Spaniel Is Top Dog At Westminster

At 10 Years-Old, Stump, A Sussex Spaniel, Came Out Of Retirement To Become The Oldest Ever To Win Best In Show

(AP)  An old Sussex spaniel taught dogdom a new trick.

At 10, Stump became the oldest best in show winner ever at the Westminster Kennel Club, coming out of retirement only last week and walking off with the top prize Tuesday night.

A nearly full crowd at Madison Square Garden cheered loudly when judge Sari Tietjen pointed to the new champion. Perhaps the fans knew Stump's backstory - he almost died in 2004 from a medical condition, saved by the vets at Texas A&M.

"It was miraculous," expert handler Scott Sommer said.

Then again, maybe folks just liked rooting for the old guy. In human years, he's almost 70!

Never before had a Sussex spaniel won the nation's top pooch show. The previous oldest winner was an 8-year-old Papillon in 1999.

With floppy ears and a slow gait, the golden-red Stump beat out a sparkling field. Sommer guided him past a giant schnauzer that was ranked the nation's No. 1 show dog, a favored Brussels griffon, a Scottish deerhound named Tiger Woods, a standard poodle with 94 best in show wins, a Scottish terrier and a puli.

Nearly 2,500 dogs were entered at Westminster. Last year's champion, a beagle named Uno, was perhaps the most popular winner ever.

But with a bounce in his step, Stump is sure to win over plenty of people while he reigns for a year.

Stump won the sporting group at Westminster in 2004, then went into retirement. Soon after, he nearly wasted away and spent 19 days in a pet hospital.

"It was very traumatic," Sommer said.

Once he recovered, Stump mostly spent his days hanging out with Sommer, living a dog's life. That was more than fine with Sommer. He'd already handled a great Bichon Frise to the best in show at Westminster in 2001, and wasn't looking for Stump to try again.

Then five days before this show, Sommer thought Stump might enjoy one last walk on the green carpet at the Garden. And what a walk it was.

This was the 133rd edition of Westminster and the dogs came in 170 breeds and varieties. Among them was Domino.

Asleep in his crate, Domino looked like the most peaceful, innocent pooch on the planet.

Ha! Just wait, handler Paul Clas cackled.

These Portuguese water dogs can cause all sorts of mischief, he said. And if President Barack Obama really does decide make one the First Dog, look out.

"They'll bring comedy to the White House. Interesting things would happen," Clas said earlier Tuesday. "I think it would be hilarious."

Pacifying this active breed - among the two the Obamas are considering - isn't always easy, even with a big yard and a big staff. It sometimes takes an extra treat.

"Obama may not take bribes, but his Portuguese water dog would," Clas said.

Clas wouldn't mind having one as a neighbor - he lives in Thurmont, Md., near the presidential retreat of Camp David.

Obama said his family had narrowed the choices to a "Porti" or a Labradoodle, a designer mix of a Labrador retriever and a poodle.

The president has said he is ready to begin visiting shelters with wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia. A main consideration is a dog that is hypoallergenic.

"I like to see them pick the Portuguese water dog. They're a proven breed for many years," Clas said.

Portis are medium sized, weighing 50 or 60 pounds. They can be black, brown, white or a mix, with either a wavy or curly coat of hair, not fur. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., owns them.

Westminster spokesman David Frei, in his 20th year as television host for the show, said the Obamas are doing a good job in taking their time.

"It's an important decision. Whichever dog he picks will probably be with him longer than anyone in his Cabinet," Frei said.

[NMlost]

Sussex and Clumber spaniels were bred for densely overgrown terrain or terrain with thick, prickly cover like gorse that grows low to the ground. When hunting on foot in that country, a low-slung, powerful, thorough hunter, like the Sussex is invaluable. That''s why the Sussex has been virtually unchanged since the 1700''s.
Oh, and BTW, it''s not just the Standard Poodle that hunts. A number of years back, there was a champion miniature poodle that was a great retriever of ducks.

[NMlost]

It''s not just the Standard Poodle that hunts. A number of years back, there was a champion miniature poodle that was a great retriever of ducks.

[mswolfestock]

Good Dog! Bark, bark, woof, woof!!

[speakup4]

crzmeat1, I know several hunters that hunt with poodles; they are excellent retrievers. A show dog is judged on conformation-maybe this particular dog does not hunt, but he is built like he is supposed to to accomplish what he''s bred for. I also have friends that show dogs-and they are not rich...

[crzmeat1]

yes a poodle was breed as a hunting dog but when is the last time you heard of one being used just a mellow old hound this is a joke and has no basis in reality just a rich folks hobbie and fodder for the puppy mills

[littlebit123]

This is great! Most people do not realize that every dog at the Westminster show must already be a champion or have earned a certain number of points toward championship just to qualify to enter the judging. So Stump didn''t just out do 2500 other dogs, he beat 2500 champions! Congratulations Stump!!

[andie52]

We need a lot more of these feel good news reports. Well done!!

[walkshe]

This breed is no different than a Clumber Spaniel. It looks moves slower and with more dignity than some of the other spaniels, not wasting any energy, but that''s the way it was bred. They all have their own uses and they''re all beautiful.

[swampy991]

gce65 - "How ridiculous! And this dog won the sporting dogs group? What sport could this dog do, fetch a bowl of food?"............
Just because you haven''t heard of the breed it doesn''t mean it''s no use. Like so many hunting dogs the Sussex spaniel was bred in England (in the 1800s I think). Bred as a gun dog it makes a great hunting companion - those short little legs are great for getting you in and under dense undergrowth to scare out game birds and other prey so your master can blow them to bits :0P .

[jxknowles]

If you can''t appreciate this story, go get another beer and drink yourself to sleep. Stump deserves the honor for quality of breed. Small dogs often run the pack. In the dog world, bigger is not always better. Intelligence is a virtue.

[gce65]

How ridiculous! And this dog won the sporting dogs group? What sport could this dog do, fetch a bowl of food?