Claire, a Scottish deerhound, has just become the first dog to win Best in Show twice in a row at Philadelphia’s National Dog Show.
Five of the eight top dogs in the country were competing this year. Claire, a 4-year-old girl, proved herself confident in her ability to overcome a variety of challenges.
Angela Lloyd, her owner, stated that she was “a year older, more confident in herself, and mature in her body” after her win.
Lloyd joined TODAY virtually this morning with a relaxed-looking Claire and spoke about the “pure joy” of the competition.
She said, “You work every day with the dogs that you have, and they’re part our lives.” It’s amazing to see things happen like this because it makes for wonderful times together.
David Frei, the co-host of The National Dog Show, spoke about Claire’s historic victory on TODAY.
He said, “With Claire she’s in great shape, she looks beautiful. Angela’s got an excellent hand on her in this ring, so everything came together.”
Claire, whose full name was GCH Foxcliffe Claire Randall Fraser, comes from a long lineage of champions. Chelsea, her mother, won second at the 2015 National Dog Show. Hickory, her grandmother, was the Best in Show winner at the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.
National Dog Show is watched by approximately 20 million people annually. This year marks its 20th anniversary. There were over 1,500 entries from 188 breeds during the last show.
The Scottish deerhound is a wiry, shaggy dog that can grow to 32 inches in height. The American Kennel Club describes these dogs’ personality as “dignified”, “gentle”, and “polite”.
