Posted on 02/15/2006 12:51:57 AM PST by NYer
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A colored bull terrier known as Rufus made history on Tuesday, becoming the first of his breed to win best in show at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Formally named Rocky Top's Sundance Kid, the 5-year-old tan and white bull terrier beat six other finalists, including classic family dogs such as a golden retriever and an Old English sheepdog who were the clear crowd pleasers. He also triumphed over more than 2,600 other entrants at the world's largest and most prestigious dog show.
But Rufus' owner Barbara Bishop of Holmdel, New Jersey, said her dog was "first and foremost a family dog," even though he had won best in shows 31 times previously.
"We're going to have a buy him a steak somewhere," the beaming owner said after his big win before a packed arena at Madison Square Garden.
"We were kind of unprepared for this," she said, adding that Rufus competed at Westminster in the last three years but never made it to the final seven. "This is just the ultimate."
Rufus was the first colored bull terrier to win best in show in Westminster's 130-year history, although a white one did win some 90 years ago.
In another respect the winner was in good company, as the terrier group has produced more best in show winners by far than any other category, taking the prize nearly half of the time.
The other breeds competing for the big prize were a Dalmatian, a Rottweiler, a pug and a Scottish deerhound, a breed competing at Westminster for the first time.
Rufus' handler Kathy Kirk had nothing but praise for him, crowing "he's the king of dogs" and declaring him "the best bull terrier in the history of the breed."
She cited in particular the egg-shaped curve of his head, a distinctive feature of the breed which was also cited by Ontario judge James Reynolds as "the classic profile of the bull terrier." The dog's sturdy, assured movement and sociable demeanor only enhanced his appeal, and the audience showed its approval with a standing ovation.
His nickname, Kirk said, is "Puppyhead."
Kirk, who said she had been working with the dog for about four years, added that Rufus was much more than a show dog.
"Oh, he's happy-go-lucky, he's funny, he jumps, he does hucklebucks," she said, describing an athletic leap the breed is known for, in which they jump into the air and slam their heads against the wall.
The scholar and apologist C.S. Lewis writes a beautiful scene in his allegory of Heaven, The Great Divorce. A beautiful Lady (whom the narrator at first mistakes for the Blessed Virgin . . . but her name is Sarah Smith and she lived at Golders Green) approaches the narrator and his Guide, attended by a procession of saints and angels:
“And how . . . but hullo! What are all these animals? A cat — two cats — dozens of cats. And all those dogs . . . why, I can’t count them. And the birds. And the horses.”Lewis's theory was that our love for our animals ennobles and raises them, just as God's love for us ennobles us. (I think it's a splendid idea.)“They are her beasts.”
“Did she keep a sort of zoo? I mean, this is a bit too much.”
“Every beast and bird that came near her had its place in her love. In her they became themselves. And now the abundance of life she has in Christ from the Father flows over into them.”
I looked at my teacher in amazement.
“Yes,” he said. “It is like when you throw a stone into a pool, and the concentric waves spread out further and further. Who knows where it will end? Redeemed humanity is still young, it has hardly come to its full strength. But already there is joy enough in the little finger of a great saint such as yonder lady to waken all the dead things of the universe into life.”
Backing away from a judge or anyone else is a Pug trait. This poor Pug was penalized for doing what Pugs do!!
Our two Pugs left in full battle dress (including derringers in harness holsters and harness badges) to look for the lost whippet. They couldn't get their helmets to stay on their oddly-shaped Pug heads, though. When the FBI chopper dropped them off back home at 2 AM, they were sad to have come home empty-pawed. They grabbed their Nyla-Bone cigars and brooded until sunrise, and then proceeded to start their days' work, namely sleeping and snoring.... 8~)
Seriously, I hope that the lost whippet is found safe and sound....
***Well, the beautiful Golden was the crowd favorite!***
Goldens are always a crowd favorite. Every extremely popular breed is. Dermott the Pug was faulted for his behaviour on the table.
At the BIS level you can make no mistakes and reacting negatively to the judge just ain't ever a good idea ;)
FWIW, Dermott the Pugs problem began last year when a judge accidently poked him in the mouth hard enough with her fingernail to caus him to wrench his neck and back bad enough to need a chiropractor.
See my own beautiful showdogs by clicking on my screenname!
Your Beagles are gorgeous! Congratulations -- it's quite a family.
Oh, and it was noticeable this time that the Golden was the crowd favorite because the poor Goldens are always overlooked and seldom make it to BIS. Those of us who only watch on TV seldom get to see a Golden in action! Some of the shows even hide the footage of the Goldens behind a commercial break!
I love all the dogs, but personally I was thrilled to see the Golden make into the BIS ring. However, I've seen prettier Goldens than the example at Westminister this year. The Goldens from Honey Lane Kennels locally are simply gorgeous, but they possess a little more fur than I would want to deal with on an everyday basis. They look like big Teddy Bears and are pale blonde in color. THeir legs are a little shorter (like the one in BIS) and their fur is very thick. I've trained with a couple of them.
Mine is red gold, on the tall side, but he has a calm demeanor and the most regal head I've ever seen on a Golden. He was just a poor stray that I adopted from the Rescue organization, but he's the love of my life.
He has a bright blue coat I made for him with G. W. Bush bumper stickers sewed on the sides. He wore it in 4 parades in 2004!
He rode on a float in 3 of them -- even in the pouring rain -- and sat there just like he was king of the hill. The children just loved him, and some people are still talking about it.
We handed out Milk Bones in baggies, with a picture of W and Barney enclosed, to all the people who had brought their dogs to watch the parade. Our message was from Barney and asked the people to re-elect his human.
Beagles get ignored by TV camera's at the big shows too...seems like in most groups the more exotic dogs with the best hair usually win (Salukis, Afghans, Poodles, etc.,)....
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