Other name(s) Rufus Sex Male Term 2006–2007 | Species Canis lupus familiaris Occupation Show dogtherapy dog Died 9 August 2012 | |
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Born April 8, 2000 ( 2000-04-08 ) Title Best In Show at theWestminster Dog Show Awards Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show | ||
Ch. Rocky Top's Sundance Kid (aka: "Rufus") (b. April 8, 2000 - d. August 9, 2012), is a Bull Terrier who is best known for being the 2006 Best In Show winner at the Westminster Dog Show. He is the first Colored Bull Terrier to win Best in Show at Westminster, with the only other victory for his breed going to a White Bull Terrier in 1918. He also won Best in Show at the National Dog Show in 2005, and on retirement trained as a therapy dog. He is the most successful Colored Bull Terrier Show Dog of all time.
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Early life
Rufus' sire was Einstein the Joker, whose most notable win was for becoming the youngest Bull Terrier World Champion at the World Dog Show in 1995.
He lived with his owners, Barbara and Tom Bishop, since he was 10 weeks old.
Show History
By the age of thirteen and a half months Rufus had earned his Championship title and Register of Merit.
In 2005 Rufus won Best in Show at The National Dog Show, hosted by The Kennel Club of Philadelphia.
Also in 2005 Rufus won Best In Show at the Morris & Essex Kennel Club Dog Show.
In judging for Best in Show at Westminster, Rufus was joined by a Golden Retriever (Ch. Chuckanut Party Favour O' Nove), a Dalmatian (Ch. Merry Go Round Mach Ten), a Rottweiler (Ch. Carter's Noble Shaka Zulu), a Scottish Deerhound, a Pug (Ch. Kendoric's Riversong Mulroney) and an Old English Sheepdog. Of all the breeds being judged, only the Pug and the Sheepdog had previously won Best in Show. Judging was conducted by James Reynolds, with the crowd favouring the Golden Retriever. The Dalmatian was owned by Dick and Linda Stark who also own the German Shorthaired Pointer Ch. Kan-Point's VJK Autumn Roses, who won the previous year's Best in Show. When the judge announced the winner, it seemed like an upset, although the Terrier group is the most successful at Westminster. On winning, Rufus became the first Colored Bull Terrier to take the title, with the only other Bull Terrier to take the title being Ch. Haymarket Faultless, a White Bull Terrier, in 1918. Speaking of Rufus, judge James Reynolds described him as "The classic profile of a colored bull terrier." Following his win, owner Barbara Bishop announced his retirement from the show ring.
Rufus retired as the most successful Colored Bull Terrier of all time, with 35 all breed Best in Shows, 135 Best in Group firsts and the BTCA National Speciality on three occasions.
Retirement
After winning at Westminster, Rufus was presented with a proclamation by the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders at a meeting in Freehold, New Jersey.
Following his retirement, Rufus retrained as a therapy dog, visiting schools, nursing homes and senior citizen programs. Rufus was the center star for his debut on Animal Planet's "Dogs 101". In 2010, he was one of the winners at the 11th AKC Humane Fund Awards Award for Canine Excellence (ACE).
Death
Rufus died on August 9, 2012, aged 12 years.