Tiki is tops — the cutest dog around, proclaimed so by her victory in the Portsmouth Daily Times’ Cutest Pet Contest.

Readers of the Times’ website at www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com piled up 18,004 votes for the 8-year-old, 5-pound Yorkshire terrier, nearly 6,000 more than the second-fiddle pet.

For the top prize, Denease Stevens, 45, who shares her home four miles north of Minford with Tiki, wins a $250 gift certificate to Ace Hardware on Gallia Street.

Stevens said she probably would not have entered her dog in the contest were it not for her mother, Ruth Miller.

“My mom called me after she saw notice of the contest in the Times. ‘Get Tiki entered in that,’” she said. “So I did, and now I want to thank everybody who voted for this little dog.”

She bought Tiki from a breeder as a pup. The dog quickly drew the love of Stevens’  entire family, which includes three children and eight grandchildren.

“She loves everybody and everybody loves her. She gives these grandkids kisses all over,” Stevens said.

She also has one toy, the first toy Stevens bought her, that she loves above all others.

“I’ll put it up in a closet or somewhere, and she’ll go and dig at that door until someone gets it for her. I haven’t figured out how she knows it’s in there.”

Tiki’s tricks include shaking hands, speaking and going out to get the newspaper.

“She understands some words. Mention bath and she’s gone, hiding out somewhere.”

Tiki is definitely not an outdoors dog. On hot summer days you’ll find her inside, basking in the AC.

It’s a rough life, this life of a dog.