*Scottish deerhound from Flint Hill is Westminster's top dog

Hickory, a Scottish deerhound, is held after winning best in show at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011, at Madison Square Garden in New York. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

By Ben Orcutt -- borcutt@nvdaily.com

A Flint Hill dog has been named the best in show at the prestigious Westminster Dog Show in New York.

Hickory, a 5-year-old Scottish deerhound from Rappahannock County is owned by Cecilia Dove and Dr. Robert Scott Dove, a Gainesville veterinarian.

"She's been the number one Scottish deerhound for the last three years in this country and she's won the last two national specialties," Mrs. Dove said. "The Westminster Dog Show is the premier dog show for the world."

Mrs. Dove said the couple and Hickory have lived on a farm in Rappahannock County for the past 25 years.

"Hickory will get to retire," Mrs. Dove said. "This was her crème de la crème dog show, whatever you want to call it, the premier of her career and she's going to come home now and retire and run the fields of Rappahannock and live with 12 Scottish deerhounds."

For further developments, visit nvdaily.com or read the print edition of The Northern Virginia Daily.