Back in her Virginia home, Claire gets to resume her normal, laidback life. The pup loves going for morning runs and then taking a nap after eating breakfast. Lloyd says Claire often watches TV with her too.
All the dogs at this show deserve to win. They’re all adorable canines that deserve so much love. So, hopefully, they all got plenty of pets and cuddles following their hard work and dedication during the event.
Watch the Best in Show Competition Here:
H/T: people.com
Featured Image: Facebook
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