<p>How cool. A 10 yr old dog who almost died 5 yrs ago (saved by vets in Tx) just took best in show at Westminster. Oldest dog to win in the 133 yr history of the show. Cool dog!</p>
<p>** And funny too that the scottie peed on the floor in the ring during the best in show competition. You don’t see that too often, especially at Westminster!</p>
<p>Such a jaunty walk…I loved him.</p>
<p>He was adorable. Clearly having a good time.</p>
<p>That’s a great story. I loved the little Brussels Griffon… he was so adorable. My fave ever Westminster dog was Rufus the Bull Terrier. I absolutely loved that dog.</p>
<p>Agree, Jym, he was so cute! :)</p>
<p>“Stumpy” is a really great dog! And the sporting group is my favorite! Although I did like Spirit, the Giant Schnauzer, quite a lot.</p>
<p>BTW-- for anyone interested, you can watch the breed judging online - just click on the one you want to watch.
[The</a> Westminster Kennel Club | 2009 Breed Judging Videos: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2009](<a href=“http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2009/video/breed/index.html]The”>http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2009/video/breed/index.html)</p>
<p>My favorite is the herding group. I saw my friend’s husband showing their Belgian Sheepdog (my favorite breed - I’d love to get another-- some day), and one of our dog’s relatives took best of breed in the Belgian Malinois class. Ours is not close to show quality, but is VERY lovey. Even has a great smile.</p>
<p>Okey Dokey.</p>
<p>The email for updates to this thread ended up in a spam folder at my yahoo account entitled “SX” - I couldn’t fathom till I read the title “Sussex”. Sigh. Dumb Yahoo :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Go, Stumpy! My 11-year-old miniature poodle was rooting for you. (He is slightly embarrassed by those show-groomed poodles, who seem a tad too exposed to the elements.)</p>
<p>Having Shelties, I love the herding group as well, that Puli was pretty cute, but I was rooting for Stumpy, best personality since my all-time fave Brady the Clumber Spaniel a few years back…</p>
<p>Yeah for old dogs - they are the best! My 11 year old Cavalier was also cheering for Stumpy! In his youth he use to bark at other dogs on the television. Now he just gazes at them, maybe in envy of their youth.</p>
<p>Maybe my 15 year old springer spaniel still has a chance… :)</p>
<p>Here are ten fun facts about the new champ!!!</p>
<p>[10</a> fun facts about the Westminster dog show’s 2009 winner: Stump the Sussex Spaniel](<a href=“http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2009/02/11/2009-02-11_10_fun_facts_about_the_westminster_dog_s.html]10”>http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2009/02/11/2009-02-11_10_fun_facts_about_the_westminster_dog_s.html)</p>
<p>I’ve read that at one point years back he got very sick and almost died, but do they ever say what caused it?</p>
<p>When I say Stump in the group final, I knew he would be the one. Such personality! I think it’s great that he has such a REAL dog name.
Tha handler never said specifically what was wrong several years ago.</p>
<p>Gotta love the names of these show dogs. Instead of a name like Gene it’s more like Gene Levy Putz King III…</p>
<p>I was just looking at the history - neither a Golden Retriever nor a Lab has EVER won at Westminster - Labs have never even won the sporting group. </p>
<p>As the proud owner of a Golden Retriever and having grown up with Labs, I find that pretty amazing. Nothing against Fox Terriers (13 wins), Scottish Terriers (7) and English Springer Spaniels (6) but could there be a little bias?</p>
<p>Hey, Dudedad–is this a reference to the Eugene Levy who was in “Best in Show”? (great movie, btw)</p>
<p>scualum, I have a theory with regard to the Golden Retrievers: Lots of dog people have the image of a perfect Golden Retriever in their minds, and it is highly idealized. A Golden probably has to be just a little beyond perfect to match the breed standard successfully. The same might be true for Labs.</p>
<p>The selection of Springers has nothing whatever to do with bias, however. (We have Springers.)</p>
<p>Heard an interview with Stumpy and his handler where the handler said Stumpy had a “bacterial infection” in 2004 that took 15 days to diagnosis?? Nearly died before they could figure out and treat what was wrong.</p>