The National Dog Show Presented by Purina has crowned its winner, and the 2011 Best in Show title goes to Eira, a Wire Fox Terrier from Rialto, Calif., who is registered as Ch Steele Your Heart. She outperformed nearly 1,500 dogs, beating out the other group winners: the English Springer Spaniel, the Affenpinscher, the Australian Shepherd, the Dalmatian, the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Whippet.

At 4 years old, Eira already has quite a bit of experience in the ring. In fact, this marked her 17th Best in Show.

The Wire Fox shared a category with the Smooth Fox Terrier until 1984, and except for their coats, these terriers are essentially identical. Paintings suggest that both coat varieties have existed since the middle of the 18th century. Playful and friendly with tons of energy, the Wire Fox is eminently trainable (though she’s often an escape artist!) and great with kids.

The finalists from the other groups:

Toy Group: the Affenpinscher: GCH CH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari

Hound Group: the Whippet: GCH CH Starline’s Chanel

Herding Group: the Australian Shepherd: GCH CH Propwash Reckon

Non-Sporting Group: the Dalmatian: GCH CH Spotlight’s Ruffian

Sporting Group: the English Springer Spaniel: GCH CH Cerise Tender Is The Night

Working Group: the Bernese Mountain Dog: GCH CH Blumoon’s Tanzenite v Blackrock