Colored bull terrier is Westminster show's top dog

Reuters ^ | February 15, 2006 | Chris Richaud

[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.

[NYer]

It may have been the first time a Deerhound made it to BIS, but the breed has been showing at Westiminster for a long, long time.

I was pleased with most of the judging this year - it was refreshing to see the deerhound take the win. Is this the first time the Deerhound won the group? Margot was a beauty. My basset boys and I cheered her on ... well, the boys lifted one eye lid to check her out then resumed snoozing.

Handler Lesley Anne Potts trots into the ring with Margot, a Scottish deerhound, during judging for Best in Show at the 130th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show , Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

[apackof2]

I think 'Rufus' is magnificent.

He truly is, although a bull terrier is probably not a dog that would be my first choice and "beauty is in the eye of the beholder

[Joe 6-pack]

Perhaps it will open some eyes as well regarding the bad press bulls, staffordshire bulls and a.p.b.ts have been getting...kind of like the Dick Cheneys of the canine world.

I've always felt that we should have a German Shepherd for President and a Pit Bull as VP....

[Katya]

Yeah!!! A Pit Bull breed won!!!

Where are all the shocked freepers? What? No mauling story to follow?

[the OlLine Rebel]

I like that dog. He was also at the Eukanuba "National Champ" show a few weeks ago, as were many of these finalists.

I also liked the Scot Deerhound (she did trot beautifully - that's how GS should trot!), and the Pug (but think his skittishness w/the judge may have sunk him), and the Rottie was pretty nice.

I'm glad the Golden didn't win, although he was quite pretty. For a Golden. ;-)

[McGavin999]

Good Lord, look at the conformation on that dog. He's magnificent.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Even all-breed dog shows are not beauty contests, despite the stupid insipid remarks by all commentators (TV and show).

If they were, the German Shepherd would always win, and the Bulldog never would. ;-)

[McGavin999]

Sorry, I'm no expert, but I simmply don't see how THIS one edged out the others.

He's the dog that most closely represents the breed standard. A dog show really isn't a beauty contest (the judges don't get to pick their "favorite" breed, they study their conformation, their gait, and look at how well the animal could perform the tast it was bred to accomplish.

This is not one of my favorite breeds, but he is a totally magnificent example of what the breed was intended to be.

[conservativebabe]

What a fabulous group that best in show was. Any dog would have been deserving.

Wonderful to watch. I don't know how the judge made a decision. It would have been very difficult.

[najida]

Well,
I too think the dog is gorgeous.

Not everything is about pretty,
sometimes character counts ;)

[DGray]

Yeah!!! A Pit Bull breed won!!!

Good grief. Bull terriers are not pit bulls - not even close, in fact! They are miles away in temperament and everything else.

The closest thing to a pit bull in the AKC is the American Staffordshire bull terrier: this dog.

[AnAmericanMother]

OK, y'all can click on my screenname to see the most gorgeous Chocolate Lab in the world in a silly situation.

[NYer]

I also liked the Scot Deerhound (she did trot beautifully - that's how GS should trot!)

Did you catch the twinkle in her eye? She knew she had nailed it :-)

Margot, a Scottish Deerhound waits to begin competition in the hound group judging at the 130th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006 in New York's Madison Square Garden. Margot won the Hound group. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

[grellis]

I was pleased with the judging as well. A lot of breeds made it to BIS that haven't been seen there in the past, like the Deerhound and the Colored Bull. Did you notice that there wasn't a single frou-frou? No poodles, no paps...a lot of substantive dogs, for a change.

I love Irish Wolfhounds and Scottish Deerhounds above all others but I don't think I could ever own one. Seven to ten years is far too short a time to give a dog all the love it deserves. My pooch (on my profile) is now 15. She could live on another thirty years and it would still be too short a season.

[NYer]

It should have been the pug.

It might have been the pug except he backed away from the judge. But for all his devoted fans, here's Dermot!

Dermot, a pug, waits for his turn to be judged during the Best in Show competition at the 130th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show , Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Judge James Reynolds looks at pug Dermot during the Best in Show competition as handler Barry Clothier adjusts the dog at the 130th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show , Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

[groanup]

It has nothing to do with cuddly or pretty. It has everything to do with this:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/bull_terrier/index.cfm

[tracer]

Agreed. The Pug was robbed!! Rufus looks like Hoffa or many other gangsters.

I have two Pugs, and they're not happy about this. They're walking around the house with Nyla-bones sticking out of the sides of their mouths, looking like, well, gangsters with cigars. The Boss Pug look............

[dervish]

I was at the show last night.

From what I could see the pug shied from the Judge's touch when the Judge examined him. I don't know if that is a fault because I don't show in conformation. In obedience it would be.

[Nabber]

Did you say "colored"?

We don't say "colored" any more.

It's a "Doggy-American"......

[dervish]

I can't help but feel there was a political statement here.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-07-20-denver-pit-bull_x.htm?csp=34