Scottish deerhound Hickory won the best in show award at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York on Tuesday. (Mary Altaffer/Associated Press)

The Westminster Kennel Club awarded its best in show title to a five-year-old Scottish deerhound named Hickory on Tuesday night.

She became the first of her breed to capture the purple-and-gold ribbon and shiny silver bowl.
"I think Hickory could feel my lead that I was excited and went with it," handler Angela Lloyd said.

Judge Paolo Dondina of Italy thanked everyone at New York's Madison Square Garden, then picked Hickory from a best-of-seven final show ring that truly sounded international -- 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.

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

-With files from The Associated Press

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