A Sussex spaniel won Dog Show at Westminster

By Mary Joah on February 11th, 2009

Stump, the 10-year-old Sussex spaniel who only recently emerged from retirement, has been named Best in Show at the 133rd annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show. He’s the oldest dog to ever win that title. (An 8-year-old papillon won in 1999.)

In making senior-dog history, Stump (registered name: Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee) beat six other group winners, among them Spirit, the giant schnauzer who’s ranked the No. 1 show dog in the nation; Lincoln, the smooth-coated Brussels griffon who was considered a favorite; Yes the standard poodle; Sadie the Scottish terrier, whose breed has won Westminster seven times before; Tiger Woods the Scottish deerhound; and Conrad, the cord-coated puli.

The Associated Press explains Stump’s five-year absence from the show ring:

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,” [handler Scott 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.

Vegas odds expert John Avello, who compiled odds for this year’s Westminster show, gave the Sussex spaniel odds of 275-to-1 to win it all. But Stump showed Westminster watchers that age does, once in a while, trump youth. Take that, whippersnappers!

About Sussex spaniel, what is it?
According to the American Kennel Club:

“The Sussex Spaniel was among the first ten breeds to be recognized and admitted to the Stud Book when the American Kennel Club was formed in 1884, but it has existed as a distinct breed for much longer.”
It originates from the county of Sussex in England.
Since the 1800’s, the Sussex spaniel has been used as a field dog and gained a reputation as an excellent hunting companion.
“Its short legs, massive build, long body, and habit of giving tongue when on scent made the breed ideally suited to penetrating the dense undergrowth and flushing game within range of the gun.”
“Although it has never gained great popularity in numbers, the Sussex Spaniel continues today essentially unchanged in character and general appearance from those 19th century sporting dogs.”
“The Sussex Spaniel presents a long and low, rectangular and rather massive appearance coupled with free movements and nice tail action.”
It has a “somber and serious expression,” but is known to be friendly with a “cheerful and tractable disposition.”
The rich golden liver color is unique to the breed and a sign of breed purity.

The Sussex Spaniel Club of America was founded in 1981. It reports that since 1997, 754 Sussex spaniels have been registered with the AKC. According to the Club, all modern day Sussex spaniels can trace their lineage back to six dogs.

Watch some videos of the Dog Show at Westminster: