And a Chow/Lab as Secretary of Defense!
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.
And a Chow/Lab as Secretary of Defense!
Their appearance is very similiar.
Rufus isn't a pit bull, he is a bull terrier, there's a difference
Click on my screen name to see a gorgeous Lab/Chow
No offence, but does that prayer really work for you?
Everyone loves THEIR dogs the most! I'm the same way about my Golden and my Dachsunds. I love em!!
I just can't take that dog seriously. If my cat can take him, it's not a real dog.
The Dread Boston Salty was my husband's Christmas present back in 1998, and I had to go to a small town about two hours away from Houston to pick him up.
I'd never met a Boston terrier in person before, and this little black-and-white squish-faced thing was THE cutest puppy ever. He was asleep when I met his family, and only woke up for about two seconds when they injected the microchip into him . . . then back to sleep.
So the little guy is snuggled into a huge pile of towels in the passenger seat, and the weather outside is HIDEOUS, rain and even hail, and I'm terrified of driving in it . . . and then he starts to snore! Scared the hell out of me. I had no idea a dog that small could make a noise that large.
Exactly and that's what helped make it an exciting show!
Now next year if they want to make it a superior show,
pick a Chow for the best in non-sporting!
I've had people ask me if the Dread Boston Salty, who is a textbook Boston (except for being 27 pounds), is a pit. Where they get that notion I have no idea.
Maddie is a sweetheart!
I've had people ask if my Shelley-dog is a pit with uncut ears . . . . Come on! Her head's a little domed but not that much, and she's little for a Lab, but still . . .
"I'll pounce on you and lick you to death!"
"Everyone loves THEIR dogs the most!"
Of course thats the case, thats the way it should be. LOL
But I can be completely honest about mine, I love her dearly, but her drool is sumthin' else ;o)
MM
. . . but we have a couple of good ones in our hunting retriever club. When they are good, they are very, very good. One has his HRCh, one has been to the Grand.
thanks, she is a genius dog too!
LOL, I adore her!!
Excellent choice!
BTW Shelly does NOT in any way, shape or from look like a Pit Bull!
Geez
There are an awful lot of folks out there who don't know beans about dogs.
I used to be one of them -- Shelley is my Very First Dog. She certainly has given me an education. If she'd had an experienced handler, with her breeding and drive she could have gotten her HRCh easy . . . with me, she's doing the best she can! She still has just absolutely cleaned up the shop in Agility and she has her first Retriever title.
(Did you see the pic I posted yesterday of her looking noble amid all her ribbons and medals? She has that modest, yet conscious look . . . I swear she knows what it all means . . .)
Great!
Aren't dogs just wonderful?!
No I didn't see the picture but you could always post it again!
Its great that you got her into Agility, Labs are working dogs (hunters) and need to do what they were breed for
Maddie is a super hunter
The four ribbons on the far right are the four pass ribbons she needed for her UKC/Hunting Retriever Club Started Retriever title. The ones in the middle are AKC Agility - the green ribbons are Qualifying Score ribbons, the blue-red-yellow are 1st-2nd-3rd place ribbons (she has her Open titles - intermediate level - in both divisions and is now running in Excellent). The ones on the far left are USDAA (U.S. Dog Agility Assn), the magenta ribbons are Qualifying Score ribbons and the multi-colored ones are Title ribbons. She has her Agility Dog title as well as Starter titles in Jumpers, Pairs Relay, and Snooker.
. . . and that, as they say, is the news from where we are. Another USDAA trial this weekend -- she's running in Advanced now which is a little hairy still for us. We'll be happy to get a Q or two in ANYthing . ..
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