Stump the Sussex named best in show

[DainBramaged]

Source: MSNBC

A 10-year-old Sussex spaniel has become America’s top dog.

Stump is the oldest winner ever at the Westminster Kennel Club show. He came out of retirement only last week and wound up with the biggest prize in dogdom.

Stump beat out six other group winners Tuesday night.



Read more: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/29118345/

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Cool

[Bicoastal]

1. Whoozagooboy? Whoozagooboy? (n/t)

[DainBramaged]

2. He is a doll.....

[barb162]

3. He looks like a cocker spaniel with his legs cut off at the knees.

whoa. I was hoping the puli would win.

[roguevalley]

19. I was routing for all of them with special emphasis on the pouli

and scottish deer hound. That spaniel reminds me of a spaniel with a basset body. :) I love dogs.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. I liked them too...

The puli was my fave, followed closely by the deer-hound. But the little Sussex's story won my heart. He's a great dog, and I'm thrilled for him!

[Botany]

4. I watched the finals w/ my Lab in my lap

Stump knew he was on stage and was a "ham"

He was a strutter!


I liked the deer hound too.

[ShortnFiery]

5. That's cool ... at least it was not "a poodle"

I was hoping for a win by "The Hound." (Scottish Deerhound).

I love big dogs. :-)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/02/scottish-deerho.html

[glinda]

8. Deerhound and Wolfhound placed very well. It was great to see it but Stump

was really really wonderful. I remember him from many years before and had always wondered what had happened to him. In fact, one year I was sure he was going to win. This seemed like correcting a huge past mistake. Great win!

[ShortnFiery]

18. Yes, but like the Old English Sheepdog, they have NOT EVER won Westminster's "Best of Show."

I'm happy for this guy's breed (Sussex Spaniel) but something seems FIXED when POODLES always seemingly eek out either "The Best of Show" or among the top six contenders.

Sorry, Poodles are highly intelligent but clearly OVER-REPRESENTED in dog show wins. :shrug:

[glinda]

29. Yes. There are many including the Lab that have never won but one reason the

Poodle has done well is that there are a couple three breeders that have done really good work with the Breed in regards to health and temperament. When it comes to the final line up, ALL the dogs are some of the "best". For the Sussex, he had placed top of his Breed Type and also of the Westminster Group before so in actuality, his proven record of being a great example of his Breed was obvious and over due. I have owned two Wheatens. They never place. They never win. But I agree that I have yet seen THE Wheaten that has stood out. It is funny too as they are most likely older than the Kerry Blue and most likely the parent dog to it originally. They also also most likely the parent to the Sealyham Terrier also. Both the the Kerry and the Sealie have won Best in Shows far more than the Wheaten.

[Mojorabbit]

9. Oh! that is the dog of my dreams

but hubby put his foot down. I have a king shepherd puppy instead. I had no idea the dog show was this week. I can't believe I missed it.

[roguevalley]

20. the tibetan mastiff was awesome. I don't think I've ever seen one

until now.

[ozu]

23. agreed

I was really rooting for the Tibetan. He was beautiful.

[OnyxCollie]

26. Is a king shepherd like a Shilo shepherd?

[Mojorabbit]

27. It is a fairly new breed in the making

A mix of mostly shiloh, american, and german shepherd. It is breeding out the angular and restoring a fairly straight back to the shepherd like they had years ago and getting rid of the hip problems in the process. I have a friend who has her cousin and what a calm, intelligent, gentle and beautiful dog it is. We also have a treeing walker coonhound and a doxy.
Here are some pics on a little web page I am making to document her growth.
http://sites.google.com/site/rosiegirlssite/Home

[OnyxCollie]

28. She's beautiful!

I love the "Best Friends" pic. We had considered a Shiloh shepherd because we like the rough coat and straight back (It's horrible what GSD's look like now), but were concerned that the Shilohs had trouble being housebroken and had an aggressive temperament. Plus, they aren't cheap. Also, the woman who is trying to get the Shilohs recognized as a breed is very strict; You have to provide receipts to show that the dog is being fed a particular dog food or else she will take away your puppy.

[Mojorabbit]

30. Thank you

She was not cheap either and we do not get full registration on her unless we have her spayed or If she is to be bred then proof of special hip xrays have to be provided before the registration will be granted as they are trying to prevent bad genes being passed on so the breed will continue to be improved. Does not matter to me as I am not planning to breed her.

This is my first bought dog. All the others I have had ever had just showed up here and we could not find the owners (like the doxy)or were from rescues. The adoption papers for this one were extensive and the contract stipulates that if we ever want to get rid of her she has to go back to the breeder. That won't happen but I respect the breeder for wanting me make sure her pups will be well cared for and not dumped off somewhere.

She has a wonderful temperament. Sweet as can be and almost potty trained. LOL. I can't wait till that is over.

[xchrom]

6. ...

:woohoo:

[Mudoria]

7. They never win awards but this is my favorite..

I love these dogs..

[boomerbust]

10. He's no UNO

:popcorn:

[rox63]

11. I couldn't see the pic in your post

So I went to the link and found this victory pic of Stump. :)

[DainBramaged]

13. He's a doll, isn't he! For some reason my link broke, but your pic is great.

A rare breed, watching him lumber around the ring while the others ran was just pure joy. A regular dog won, just like Rufus in 2006 and Uno last year, dogs rule, not some goofy, high strung, show only genetically bred wonder uberdog, just a dog, and an old one at that.

[Ian David]

12. I've gone to that dogshow twice. If there is a Hell, it will be just like back stage at Westminster.

[OnyxCollie]

14. Ha!

We were hoping to get an invite, but we ranked 12th last year.

As we watched the show, we looked at each other and said, "I'm glad we're sitting here in our comfy chairs, drinking beer, and not there."

New York City+bench show=Torture.

[Bake]

15. Dogs RULE!!!

Stump is a great dog!! But then I thought ALL of the dogs were great! I was disappointed that Ginger the Shih Tzu didn't win the toy group (I love shih-tzus!!); she is a great rep of the breed. But really, ALL the dogs were great. The English springer Spaniel looked dead-on like my Springer, Bebe!

By the way, what's with holding the ears over the dog's eyes while the judge is looking at the dog up close?

Bake

[roguevalley]

21. checking chest configuration and such without blockage. :)

[mod mom]

16. Woo Hoo -a victory for elder Canines everywhere!

[dflprincess]

25. Oh heck, it's a victory for any of us mammals who may be thought to be

"past our prime". Go Stump!

[Algorem]

17. it's on every "news" show.who'd they pay to publicize this garbage?

craig ferguson exposed these dog-molesters last night.

[roguevalley]

22. ???