Stump's historic Westminster win is a victory for senior dogs everywhere


Posted on Feb 13, 2009
By Julia Szabo

Some dog lovers appreciate senior dogs for the experience and grace they bring to everything they do, but too often four-footed seniors are overlooked or outright dismissed, especially at animal shelters.  No longer:  Striking a blow for seniors everywhere, the young-at-heart dog who took Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a ten-year-old Sussex Spaniel named Stump, whose official champion name is Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchly Glee.

Proving that dogs, like wine and people, get better with age, Sump made history as the oldest-ever Westminster winner.  The previous holder of that title is a Papillon named Kirby, a.k.a. Ch. Loteki's Supernatural Being.  Kirby was eight years young when he became the first-ever Papillon to win Best in Show at Westminster - and he also happens to be part of the FetchDog family tree (he's the sire of Glenn Close's handsome dog, Petey Petit).

Not only is Stump a veteran, he's a true survivor who was hospitalized for 19 days four years ago at Texas A&M, while he battled a deadly infection that threatened to stop his heart.  In a comeback to end all comebacks, Stump stopped everyone's heart in the Westminster ring Tuesday night, beating out several other great-looking champs, all much younger than himself.  They included a Poodle, a Scottish Deerhound, a Giant Schnauzer, a Scottish Terrier, a Brussels Griffon, and - this blogger's personal favorite - a Puli.

The superb Sussex's win will doubtless have owners of senior dogs looking at their best friends with new admiration.  In honor of Stump, we suggest displaying that admiration with a new dog bed to support your elder statesdog's tired joints and heart-healthy dog treats to keep him in the pink.  Incidentally, the Sussex spaniel's coat tends to lighten with age.  That could only have helped Stump in the ring, because his rich mocha-colored coat gleamed.  So keep your handsome hound's hair looking show-worthy with a high-quality dog shampoo.

The careers of most show dogs peak between the ages of 2 and 5, yet lately there's been an increase in the number of dogs competing in the veteran's class, which is reserved for senior dogs like Stump.  And hopefully, that means fewer dogs will be put to sleep at animal shelters just because they've reached a certain age.

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