Stump, a 10-year-old Sussex spaniel, named Best in Show at Westminster

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!

-- Lindsay Barnett

Photo: Timothy A. Clary / AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Angela]

I enjoy watching this dog show every year, but I believe the winner is often decided before the show begins. This year is evidence. The owner decides five days before the show to enter his 10-year-old dog and wins? Great story to keep Westminster in the news, isn't it?

[DebC]

Hurray for Stump! It was wonderful to see him again. Although we have Siberian Huskies, we cheered for Stump when he was competing years ago. There's just something about him that draws attention away from the flashier dogs.

[Ellen Poriles Weiler]

Congrats to Stump - a fine looking dog indeed. However, registration for Westminster must happen well before 5 days of the event. It seems like there are some factual inaccuracies being proffered by the owner/handler.

[CK]

I think these dog shows are silly. Sure, they're not hurting anyone so, by all means, continue, but I still think it's silly to parade dogs around naming one Best in Show for reasons most common folk don't understand. Some of the cutest dogs out there are mutts, so someone should include those in their show! You can base your judgment on level of cuteness.

[Lauren Castle]

With all the negative news we see and hear every day this event takes our minds and hearts to another place, if only for a little while. What a delightful way to escape to a better place. Long live dogs.

[John S]

I happen to enjoy watching the dog show and am glad there are ways to do that online because the Times' own television log Calendar section had the hours wrong in its television listings yesterday. Given all the cutbacks at the paper there are fewer and fewer reasons to subscribe. If I can't rely on the television listings, what's left?

[Gloria]

I have a feeling about the "5 days" thing. I think the handler probably meant 5 days before registration ran out...or perhaps previous entrants in the show don't have the same requirements since any "due diligence" on the dog would have already been done...especially since Stump had previously won his groups Best in Show/Group.

[mar]

Stump.... way to go