Every Dog Has His Day
10-year-old , Sussex spaniel (that’s 70 in dog years) became the oldest dog to win Best in Show in the 133-year history of the Westminster Kennel Club’s annual event. The dog, known as Stump, was also the first Sussex spaniel to win the prestigious award. As he plodded around the ring, the crowd went wild, clearly delighted by both his breed and his advanced age, not to mention his adorable demeanor.
Can old dogs learn new tricks? Would they want to?
It was the first time that a Sussex spaniel won the top prize, although the breed, which originated as a hunting companion in England, was among the first to be recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Judge Sari Brewster Tietjen said she made her decision at the last minute.
“I didn’t know who he was or how old he was,” Tietjen said. “He’s just everything that you’d want in the breed, and I couldn’t say no to him.”
“I didn’t know who he was or how old he was,” Tietjen said. “He’s just everything that you’d want in the breed, and I couldn’t say no to him.”
Stump won the sporting group at Westminster in 2004, but in early 2005 fell seriously ill with an undetermined sickness, said Scott Sommer, Stump’s handler and an owner along with Cecilia Ruggles and Beth Dowd.
Stump eventually returned to health, and by last year he was looking quite good. Still, Sommer said he was not sure until last Wednesday that he would definitely show Stump at Westminster.
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