Kathy Kirk kisses Ch. Rocky Top's Sundance Kid, a colored Bull Terrier, after it won the Best in Show award at the 130th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York February 14, 2006. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
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.
Ugly breed, deformed snout.
Great lineup of finalists this year! But ..... Rufus Rules!
I've had more bitches than Rufus had ever thought about... Plus I mix a mean martini!
With all the gorgeous dogs in the show (I watched it), the judge picks this one as best of show? Sorry, I'm no expert, but I simmply don't see how THIS one edged out the others.
He was robbed I tell ya, robbed.
L
Good morning! LOL.
What happened to the Pug?
I have a Pug. They're the most adorable.
The pug was Pugtastic! He showed great Pug-ritude.
Hear! Hear!
Alas, poor Pugsley can no longer compete as he is no longer 'intact' as they say. I'm sure he blames me, but all I did was drop him off. It was Mrs. L who made me do it.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
L
If "she" made you do it, I hope you're still intact...lol.
I'll start to worry when she tries to put a collar and leash on me and drop me off at my Doctors office.
L
Pingy pingy, sweetheart.
LOL!
We did it in three days. The last day was from Cheyenne WI to Chicago. I love my family, and I love the flat faced little dog, but by that third day I just wanted to be out of the truck and on my own couch.
Now Lord Pugsley spends his days either harassing the cat, chasing the rabbit around the house, or taking lessons from our 15 year old Cocker on how to make sure the couch doesn't float off into space.
He in turn is trying to teach the entire household how to snore. Loudly. Very loudly. So loudly that even my best shooting earplugs can't quite block it all out.
So, in about 4 hours when I get off work I'll head home, pack my sons lunch, pat him on the head and send him off to school. I'll wake the lovely and talented Mrs. L for work, make her some coffee, kiss her on her way off to work, and then I'll settle in for some well deserved sleep.
Pugsley will join me on the bed and if I'm lucky I'll drop off before he begins to make noises which are very reminiscent of a cheap 2 cycle chainsaw that is badly in need of a tuneup.
It's good to have something to look forward to, I guess.
L
It's impossible not to fall in love with Pugs.
The nosiest place I have been... a Pug convention!
Sorry --- noisiest place.
L
You're right!
As soon as he eats, which takes about 4.7 seconds, he'll be back upstairs on the bed waiting for me to make my way up there after Lurker Jr goes off to the bus stop.
Like I said, it'll be a race to see who gets to sleep first. If I make it, I'll be fine. If he drops off first it's Poulan city.
L
When we moved from CA to MS, Jack stayed a month with our youngest son who put Jack thru a boot camp of sorts.
Jack NOW sleeps in his own bed and stays off the furniture.
L
Click on my screen name, see the two most beautiful dogs in the world, bar none. ;-D
I like pugs but I LOVE mastiffs. And minipins.
That Mastiff is beautiful...but click on my screen name, I think I he has some competition. LOL
MM
"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.
Now that sounds pretty funny. Wonder what her walls look like.
Trust me, I DO believe you!
Aw, I love them too!
Woof, woof, Rufus
Perfect egg shaped head
Yep, Maddie is a cutie!
MM
Well I'll be!
Pappy Boington's dog won :)
:>)
It may have been the first time a Deerhound made it to BIS, but the breed has been showing at Westiminster for a long, long time.
Those refs were in the dog's pocket the whole time.
The Bull Terrier showed really well. Too bad the pug picked this day to decide he didn't like the BIS judge, oops!
I'm one of those that thinks this breed is ugly but I have to admit one of the neatest dogs I've ever known was a Bull Terrier. He was owned by a farrier and taught himself to be a farriers helper. Cool dog.
Best in show is not a direct comparison with the other dogs, but is selected by which dog most rigidly conforms with the ideal for it's particular breed. I think 'Rufus' is magnificent.
He's adorable. I'm glad he won. Congratulations to the owner, breeder and handler!
I was pleased with most of the judging this year - it was refreshing to see the deerhound take the win. Is this the first time the Deerhound won the group? Margot was a beauty. My basset boys and I cheered her on ... well, the boys lifted one eye lid to check her out then resumed snoozing.
He truly is, although a bull terrier is probably not a dog that would be my first choice and "beauty is in the eye of the beholder
I've always felt that we should have a German Shepherd for President and a Pit Bull as VP....
Where are all the shocked freepers? What? No mauling story to follow?
I like that dog. He was also at the Eukanuba "National Champ" show a few weeks ago, as were many of these finalists.
I also liked the Scot Deerhound (she did trot beautifully - that's how GS should trot!), and the Pug (but think his skittishness w/the judge may have sunk him), and the Rottie was pretty nice.
I'm glad the Golden didn't win, although he was quite pretty. For a Golden. ;-)
Good Lord, look at the conformation on that dog. He's magnificent.
Even all-breed dog shows are not beauty contests, despite the stupid insipid remarks by all commentators (TV and show).
If they were, the German Shepherd would always win, and the Bulldog never would. ;-)
He's the dog that most closely represents the breed standard. A dog show really isn't a beauty contest (the judges don't get to pick their "favorite" breed, they study their conformation, their gait, and look at how well the animal could perform the tast it was bred to accomplish.
This is not one of my favorite breeds, but he is a totally magnificent example of what the breed was intended to be.
What a fabulous group that best in show was. Any dog would have been deserving.
Wonderful to watch. I don't know how the judge made a decision. It would have been very difficult.
Well,
I too think the dog is gorgeous.
Not everything is about pretty,
sometimes character counts ;)
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