Therapy Dog Is Best In Show At Westminster

51st Win For Diamond Jim, English Springer Spaniel, Who'll Now Retire

(AP)  An English springer spaniel with a preference for chicken-and-garlic treats prevented America's top dog event from turning into "The Cosby Show."

Diamond Jim jumped into handler Kellie Fitzgerald's arms after being picked for best in show Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club.

Dressed in a glittering copper top that perfectly matched her brown-and-white dog, Fitzgerald cuddled her 6-year-old certified therapy dog.

Diamond Jim beat out a Dandie Dinmont terrier co-owned by Bill Cosby, as he did at the big AKC/Eukanuba event in December. The springer was the nation's No. 2 show dog last year behind Cosby's entry — Fitzgerald also repeated, having gone best in show at Westminster in 2000.

"I'm over the moon," she said.

Judge Robert Indeglia said he wished he had seven ribbons to present to the final contenders at Madison Square Garden. Given only a purple-and-gold one, he pointed to Diamond Jim.

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The People Behind The Dogs
Westminster's Winner
The Dogs Of Westminster

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This was his 51st best in show victory, and his last. Commonly called James, he's retiring from the show world to live the life of a therapy and obedience dog.

2"I wanted him to go out with a bang," Fitzgerald said.

Diamond Jim beat out the Dandie Dinmont, a pair of white poodles and a petit basset griffon vendeen, plus an Akita and a Bouviers des Flandres that pitted a husband and wife against each other. Larry Fenner handled the Bouviers and Laurie Jordan-Fenner guided the Akita.

With a few dogs barking and baying backstage, Diamond Jim was judged the best of the overall 2,628 entries in 165 breeds and varieties.

This was the 100th time that best in show was presented at Westminster, and the sixth time that an English springer spaniel won.

Cosby's run of bad luck on the green carpet of the Garden continued. He'd lost with several top dogs in the past, and avoided coming this time to stave off the jinx.

The Dandie named Harry was the nation's top show dog last year with 57 best in show victories. He fell short at Westminster last February when he slipped on the slick carpet.

3After winning the sporting group earlier in the evening, Fitzgerald was asked about again going against the Dandie. She was aware the upsets had a way of happening at this event.

"It's the Garden and it's Westminster, anything can happen," she said.

Diamond Jim will stay with Fitzgerald for about a week in Bear, Del. — "he likes my big backyard" — before heading home to his owners in Virginia.

Terriers have won 44 times at Westminster and Harry was certainly drew his share of cheers from the crowd of about 15,000.

Cosby's daughter, Erinn, sat in the second row and hoped for a big win. On Monday night, she kissed her dad's dog on the mouth after he won best of breed.

Named for Prince Harry, the dog officially named Hobergays Fineus Fogg was bred in New Zealand and won 30 events in Australia before going to live in Pleasanton, Calif.

[besscannon-2009]

If you want to see entertaining clowns, catch the mixed breeds show. I had a medium sized cross between a sheep dog and german sheperd that was a complete "ham". LOVED the attention, strutted and pranced even smarter to applause and attention and "Muffin" was a complete comedian, smart as a whip, and took the crowd and blue ribbon effortlessly. Sadly, I no longer have her but, she did live to the ripe old age of 18 years. I lost a great pal and companion.

[nothappyatall]

Notice how every one of the 11 gallery photos are of those dinky carpet sharks- poodles, terriers and foo foo breed, show us some REAL dogs- Newfies, Gt Pyrs, Gt Dane, St Bernard! Whatsamatter? the photographer they sent to the garden was afraid of BIG dogs and so only dared venture near enough the carpet sharks to get those photos???

[nothappyatall]

Wrong George, Purebred dogs are the ones that are TESTED and treated. For the most part it's SHOW breeders who do hip xrays, blood tests, eye tests, study pedigrees and then select a mate that complements the other while not doubling up on faults.

ALL of these genetic diseases have been reported in mutts as well as wild animals, but in the case of wild animals they simply die, in the case of most mutts well, the owners got the dog FREE or for $10 from the newspaper, so are they going to spend $350 for hip xrays and then $2500 for hip replacement surgery? or are they just going to more likely tell the doc they cant afford it, put the dog down for $35 and get another free or $10 dog to tie up in the back yard 24/7

My stint in an animal shelter and my years as a show breeder who has shown in Westminster once showed me both sides well- breeders test, when you test you find things, when you don't ignorance is bliss and the dog doesn't have any problems.... right?
WRONG!
Most of the times the dog can have hip dysplasia and th eowner not even know it, or assume it is arthritis or "old age pains" while a breeder willhave the dog XRAYED and find the real cause.

[nothappyatall]

george; EVERY show breeder I know REQUIRES neuter-spay of pet puppies, this is the rule not an exception, the ones who are breeding defective misfits are those who get a dog from nbewspaper ads, pet shops who import sick and unhealthy inbred puppies, and "aunt Millies accidental litter"
Real breeders try to educate the public about htis, but idiots continue buying from petshops which keeps the mass puppy farms in business.

The puppy farms with 100+ dogs dont care, puppies are product to them, as quickly as they can churn them out they do, and this source is where the bulk of pet puppies COME FROM one way or another.

[randalds]

Beautiful animal. Shame it's owned by such a self-righteous, egotistical guy like Bill Cosby. hope he just the owner on paper and that the dog doesn't live with that jerk.

[neoffyte]

No RandalDS you're the real jerk! Bill Cosby is an outstanding person, with enormous values who has contributed greatly to black colleges and positive black cultural images. Now, he challenges Black Americans to stop sitting on the sofa and to invest their talents and resources into their lives for the benefit of establishing more and more positive black communities. Or would you rather listen to more musical genocide? Harry is a great dog owned by a great person and they're both winners!

[neoffyte]

I show dogs too. As near as I can tell, Cosby's winning dog is the highest that any Black owner has achieved in the Westminster Show. It is an enviable honor that many of us are working to achieve. While you may not agree with his views, he has spent a lifetime working and living as a positive Black role model. It is time that Black Americans stop letting a very small group of drug dealers, hip-hop gang bangers and wannabees dominate the universal image of Black Americans. There has always been and there will always be a Black American middle class - who do not have to prove that they are "Black enough" especially to other Black Americans.

[mgpm-2009]

I love Springer Spaniels. I had one, and they are just wonderful dogs. Mine saved us once by alerting us to a fire downstairs while we were sleeping. He was aces.

Bill Cosby is a great man. He's done more to educate people and lift people up than most people in show business. He's funny without being crude too, a real comedian. I guess when you speak the truth sometimes people get offended, but that's the way it is.

[randalds]

Posted by Neoffyte at 04:00 PM : Feb 13, 2007

Considering the undeserved praise of the idiot Cosby, one can only surmise that you are actually him posting under a pseudonum. After all no one else who hasn't received money from him thinks as highly of him as himself. Cute dog though and I'm glad to find out he's only a part owners. There's hope for the dog yet.

[hober_mallow]

My charming wife and I recently adopted a 10-year old English Springer Spanial.

She's a good sized dog, not too big. Tends to bark a lot, but likes to go hiking and especially likes to be petted.

Fussy eater, though.

[mitch0927]

george2221,

If you belive everything wikipedia says, then you are not that well informed. wikipedia is a site that can be modified by anyone.....