A stately looking Scottish deerhound beat the breed favoured by President Barack Obama and a crowd-pleasing cocker spaniel to snap up top dog honours at New York’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Hickory, with her breed’s characteristic lanky legs, loping trot, goatee beard and wolfish grey coat, was the surprise Best in Show winner at the end of the two-day canine beauty contest in Manhattan. She beat six other finalists that included a Portuguese water dog – the breed picked by Mr Obama as his White House pet – a fluffy Pekingese and a black cocker spaniel popular with the enthusiastic crowd.

“It’s just the thrill of a lifetime,” handler Angela Lloyd said after her dog’s win. She said dog show aficionados “dream of this day their whole entire lives and here we are.”

A total of 2,626 four-legged beauties, representing 179 breeds, chased the elusive Best in Show title. This was the first time a Scottish Deerhound has won the annual competition, which started in 1877.

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