Therapy Dog Is Best In Show At Westminster
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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.
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.
3 After 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.
By Ben Walker
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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.
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.
The People Behind The DogsDiamond 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.
"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.
By Ben Walker
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If you belive everything wikipedia says, then you are not that well informed. wikipedia is a site that can be modified by anyone.....
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.