Stump Comes Back from the Brink to Best in Show!

Stump, a Sussex spaniel who nearly died in 2004, won Best in Show at the 133rd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City on Tuesday night. He is the oldest dog to ever receive the title.

The crowd cheered when judge Sari Brewster Tietjen pointed to the 10-year-old dog, who beat out a Scottish deerhound, a Scottish terrier, a standard poodle, a puli, a Brussels griffon, and a giant Schnauzer.

According to Westminster Kennel Club spokesman David Frei, Stump almost died in 2004 and was saved by a team of vets at Texas A&M University. “His whole body completely quit, they did [some] miracle, because here he is now, looking great, and just won Westminster,” said the dog’s co-owner Scott Sommer.

Formally known as Ch Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee, Stump was selected from some 2,522 dogs from 48 states, the District of Columbia and at least seven foreign countries. Sommer told reporters that he officially decided to enter the dog in the show last Wednesday.

“He loves the crowd, he loves people, that’s what he does,” Sommer said.

The Sussex spaniel gets its name from the county in England where it originated. It’s a member of the Sporting Group, and is generally cheerful and affectionate in nature. The life expectancy of this particular breed is about 15 years, Sommer said. “It would be great if we got to 15 or 20,” he added.

The Westminster Dog Show was established in 1877 and is the second longest continuously held sporting event in the U.S., just a year behind the Kentucky Derby, the club says. This year, the Dogue de Bordeaux, aka the French Mastiff, was eligible for competition for the first time and competed in the Working Group.

The dog show, which aired live on USA Network and CNBC, has been televised since 1948. Entries were down by about 100 dogs this year, which show organizers chalked up to the tough economy.

Did the best dog win? Leave your thoughts in the comments area below!

Amy Jamieson with reporting by Carol Vinzant